By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The Shelby West Corporate Park has been designated as an AdvantageSite program.

Warren McCullars, the director of economic development at Alabama Gas Corporation, made the announcement during the Oct. 10 county commission meeting.

The program is jointly sponsored by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, Alabama Development Office, Alabama Gas Corporation, Alabama Power Company, the North Alabama Industrial Development Association and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.

The voluntary program was developed to confirm that an industrial site has met certain criteria and is ready to support new and expanding industry.

“The AdvantageSite designation puts Shelby West Corporate Park at the forefront of potential sites for projects that require detailed site specifications in short timeframes,” according to a printed description of the program given to commissioners.

“We are pleased to have Shelby West Corporate Park join the list,”  McCullars told commissions.

Shelby County Manager Alex Dudchock said the county is “excited about that location.”

In other news from the meeting:

-The Department of Justice has approved Shelby County’s new commission districts, Dudchock said. The districts were redrawn after 2010 census figures were released.

-A total of 565 vehicles dropped off 361 tons of debris last weekend during a free disposal day at the Shelby County landfill, Dudchock said.