A northwest Alabama industrial site has been recognized as a top location for expanding business and industry.
The Norfolk Southern rail-served site, located near Muscle Shoals and Florence, has received a platinum designation from the national REDI Sites Program.
This top designation is awarded to select properties that meet rigorous readiness criteria. It signals to global site selection professionals that the location is primed for a fast-track development timeline.
The site has rail access and utility infrastructure, as well as proximity to a highly-skilled regional workforce and pro-business ecosystem.
“Today’s designation for our Shoals-area site underscores Norfolk Southern’s continued commitment to developing quality, shovel-ready sites that rail shippers can trust to meet their evolving business needs,” said Norfolk Southern Director of Industrial Development MaryBeth Flournoy. “With its access to markets across the Southeast and Midwest, the Shoals site is positioned to attract companies seeking to grow their business with rail.”
The recognition reinforces the Shoals region’s standing as an industrial growth market, said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“We are proud to partner with Norfolk Southern and regional stakeholders to showcase this site’s readiness for significant investment and job creation,” McNair said.
Alabama remains a priority market for Norfolk Southern’s industrial development strategy, and the company continues to invest in regional infrastructure that improves rail capacity between northern Alabama and key domestic and global markets via the Port of Mobile.
The Shoals area, anchored by Muscle Shoals and Florence in Colbert and Lauderdale counties, offers available industrial sites and speculative buildings that support heavy and advanced manufacturing growth.
Kevin Jackson, president of the Shoals Economic Development Authority, said the agency is focused on advancing the Shoals region as a competitive and attractive destination for business and industry.
“Our sites and buildings are central to that strategy, and this designation further enforces our efforts,” Jackson said. “We appreciate Norfolk Southern’s partnership and its efforts to highlight the potential of this site.”
