Veterans Parkway to attract new industry, jobs for Shelby County | Business

An economic and industrial development 15 years in the making could create a multitude of jobs in Shelby County.

“The main thing we are hoping for is a positive impact for the region, not jut not Millington. What we want is a positive economic impact by creating new jobs and getting anything else good we can bring in,” Millington City Engineer, Darek Baskin, said.

Veterans Parkways - a three-mile, five-lane road providing accessable property for development - is a magnet for new or expanding industries in need of an intermodal facility.

Open for public access this Nov., the road could be a giant in distribution and transportation as it leads to the the Millington Regional Jetport- the third largest runway in the state. Also, it is adjacent to the Canadian National Railway, Co., and provides immediate access to highway 51.

The 1600 acres were donated by the U.S. Navy in 1993 after the Millington station base realignment. Over a decade later, Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Association approved funding for the project. The development became a 80 percent - 20 percent funding split with Millington providing $5.5 Million of the $26 million.

Plans for the area were always constructed around the idea of providing better accessibility for the Millington Regional Jetport and creating an ongoing economic development.

Executive director of the city-county Office of Economic Development and the new leader of  Millington Economic Development Board’s beginning Feb. 1, Charles Gulotta, said that a quality piece of infrastructure is a required precede to any economic development.

Gulotta is partially responsible for attracting a new industry to the business park that extends over the 1600 acres along Veterans Parkway. He said the Millington Economic Development Board is open to any industry whether it is a general manufacturer, a distribution center or a new office.

As far as a new facility, the board has not decided on any set plans to throw up a new building for the business park. Gullotta said that they will decide from  project analytics if the incoming industry or if Millington will be responsible for a new facility.

Baskin said the Millington community has been supportive throughout the process and that Veterans Parkway will alleviate traffic congestion for city.