Jasmyne Ray
The project development agreement with McLeod Software has the potential to bring more technology industries to the Meadowbrook complex.
At the Nov. 13 meeting, the Shelby County Commission held a public hearing and approved a project development agreement with a local trucking and logistics software company.
The Tom McLeod Software Corporation, Software Guys LLC and Software Guys 2.0 LLC is in the process of moving into the Meadow Brook complex at 100 Corporate Parkway in Hoover. McLeod Software operates the largest software company in the state.
The corporation will occupy 80,000 square feet of the facility already on the property, but as part of its economic development project, McLeod will eventually need to occupy between 140,000 and 160,000 square feet.
McLeod Software has estimated that it will invest approximately $12,578,000 into the project. With 343 full-time employees, part of the project goal is to add 200 more full-time employees over the next five years. This will increase their total employment to 550 full-time employees, as well as bring new job opportunities into the Hoover area.
For every new employee the corporation brings on to their staff, the county will pay McLeod back 1 percent of that additional payroll. The current average wage of a full-time McLeod Software employee is $98,951 annually. The 1 percent paid back is not to exceed the cumulative amount of $150,000 that the county has granted them as part of an incentive agreement over five years.
The board of directors for 58 Inc. reviewed, approved and recommended the agreement to the Shelby County Commission at the Oct. 17 meeting. Chad Scroggins, the county development services manager and a member of the 58 Inc. board of directors, was present at the Nov. 13 commission meeting to speak on their behalf. He said they’re excited for such an opportunity to come to Shelby County and that the project will be a “catalyst” for growth in the Meadow Brook complex.
McLeod Software has already renovated 90,000 square feet of its new facility and will be having a ribbon cutting at their new facility on Dec. 4.
The Commission voted unanimously to approve the incentives.
County engineer Randy Cole updated the commissioners on the progress of some of the county’s road work. The intersection of County Road 280 and County Road 47 will be installing a temporary traffic signal, while the parts for a permanent traffic signal are ordered and shipped. Currently, the county has a contract officer directing traffic at the intersection.
Additionally, the railroad crossing on County Roads 31 and 61 have recently had their concrete panels removed by the Norfolk Southern Railway Company. Due to repairs, however, the company has not put the panels back in place. According to Cole, the panels cost around $28,000, which the county is willing to spend to have them put back in place, but at the moment it’s a matter of finding a company to do the work.
In other Commission news:
- County manager Alex Dudchock announced the purchase of 140 acres of land to be used as long term cover for the Shelby County landfill.
- Shelby County received a gift of over $1 million from Dr. Thelma Mueller’s estate for the Shelby County Alabama Public Library System.
- County paving projects will be soon be finished, pending the weather permitting workable conditions.
