Rainbow City contributes $1 million to Northeast Alabama Regional Megasite

Rainbow City Mayor Joe Taylor called his city’s contribution of $1 million in American Rescue Plan funds to the Northeast Alabama Regional Megasite “an investment in our future.”

And the Etowah County Commission sees it as a way to “bridge the gap,” as Commissioner Craig Inzer Jr. put it, in funding a costly but essential design study for an interchange on Interstate 59 leading to the 1,100-acre megasite.

Rainbow City, a partner with Etowah County in the Northeast Alabama Regional Megasite, is contributing $1 million in American Rescue Plan funds to the project.
Commissioners on Sept. 24 accepted the infusion that will be paid in two $500,000 installments: one in Fiscal Year 2024, which ends shortly, and the other in Fiscal Year 2025. Shane Ellison, the county’s chief administrative officer, said it will be used “for interchange design and other infrastructure (water and sewer).

Taylor said Rainbow City spent about half its ARPA money “on upgrades and different opportunities in our city,” but held some in reserve for the megasite because of its links to the project.

Etowah County and Rainbow City in May 2022 signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a working relationship on the megasite. Rainbow City has pledged to facilitate the installation of water and sewer lines to the site and improve its marketability and has annexed it farther into its city limits, so it’ll have access to first responders and other assistance.

And when a new industry locates at the site, Rainbow City will purchase the project from the county.

“A lot of people used their ARPA money on ‘feel good’ things,” Taylor said. “That’s an amount that doesn’t come along very often, and we wanted to use it as an investment in the future of Rainbow City.”


Commission President Tim Ramsey, a former member of the Rainbow City Council, called it an example of the trust between the parties for Rainbow City to say, “Here’s a million dollars to go toward our megasite, although obviously it’s their infrastructure also.”

Ellison added, “We are thankful Rainbow City volunteered to facilitate this, and we’re thankful for their partnership.”

Inzer said the interchange design study will cost about $4 million, but it’s mandated by federal and state regulations.

“It has to be done to bring Rainbow City into the megasite,” he added, “and it’s really going to help with water connectivity and everything else. It’s another step in the right direction.”