By By Lisa Tindell
news editor
City and regional officials are excited in Atmore as a new industrial neighbor moves forward with plans to make the Atmore Industrial Park its home.
Gulf Transport, a sulfur transport company, has begun work on a seven-acre plot of land in the park that will be used as their base of operations for the company. James Palmer is president of the company.
Marshall Rogers of the Escambia County Industrial Development Authority and Wiley Blankenship, president and CEO Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development, were on hand as officials with Gulf Transport signed papers giving them ownership of the property where the business will be located.
Atmore Mayor Howard Shell said the relationship with Gulf Transport is promising for the community.
Blankenship said Gulf Transport’s move to Atmore was the result of work by many people, including Coastal Gateway.
Blankenship said the location was a key factor in the company’s decision to locate in Atmore.
Palmer said the goal of the company is to grow.
Palmer will continue to serve as the company president, with Shawn Lassitter serving as the operations manager at the Atmore location.
The employees have been on the payroll for a couple of weeks, but Palmer said it is worth the expense to have those people in place.
The company is doing its part in supporting local business as much as possible for construction of the facility and other purchases for the new business.
Palmer expects construction to be complete within two months with initial groundwork having already begun at the property.
Although Palmer’s position will keep him busy at his Houston, Texas, base, he said he plans to visit Atmore often.