Local News

McClellan can benefit from its location if a research park is developed at the former fort, but a study commissioned by the Joint Powers Authority cites education quality and a worker shortage as obstacles.

Angelou Economics, the Texas-based firm hired by the JPA to develop a strategy for a research park at McClellan, released its first report Wednesday. Its pages contain a host of local and national data collected to measure Calhoun County's business climate.

The report touts McClellan's location between two major economic hubs, Birmingham and Atlanta. Business leaders report they are satisfied with the state's business climate, but are concerned about a shortage of skilled workers and about the local K-12 school systems. The report also cites the area's dependence on manufacturing and federal jobs as opposed to high-tech industries as a challenge.

Government jobs account for 25 percent of Calhoun County employment, the report says. Manufacturing accounts for 21 percent. The report views the numbers as a weakness, but adds that a research park could help to diversify the manufacturing sector.

The Anniston-Oxford area has a low unemployment rate - 3.5 percent in October, compared with the national average of 4.4 percent - according to Alabama Labor Market News. But what sounds like good news is actually an indicator of a worker shortage, the Angelou report says.

Angelou Economics Vice President Chris Engle said recommendations based on the company's findings won't come until January.

“We're going to be looking at providing a marketing plan, providing recommendations on creating partnerships as well as promoting entrepreneurships,” Engle said, without giving specifics.

One clue to what the recommendations will be is the report's analysis of state universities like the University of Alabama. Engle suggested any plan of action might involve partnerships with universities.

The report also identifies national research trends, pairing that data with research being done statewide and in Calhoun County.

Homeland Security, already considered a growth area nationally, is sure to be a target of any strategy Angelou releases. The other five research targets are a film industry, technology integration, office data collection, software, and advanced manufacturing.

“Jacksonville State has a good computer program that I think can be developed into a more robust software cluster, particularly in visualization and (geographic information systems),” Engle said.

The report suggests developing “clusters” - a way of organizing companies with similar characteristics - to pursue different research targets.

The technology integration center would be a “one-of-a-kind” cluster that would focus on monitoring technologies. This technology could be applied to different clusters such as Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency, the report says.

The JPA, which oversees McClellan development, is waiting for final recommendations from Angelou before developing a marketing strategy. Angelou has presented the JPA with a list of questions concerning how it would develop a marketing strategy, but the JPA has not publicly discussed those questions. JPA members have said other issues - like how much property is available at McClellan and ordnance cleanup - should be resolved first.

Engle said a research park at McClellan would be on the scale of hundreds of acres, not thousands. Anniston Mayor Chip Howell previously expressed concerns there was not enough space at McClellan for a park.

Angelou's recommendations will include whether the JPA should fill its vacant marketing position or seek marketing services from a national provider.

Engle said it's too early to gauge whether there is significant state support for a research park. “It's premature to do that until we have a plan in place and a common vision,” he said.