“The former Westpoint plant represents a tremendous opportunity to turn that intotax base,” Halifax Development Commission Director Cathy Scott told city council at its meeting tonight.

The former fabricating plant sits on more than 50 acres of land near Ledgerwood Field. “We've had some meetings and discussed plans,” Scott said. “All the partners have not bought in.”

Scott said the plant is a prime heavy industrial site. “It's got the potential to create high-income jobs.”

The plant was one of the buildings officials recently showed state Secretary of Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker, City Manager Joseph Scherer said. “She indicated how impressed she was with the infrastructure we have in place.”

Scott said the infrastructure has been one of the reasons the county has been able to land clients like Klausner Lumber. It is also a reason, she said, to keep strong relationships with the commerce department.

Following the meeting, Scherer said, “It's very important to have such a prime industrial (site) especially with the uptick in the economy.”

Scherer said discussions have centered on forming a public-private partnership to market the plant.