MidAmerica Industrial Park, Pryor, Okla.
In accordance with Merriam-Webster, an industrial park is “an space of a city or metropolis that’s designed particularly for factories or places of work.” Many industrial parks are simply that and nothing extra. However a choose variety of industrial parks nationwide are actually pushing the boundaries of what such a improvement has been or might be. Two high examples are Camp Corridor close to Charleston, S.C. and MidAmerica Industrial Park close to Tulsa, Okla.
Camp Corridor, positioned in Ridgeville, S.C., northwest of Charleston, has carved out its distinctive standing via its dedication to the setting and the safety of wildlife. Nearly 40 p.c (2,600) of the economic park’s 6,800 acres has been put aside as preserved acreage.
Efforts to keep up a pure coastal South Carolina habitat have included restoring wildlife habitats for native species, in addition to establishing a ‘pollinator pathway” traversed by birds, bees and butterflies. A wetlands restoration challenge is underway, with the objective of restoring roughly 480 acres of wetlands.
Among the many company tenants of the master-planned park is Volvo, which selected Camp Corridor as the positioning of its first-ever U.S. manufacturing plant.
Volvo workers and others who work within the park profit from a people-focused workforce design, which amongst different perks provides them entry to a greater than 15-mile path system via the park. One other amenity is Avian Commons, a Wi-Fi linked assortment of small companies that features a comfort retailer, dry cleaner, financial institution, health heart and gasoline heart. It should ultimately incorporate an occasion garden and playfield for gatherings and celebrations.
“Camp Corridor is exclusive in that it places simply as a lot emphasis on the realm’s pure magnificence and nature because it does on infrastructure and facilities,” stated Charleston Regional Improvement Alliance Director of World Enterprise Megan Anderson. “Potential corporations have been blown away on the high quality of place they might doubtlessly provide their future workers.”
Constructing workforce
In Pryor, Okla., 45 miles east of Tulsa, MidAmerica Industrial Park (MAIP) stands out for its evolution into what its chief government officer calls “a multifaceted employment heart.” Working for nearly six many years, MAIP encompasses 9,000 acres, is the most important industrial park within the Sooner State and one of many largest within the U.S.
It’s not solely residence to 80 corporations that embrace Google, Chevron, Siemens and different Fortune 500 companies, but additionally gives well being care companies and is now constructing housing inside the park. A strong workforce improvement part trains future staff. MAIP has cast strategic alliances with on-site instructional companions delivering related applications and companies the park’s employers require.
As nicely, MAIP has unveiled a brand new MidAmerica Profession Middle, a form of one-stop store for profession steering. It additionally hyperlinks employers to essential job sources accessed from state, tribal and company companies.
Staying invested
“In right now’s financial improvement market, the evolution of an industrial park right into a multi-faceted employment heart is a cornerstone to inclusive progress in jobs and other people,” stated David Stewart, MAIP’s CEO. “We proceed to evolve, not solely to stay related, but additionally to surpass the competitors and meet the ever-changing calls for of business . . . With out the generations of laborious work behind us, we’d not have the expertise essential to compete as a top-tier web site location for mega employers.”
MidAmerica Industrial Park has reaped huge success in luring worldwide corporations like DuPont, Canoo and others.
Famous Arthur Jackson, senior vp of financial improvement on the Tulsa Regional Chamber: “Not solely does its measurement and central location make it an excellent place for companies, however MidAmerica continues to put money into infrastructure and workforce improvement, positioning the park for future progress.”