Located just 75 minutes from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and accessible by an interstate highway, the city of Opelika in neighboring Alabama has become a much talked about investment center in the United States.
“Opelika presents itself as a viable location for business because of the ease of transportation, the educational partners that we have and the city’s preparedness to welcome investment from Japan and elsewhere. Pharmaceuticals, bioindustries, aerospace and advanced manufacturing companies already find Opelika to be a great location,” said Opelika Economic Development Director Lori Huguley, CEcD.
Various companies have chosen to build in or locate to the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park, a 2,400-acre (971-hectare) master-planned development along the western boundary of I-85. With an interstate interchange built specifically for large truck traffic and great connectivity throughout the Southern United States, the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park provides distinct logistical advantages.
Over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city attracted more than $70 million worth of investment in the community. Two years later, there are no signs of a slowdown, with additional investments totaling over $330 million.
Among its recent achievements was Pharmavite’s expansion in the city. In 2021, the Japanese-owned company Otsuka spent an additional $7.9 million to expand operations, a move that created 81 jobs for the local economy.
“Our Northeast Opelika Industrial Park has all the utility infrastructure in place. That makes it very attractive to a company that needs to establish a greenfield location because we still have shovel-ready property available in that industrial park,” Huguley said.
“We are extremely interested in pharmaceutical and bioindustries from Japan, especially those looking to establish a location in the U.S. The city of Opelika is extremely business-friendly and your success is our No. 1 goal. With great community and leadership support, we help our companies do just that. We are here throughout the entire process as your partner,” she added.
