Prattville council approves incentives for Owens Corning’s 190‑acre ‘Project Magnolia’

The Prattville City Council on Oct. 7 approved an economic development agreement to support “Project Magnolia,” a proposed Owens Corning manufacturing facility in the city’s South Industrial Park.

The resolution authorizing the mayor to sign the agreement passed after a public hearing in which the city’s economic developer presented the project and residents pushed for more detail about the incentives. "No, the buildings will not be pink," Economic Developer Amy Hilliard told the council while showing company renderings that use pink because, she said, the company’s mascot is the Pink Panther.

The project description in council materials says Owens Corning intends a capital investment of up to $325,000,000 on approximately 190 acres and references hiring commitments. Hilliard told the council the site was selected from a competitive process, and that the facility would include five rail tracks and could send more than 175 trucks per day. The resolution approved by the council references a jobs commitment of 89 full‑time positions and a wage commitment described in the document as "no less than the minimum average hourly wage." During council discussion Councilor Whaley said he had been told the facility positions average about $38.10 per hour.

Residents at the public hearing asked for specifics on what the city is granting. One commenter read the public notice language aloud and quoted the listed incentives, which included: a 10‑year abatement of noneducational ad valorem property taxes on real and personal property associated with the project; abatement of noneducational sales and use taxes and construction‑related taxes; waiver of certain plan‑review, grading and subdivision fees; waived initial impact or tap fees for the project's initial wastewater connection and initial water service; ground lease or transfer of title for less than fair market value; certain in‑kind contributions for rail‑line improvements; and other infrastructure assistance. Another resident urged the council to consider impacts on local small businesses and asked why similar incentives are not available locally.

Council discussion addressed who pays for rail improvements. Hilliard said grants awarded through Growing Alabama include roughly $3,400,000 to assist a portion of rail costs and that the company would cover the remaining rail expense; she said the city would not pay additional funds beyond awarded grants for that item. Councilors acknowledged they did not yet have a single consolidated dollar total for all local, county and state incentives but the resolution and the public notice satisfied the legal notice requirements cited in the packet.

The resolution cites Amendment 772 to the Constitution of Alabama and the city clerk’s publication of required notice in the Montgomery Advertiser; the council found the notice satisfied the constitutional requirement and then voted to authorize the mayor to sign the agreement. The council adopted the resolution by voice/raised‑hand vote.

What it means: the council approved incentives intended to secure the Owens Corning investment and initial jobs commitment while residents and some councilors requested more explicit, line‑by‑line disclosure of the total value of incentives and of how jobs and wages were calculated. The city will proceed to execute the written agreement and coordinate with Autauga County and the Water Works Board as provided in the approved document.

Votes at a glance: Resolution authorizing the economic development agreement for Project Magnolia — adopted (no roll‑call tally provided in the minutes).