Perry County receives grants for industrial access road in Marion

According to an announcement from Commissioner Albert Turner Jr., Perry County has received two grants to be used for an industrial access road in Marion. 

The grants come from Delta Regional Authority and the Alabama Department of Transportation, totaling $807,000 for an industrial access road that will lead to Tekpak, Inc. 

Tekpak is a private company that produces spiral wound paper containers, tubular products, food and consumer packaging, as well as paper-based disposable medical devices, Turner's announcement said.

Turner said that the owner, Merrill Ketchum, had approached government officials about an access road to alleviate apparent ingress and egress problems at the plant. 

The plant was nearly moved to Bessemer until Ketchum began working with the Perry County Commission. Turner said that keeping the plant in the county has helped with economic and job growth. 

"(T)his is the most significant economic development project for Perry County and the City of Marion in a long time," his announcement said. 

The commission and the Perry County Engineering Department will address the Marion City Council at the next meeting to ask permission to have access to Washington Street and its right of way to begin construction.