Ten Sites in the South that Will Eventually Land "The Big One."

The two-year recession has been a deal breaker for many states and communities in the South. Announced projects have been delayed, and several have been cancelled. Still, the South has not been void of big projects during this recession. In fact, some of the largest projects in the South's history have been announced since the recession began in December of 2007, including Volkswagen (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Boeing (North Charleston, S.C.), Hemlock Semiconductor (Clarksville, Tenn.), Spirit Aerosystems (Kinston, N.C.) and Caterpillar in Seguin, Tex.

That being the case, we wanted to profile sites in the South that we believe will be the homes of the next wave of big deals to land in the region. So, we present to you Ten Sites in the South that Will Eventually Land "The Big One."

Cedar Crossing
Chambers County, Tex.

Cedar Crossing is the world's fifth-largest industrial park, located across the Houston Ship Channel from the Barbour’s Cut and Bayport container terminals. Cedar Crossing Industrial Park comprises 15,000 acres with utilities and an industrial and commercial transportation infrastructure that includes 56 miles of rail provided by Union Pacific and Burlington-Sante Fe.

* 15,000 acres (+/- 12,000 available)
* 35 minutes from downtown Houston, adjacent to Baytown, Tex.
* A secured 200-acre Foreign Trade Zone
* Port access with two barge terminals

West Tennessee Megasite
Haywood County, Tenn.

Known previously as the Haywood County Megasite and the I-40 Advantage Auto Park, the 3,836-acre West Tennessee Megasite is located southwest of Brownsville, Tenn. near Memphis and Jackson. Late last year the Tennessee State Building Commission approved a $40 million land purchase for the site. The site is the third in Tennessee to be certified by TVA's megasite program.

* 1,720 acres, plus 3,000 acres under option
* Adjacent to Interstate 40
* 30 minutes east of Memphis
* CSX rail line next to site

GTR Global Industrial Aerospace Park
Columbus, Miss.

The GTR Global Industrial Aerospace Park in Columbus, Miss. is a relatively new location in the South's megasite inventory, but it has incredible potential. The 2,500-acre publicly owned and controlled site is located adjacent to a commercial airport with a 6,500-foot runway that is being expanded to 8,000 feet in May of 2011.

* 2,500 acres adjacent to commercial airport
* $100 million invested in infrastructure on the site since 2003
* Redundant electric power on site and direct rail to port access
* Existing aerospace cluster located in Lowndes County

Franklin Farm
Holly Ridge, La.

This state-owned, ready for development site comprises 1,440 acres in Richland Parish in northeast Louisiana. The site is 200 miles inland and two miles from Interstate 20 with Interstate visibility and access to three interchanges.

* 6,000 available acres
* Dual rail access to Kansas City Southern and Norfolk Southern
* Excellent incentives available including Federally Designated Renewal Community
* Fiber optic, gas, water and electric power on site

Carolina's I-77 Megasite
Chester County, S.C.

With more than 8,000 feet of frontage, the I-77 Megasite in Chester County, S.C. has some of the best Interstate visibility we've ever seen of sites in the South of 1,000 acres or more. The 1,438-acre I-77 site has also been certified by McCallum Sweeney Consulting and is owned by L&C Railway Company. 

* 1,438 acres, located directly on I-77, 38 minutes to Charlotte airport
* L&C Railway on site, connecting to CSX and Norfolk Southern
* Located in EPA attainment zone
* Entire site is under one ownership and zoned heavy industrial
 
I-24 Megasite
Hopkinsville, Ky.

This 2,100-acre site in Hopkinsville, Ky. also has excellent Interstate visibility and is one of only three megasites left in the TVA megasite program. Five TVA certified sites have already been sold, the latest to Hemlock Semiconductor in nearby Clarksville, Tenn.

* 2,100 acres adjacent to I-24
* One hour from Nashville International Airport
* CSX Railroad next to site
* All utilities, including broadband, located on site

Tri-State Commerce Park
Tishomingo County, Miss.

This site near Iuka, Miss. in extreme northeast Mississippi has already landed the "big one" in ATK-Alliantech, which is building composite structures for next-generation aircraft. But with 3,500 acres and loads of amenities, the Tri-State Commerce Park is positioned to land another big user in the near future.

* Rail served, with rail spur access in five locations
* Barge terminal on the Tenn-Tom Waterway on site
* Dual-feed power with all utilities on site
* Entire 3,500-acre site is publicly owned

I-95 Megasite
Clarendon County, S.C.

Landing the "big one" on the I-95 Megasite is a regional effort among the east South Carolina counties of Clarendon, Lee, Sumter and Williamsburg. With 1,440 acres and room for expansion, the I-95 Megasite can accommodate just about any large user. The site also offers proximity to interstates I-20, I-77 and I-26.

* 1,440-acre site directly on I-95
* 95 miles to the Port of Charleston
* Utilities on site

Riverport West Intermodal Park
Paducah-McCracken County, Ky.

Noted by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development as one of the premiere intermodal/heavy industrial sites in the state, Riverport West features 4,000 feet of frontage on the Ohio River for barge access. Its 1,100 acres are owned by the Greater Paducah EDC and its partners.

* Served by three railroads
* Industrial electricity available with gas and water on site
* Access to I-24

Purchase Regional Park
Graves County, Ky.

This two-tract site is also located near Paducah, Ky. in Graves County, midway between Nashville and St. Louis. Tract 1 encompasses 1,159 acres and adjoining tract 2 features 981 acres. The two tracts are bisected by Kentucky 849, about 11 miles south of I-24.

* Rail served
* Single owner: The Purchase Regional Industrial Park Authority
* Two electric power providers