THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 27, 1995 TAG: 9507260127
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: COURTLAND LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
There's just no place like Southampton County, residents and county leaders have believed for years.
But now, it's official. The county can boast of something no other locality in the state has: an agribusiness industrial park, says James N. Bradshaw, director of economic development for Franklin and Southampton County.
The complex - Southampton Agribusiness Industrial Park - is designed for agriculture-related businesses and industries.
Typical tenants would be equipment manufacturers, food processors, cold-storage facilities and other farming-related businesses and light industries. County and state leaders are working together to attract firms dealing with horticulture, aquaculture and agricultural machinery.
Southampton officials hope the park will be a boon to the economy of the agricultural county, the state's largest producer of peanuts, cotton and watermelon. The 111-acre site is on U.S. Route 58 about half way between Courtland, the county seat, and the city of Franklin.
That's also midway between the ports of Hampton Roads and one of the major north-south interstate highways, Interstate 95, Bradshaw said in a recent interview.
``A lot of industries want to have close ties with the interstate highways and the ports,'' he said.
Southampton is an ideal location since it's in the heart of farm land yet has easy access for distribution.
State leaders are also excited about the prospects for the Southampton Agribusiness Industrial Park, Bradshaw said.
``When an agribusiness industry is looking for new locations throughout the U.S., this will be one of the places they are looking.''
The sites will have water, sewer, electricity and natural gas.
``This will be the first time in Southampton County that natural gas will be extended,'' Bradshaw said.
A $375,000 state grant will pay for a pumping station and gas line extension, he said. Three other grants will provide $40,000 for amenities including water and sewer extensions and assistance with site selection.
The grants were obtained because this is the first agribusiness park, Bradshaw said.
Lots vary in price according to size and location within the park.
County officials bought the site last year for about $350,000, Bradshaw said. Recently they held a groundbreaking and started a marketing campaign.
The 30 acres facing U.S. Route 58 is targeted for the Southampton Farmers Market, the fourth in the state's network of wholesale distribution centers. by CNB