Alabama 5, March 8, 2023

March

South Korean Auto Parts Maker Invests

$128M

in Ala. Plant

Cleared for ‘The Landings’

Huntsville Project Set to Create High-End Homes

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Feb. 10 that Samkee Corp., a major South Korean automotive supplier, plans to invest $128 million to open its first U.S. factory in the Southeast state through a project that will create 170 jobs in Tuskegee and provide an economic boost for Macon County.

After completing agreements with state and local authorities, Samkee Corp. is ready to begin construction on the new manufacturing facility in the Tuskegee Commerce Park, where it will become the city’s first auto parts manufacturer.

According to Made in Alabama, the online news site of the state’s Department of Commerce, Samkee will serve as a Tier 1 supplier to Hyundai Motor Co. The new jobs at the factory will pay an average wage of just over $20 an hour.

“Alabama’s auto industry is filled with world-class manufacturing companies from around the world, and Samkee will fit right in with that group,” Gov. Ivey said. “We’re proud that the company selected Alabama for its first U.S. production center and look forward to seeing it grow and thrive in coming years.”

Founded in 1978, Samkee specializes in high-pressure die-cast aluminum components, including parts for engines, see SAMKEE page 2

Located in what’s described as a highly desirable community in Huntsville, Ala., The Landings will feature more than 260 multifamily units when it opens in early 2024.

By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT

Located in what’s described as a highly desirable community in Huntsville, Ala., The Landings will feature more than 260 multifamily units when it opens in early 2024. The multi-million-dollar project is being built in a growing area of the Rocket City, with a large number of houses under construction.

“It’s off Winchester Road and Homer Nance,” said Matthew McGough, Tynes Development director of acqui-

sition and development. “It’s next to a new Publix and retail and is part of the Friends Crossing development that’s up and coming.

“It’s a higher-end product, and one of the nicest in this area of Huntsville. It’s a classic three-story walk-up garden apartment, with larger floor plans than what’s normally being built today.”

According to McGough, bringing the project to fruition didn’t happen overnight, but the process did go fairly smoothly.

Boulevard Work On Track for 2024 Completion

It has been a little more than a year since upgrades began on McFarland Boulevard in Northport, Ala., and state officials said recently that the project still has many months of construction ahead of it before completion — likely no earlier than summer 2024.

The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) is continuing work on the $33.9 million, 2.77-mi. project, expected to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion along U.S. Highway 82 and McFarland Boulevard from Alabama Highway 69 to Rice Mine Road in the town just north of Tuscaloosa.

Once finished, the road project will add a travel lane in each direction, provide better access to businesses, and complete a shareduse path for bicyclists and pedestrians, the Tuscaloosa News reported.

Ikaros LLC in Tuscaloosa is the general contractor on the Northport road project. Proceeds from Alabama’s state gas tax increase are fully funding the construction, according to ALDOT.

Upgrades Should Cut Traffic Concerns

The building effort is the first major Rebuild Alabama Act project in Tuscaloosa

County. When done, the upgraded McFarland Boulevard should give Northport and North Tuscaloosa motorists a better driving experience as they travel through the oft-congested area.

“The latest traffic counts showed more than 50,000 trips made per day on the heavily traveled highway, so it is important that we improve it,” John D. McWilliams, a spokesperson of ALDOT’s West Central Region, told the Tuscaloosa News. During construction, at least two travel lanes in each direction are kept open weekdays from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the duration of the project, though workers may reduce that to one lane on weekends.

Last fall, adjustments were made to the construction when the University of Alabama’s football team played its home games in nearby Tuscaloosa.

“It will be the same [in 2023] as it was this [past] season,” McWilliams explained. “New roadway closures will not be allowed from Friday evening through Sunday morning when the [Crimson Tide] has a home football game.”

Construction on the McFarland

Boulevard improvements first began in 2021, and, as there are no foreseeable delays, other than weather, the project is on pace to finish in mid-2024, he added.

Although the ongoing roadwork can be inconvenient for some motorists, Northport City Council President Jeff Hogg said he believes the results will be worth the hassle.

“This project by ALDOT is much needed and beneficial to not only Northport businesses, but for our citizens as well,” he noted. “Traffic congestion calming measures

have been needed for quite some time. I understand this roadwork is causing more congestion at the present time, but that will be temporary. As a driver myself, I keep telling myself that it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

Other New Developments in Works

In addition to road improvements, Northport continues to grow in other areas by welcoming new restaurants and facilities.

In the new year, Hogg said he is looking forward to construction getting under way on several new developments in the city of 30,000 people, including a proposed water park, sports complex and adventure park.

“Northport continues to grow in a positive direction,” he explained. “I am most excited to see [those new projects] come to life with construction happening in 2023. As we await responses from an upcoming RFP for the adventure Park and sports Complex, I am very excited to know that we are on track for the May 2024 opening of the water park.

“Northport is thriving and I am honored to be a part of the process,” Hogg added. 

Samkee Will Build Its First United States Plant in Tuskegee

SAMKEE from page 1

transmissions and electric vehicles. The company currently runs factories in South Korea and China.

Parts production at the advanced casting facility in Macon County is expected to begin during 2024.

“Samkee is a worldwide leader in quality manufactured aluminum die cast products,” CEO Chi Hwan Kim said. “Our Tuskegee plant will allow our company to serve the North American market along with Hyundai’s market growth for both combustion engines and transmissions as well as electric vehicle and battery parts.”

New Plant to Be at Tuskegee Commerce Park

Joe Turnham, director of the Macon County Economic Development Authority, told Made in Alabama that local support for the project includes site work in Tuskegee Commerce Park, upgrades to the water and sewer system, and the installation of a new power substation.

“Samkee appreciated the local assets, spirit of cooperation and friendship developed over time with Macon County,” he said, adding that the county and its stake-

holders have teamed up to meet the manufacturer’s needs. “We will remain partners going forward to see that they have a successful construction and manufacturing launch. and future growth in the North American market. This is obviously a big win for our community and its citizens.”

The recruitment effort that eventually sold Samkee on Tuskegee lasted well over a year, Turnham explained.

The Utilities Board of Tuskegee also played a major part in the recruitment process, and Gerald Long, the board’s general manager, said he looks forward to deepening the partnership with Samkee.

“Our utility will serve power, water, and sewer to the [factory],” he told Made in Alabama. “Their presence in our communi-

ty will allow us to expand our system and resources to better serve them and all our customers at an even higher level of reliable service. We are proud to be a full partner in economic development countywide.”

Canfield noted that Samkee’s decision to build its first North American factory in Macon County reflects its confidence in the region’s workforce.

Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute (AIDT), the state’s primary workforce development agency, will help Samkee assemble and train its employees, according to Made in Alabama.

“The skilled workers in Alabama’s auto sector have proved they are ready for any challenge the industry can throw at them,

and they consistently turn out complex products of the highest quality,” Canfield explained. “Samkee has come to the right place for its new U.S. industrial home.”

SamkeeÊs Impact Could Be Substantial

Samkee’s manufacturing plant is expected to have a significant economic impact on Macon County, according to an analysis by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at the University of Alabama.

The analysis projects that the Samkee factory will generate $140.2 million in annual economic output in the county, contributing over $37 million to the county’s gross domestic product while also generating $1.3 million per year in taxes.

Samkee’s investment project is a signal that the state’s rural counties are still a magnet for foreign direct investment, particularly within the auto industry.

Since 2015, overseas companies have invested more than $2 billion in growth projects in Alabama’s rural areas, with auto-related projects accounting for a large share of the total, according to data from Made in Alabama. 

“This project by ALDOT is much needed and beneficial to not only Northport businesses, but for our citizens as well.”

Jeff Hogg Northport City Council

“Alabama’s auto industry is filled with world-class manufacturing companies from around the world, and Samkee will fit right in with that group.”

Kay Ivey Governor of Alabama

Mass Grading Complete for Huntsville’s Landings Project

“We went under contract in December 2021 and closed the construction loan in May 2022. We bought all of the plans from a previous developer.”

Construction is approximately 30 percent complete. McGough said the biggest challenge so far has been working in the winter with an abnormal amount of rain.

“It’s been hard to keep the site dry long enough to work,” he said. “Due to transformer shortages, we are having to run the whole job off of generators versus temporary power. That has and will continue to be a big hindrance for us.

“It took longer than expected to get the primary power layout completed, and we couldn’t hold up the utility installation, so we are now going back and having to bore under sewer and water lines,” he added. “It’s not ideal, but it’s something we had to work around.”

Trying to grade and finish utility punch work is especially difficult during the rainy season.

“We thought we were in the clear until the supply chain disruption caught us on our main water meter and held off completing utilities. We eventually had to find a workaround, and we still don’t have it installed. We also have had to replace erosion control a couple times from heavy rains. Plans called for a double row of silt fence.”

Currently, workers are placing batter boards and completing the in-slab plumbing behind it. Crews should start pouring slabs fairly soon.

McGough noted that mass grading and all utilities, except

primary power, have been fully completed. Vertical construction remains, along with curb/gutter and paving.

“Getting to slab forming seemed to be a major milestone,”

said McGough. “I always start to feel like we are making progress when wood goes up in the air.”

Regarding site work,” We only had one small vein of unsuitable soil that needed to be undercut and hauled off,” said McGough, who added that cut to fill was a little more than 26,000 cu. yds.

“It’s a fairly flat site for 17 acres,” he said. “We were able to berm extra topsoil and fill material at several locations, which helped reduce haul-off costs. The berms will be landscaped.”

A mix of equipment is on site, including a number of excavators, in various sizes, used for everything from digging in slab plumbing to undercutting large areas. Dozers, a sheepsfoot roller and vibratory compactors also are required to carry out the work. Materials include RCP 24-48 in. of DIP pipe. Sterling Highlands serves as Tynes Development’s in-house general contractor. The project team also includes Humphreys & Partners Architects and Mullins Engineering. McGough said he’s pleased to be working with experienced professionals on such a promising development.

“We’re excited to continue building in Huntsville. It’s a great city with a lot of exciting job announcements and growth. This is our fourth multifamily project to develop in Huntsville, and the second to be serving as the general contractor.”

He added, “People in the area are excited for this part of Huntsville to get newer apartments to go along with new retail and dining.”  CEG

(All photos courtesy of Sterling Highlands.)

The biggest challenge so far has been working in the winter with an abnormal amount of rain.

Sterling Highlands serves as Tynes Development’s inhouse general contractor.

The multi-million-dollar project is being built in a growing area of the Rocket City, with a large number of houses under construction.

LANDINGS from page 1

A mix of equipment is on site, including a number of excavators, in various sizes.

The project team also includes Humphreys & Partners Architects and Mullins Engineering.

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