Plans are underway to determine where another industrial park should be located to serve the city.
"We're about filled up in the Rolland Lewis Industrial Park," Mayor Mary Jane Chesley said. "A city that does not have economic development space available, I feel, loses the competition to gain business and industry."
Peckham, Guyton, Alberts & Viets, Inc., will be asked to create an industrial park master plan, with a proposal before the City Council on Monday. The proposal will include PGAV completing conceptual design services of an industrial park and evaluate the pros and cons of three locations for a proposed park.
Two of the locations to be evaluated are the tax increment finance district west of Interstate 57 and 640 acres that was considered for an industrial TIF on the southeast side of the city near Continental Tire the Americas. The third site to be considered will be left up to PGAV to determine in consultation with the city, City Manager Ron Neibert said.
"We wanted to give them the freedom to look at the whole city boundary," Chesley said.
PGAV has worked with the city in the past, acting as consultants for the TIF areas to the east and west sides of Interstate 57.
"Due to their past work, they are very familiar with Mt. Vernon and our economic development and growth," Chesley added.
Chesley said having an evaluation completed before moving forward with designating an industrial park goes along with what the city council has done in the past.
"We want to get the background, evaluate our options, before doing the activity," Chesley explained. "We're not going to rush into it without that background information."
Chesley added she would like to see a plan presented to the council within 60 to 90 days of council approval.
"The sooner the better," Chesley said. "Having another industrial park allows us to maintain a competitive edge in bringing industry to Mt. Vernon." - http://goo.gl/MptXH
