Executive Director of the Economic Development Association of Alabama

Ron Scott is executive director of the Economic Development Association of Alabama. The mission of the EDAA, a network of economic development professionals headquartered in Prattville, is to provide leadership to help make Alabama the premier state for business and industry development. The group currently has more than 500 members, including directors and staff members from local economic development associations and others involved in economic growth. The EDAA is a member of the Alabama Commerce Commission and the Governor's Workforce Development Board. Scott, a certified association management professional, has more than 26 years of experience in non-profit management and governmental affairs in Alabama. Prior to joining the EDAA, Scott served as advocacy director for the AARP and held management positions for various organizations, including the Alabama Oilmens Association, now PCMA, and the Alabama Automotive and Service Station Association.

Question:

Norfolk Southern plans to build an intermodal freight facility in Jefferson County, near Birmingham, as part of its Crescent Corridor improvements to increase rail capacity and speed the movement of goods between the U.S. Gulf Coast and the Northeast. What kind of economic benefits do you expect Alabama to derive from this intermodal project?

Answer:

I believe it's going to have a tremendous impact on job creation, not only with jobs directly associated with the intermodal facility but with the indirect jobs that will come with this increased capacity for moving goods.

I see a continuation of the expansion in the automotive industry sector in Alabama, and I believe this type of facility will help us to continue doing a great job for our existing automotive plants and suppliers. Secondly, I think this facility will be uniquely positioned to serve as a regional hub for multiple distribution centers, opening up a whole new door in the Birmingham metro area for distribution of all types of products.

Question:

Beyond its role as an economic engine, are there other ways you think the Crescent Corridor improvements will benefit Alabama and its citizens?

Answer:

Any time you inject good-paying jobs into a metropolitan area you see long-term benefits in the quality of life. It gives people the ability to advance educationally and it helps communities improve, such as expanding entertainment and cultural activities for residents. Also, like most metropolitan areas, the Birmingham area has its share of traffic congestion, so the Crescent Corridor improvements here in Alabama are part of the local solution to direct more freight traffic to rail and off the highway. That's a good thing for us and will help the metropolitan area address both the issue of congestion and the environmental challenges we've had in the past in terms of air quality.

Question:

Improvements to the Crescent Corridor have been funded both by Norfolk Southern and by state and federal tax dollars as a public-private partnership. What do you view as the primary public benefits in Alabama associated with this project, and does it make sense in your view to use state funds to finance improvements?

Answer:

We have a long history in the state of Alabama of utilizing public funds for cooperative efforts like this, and we have seen dramatic benefits back to the state when those things have been structured properly. I think the primary benefit to the area of this Norfolk Southern project is going to be the potential for new job creation in an economy that is struggling to put people back to work. The ripple effect of the direct and indirect jobs created by the intermodal facility will have spin-off benefits that just cannot be overestimated.