User talk:Lissoy/Opelika

This page is for discussion concerning some development of the Opelika, Alabama article which does not necessarily belong on that article's talk page.

New to Wikipedia

Hi, Lissoy. I am new to Wikipedia and am interested in contributing to the Opelika article as my first project. Since it is your article, I was wondering if you would mind walking through some of my ideas with me. If you don't mind working with me, would it be easier to correspond through a user page or email? Thanks.--Clm4 02:09, 25 September 2006 (UTC)

Absolutely, I'd be happy to work with you. I've set up subpage of my talk page that we can use if you'd like at User talk:Lissoy/Opelika. Keep in mind, though, that the Opelika article is no more my article than it is yours: I have spent a lot of time in researching it and helping to put it together as it is currently and so I maintain a strong intrest in its quality and accuracy, but it isn't my article. Always feel free to add useful and relevant content to it or any other article on Wikipedia--be bold! I look forward to working with you. Welcome to Wikipedia! -- Lissoy 01:22, 26 September 2006 (UTC)

First Section

Thank you! I think this will be very helpful for me. I really do appreciate your time. I thought I would just start at the beginning of the article and work my way through it. Here are my thoughts about enriching the first section:

Opelika is a city in Lee County in east central Alabama. It is the county seat of Lee County and is a principal city, along with Auburn, Alabama, in the Auburn-Opelika, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). According to 2005 Census estimates, the population of Opelika is 23,804. The Auburn-Opelika, Alabama MSA is part of the greater Columbus-Auburn-Opelika, Georgia-Alabama Combined Statistical Area.

Clm4 02:42, 27 September 2006 (UTC)

Education Section

Lissoy,

Here are my revisions to the Education section of the Opelika article. I would certainly appreciate your feedback before I make the changes to the actual article. Please note that I have not included the appropriate links and citations here but will add them to the article once the changes are made. Thanks and hope to hear from you. --Clm4 16:04, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

Opelika is home to a branch of Southern Union Community College. Southern Union is a two-year community and technical college offering academic, industrial, and health sciences training. Southern Union is the only two-year college in Lee County, and is the largest two-year campus in the region. South Union employs 72 full-time and 137 part-time employees. It’s enrollment stands at approximately 2,718 in the academic division and 1,600 in the technical division. Current technical programs include: Automotive Technology, Business Management and Supervision, Computer Science, Drafting and Design Technology, Heating and Air Conditioning Technology, Industrial Electricity/Electronics Technology, Industrial Maintenance Technology, Machine Shop Technology, Office Administration, Accounting, General Secretarial, Welding Technology, and Word Processing.

The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA is also home to Auburn University. Auburn University was founded in 1856 and is one of the largest universities in the South. The university employs approximately 1,176 full time faculty and, in the fall of 2005, enrolled 23,333 students. The faculty to student ratio is 1:16.

Opelika City Schools is accredited by the Alabama State Department of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school system enrolls approximately 4,500 students on nine campuses. Opelika has three primary schools with grades K-2, three intermediate schools with grades 3-5, one middle school with grades 6-8, one high school with grades 9-12, and one at-risk school. Opelika's schools have traditionally had strong programs in technology and the arts.

58.7% of teachers in the public school system hold advanced degrees. In 2005, the system graduated 267 students. Opelika City Schools system met its state accountability goals (2005-2006 AYP Status: Made AYP) for 2005-2006.

In recent years, Opelika’s percentage of students on free or reduced lunches rose to 58.66% during the 2005-2006 school year. Concurrently, its average scores on statewide standardized tests fell (though the most recent scores on the High School Graduation Exam were at or above the state average in three of the five subjects measured) [8]. The impact of the percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunches on standardized tests outcomes can significantly affect how achievement is measured. According to research conducted by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, Opelika City Schools performed above the expected results for a school with the number of children enrolled who are receiving free or reduced lunch.

Work on last part of History Section

Hi, Lissoy. I've been working on the last part of the history section. I would like to replace the last three paragraphs with the paragraphs below (citations and links not included here). I welcome your discussion and hope to get your input. Thanks! --Clm4 00:09, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Between the late 1970's and 2005, non-agricultural employment in the Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA grew at a slow and steady pace. Of the goods producing industries, the metropolitan area has experienced the most change in manufacturing, peaking in the late 1980's with declining employment since then. This trend appears to be changing, however, as the number of manufacturing jobs has risen steadily since 2002.

In the late 1990's, Opelika sought to increase its industrial employment base by purchasing and developing the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park. Since 1999, two major distribution centers and three tier 1 automotive suppliers have located within the park. The site has also attracted serious interest from automakers Audi, Nissan, and Hyundai [4]. In the summer of 2003, the park was recognized as one of the "South's Best Automotive Assembly Plant Sites" by Southern Business & Development, an industry trade publication.

Opelika has also experienced a boom in retail development. TigerTown, a new 130-acre mixed-use development, will be east Alabama's largest retail center with more than 800,000 square feet of retail space when completed. Located at the intersection of Interstate 85 and Highway 280 in Opelika, TigerTown's tenants include The Home Depot, Target, Best Buy, Starbucks Coffee, PETCO, Office Depot, Hibbett Sports, World Market, Hobby Lobby, and Old Navy, to name a few.

As industrial and retail growth spur the city forward, the city may see an increase in its population. Opelika's population stood in 2000 at 23,638, and after several years of small losses, estimates show Opelika's 2005 population to be 23,804.[5].

Population Projections Question

Lissoy,

I am interested in learning more about the population projections you mention in the Law and Government section. Can you direct me to the source? I checked out the Census website but only found state level projections. I'm sure I'm just overlooking it somewhere. Thanks for your help! --Clm4 01:15, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Economy Section

Lissoy,

I've been working on the economy section and would like to replace the existing economy section with the following. Again, I've omitted the references and links for the purposes of this page but will certainly include them when I post the changes to the Opelika article. I would appreciate any feedback or discussion that you may have. Thanks! --Clm4 03:07, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

Over the past several years, Opelika’s economy has shifted away from a traditional basis in textile manufacturing. Since 2004, the city has experienced revitalization in many segments of the economy, including commercial, residential and industrial activity. In 2005, Opelika issued permits for almost $188 million in building projects, which set a record for the city.

Recent projects include the 800,000-square-foot Jo-Ann Stores Distribution Center, an employer of 150 with plans to expand to 425 employees. Other new, large employers include Maxforma Plastics (a supplier for Hyundai) and Gambro Renal Products (a Swedish manufacturer of dialyzers for kidney dialysis). Gambro made the largest single initial investment in Lee County’s history of $110 million. For the 2005 fiscal year, new industries made investments of $170 million.

In addition to new industries moving to the city, two existing industries have announced plans to expand their operations. Twin City Wholesale made a capital investment of $2 million and brought on 10 new employees. The Opelika-Auburn News (now a Media General Company) plans to build a new publishing center, which will bring a capital investment of $13.5 million and add 20 additional employees. The grand total of investments from new and existing industries in 2005 was $191.5 million.

The Tiger Town retail shopping complex continues to expand its commercial developments with the recent openings of Hobby Lobby and World Market and the 2006 opening of The Olive Garden restaurant.

Opelika has received several honors over the last several years for its success in attracting new business. In 2004, The City of Opelika's Economic Development Department was named one of the top 10 economic development groups in North America by Site Selection magazine, a national industry trade publication covering corporate real estate management and economic development. Site Selection again recognized the efforts of the Opelika Economic Development Department in its Top Groups 2005 list in the Honorable Mention category.

In early 2006, the Economic Development Association of Alabama named Opelika the top community in Alabama for business recruitment for the year 2005. Opelika also received the #1 rank in the South as “Small Market of the Year” by Southern Business and Development Magazine, a professional publication that helps corporations around the country (and world) in their expansion, relocation and development decisions. The city earned its #1 status through its success in bringing Gambro, Jo-Ann, Maxforma, Benteler and Mando Corporation to the community in 2005.

Final Comments

Lissoy,

Just wanted to say thanks again for creating this page to post ideas for changes to the Opelika article. Have you had a chance to look over any of them? I've posted the sections to which I propose substantial changes. I am ready to make the changes to the article itself and thought that it would be helpful to have any discussion prior to posting them. If I don't hear from you, I'll go ahead with the changes. Thanks. --Clm4 01:45, 16 October 2006 (UTC)