McClellan Development Authority

What McClellan Development Authority does

The McClellan Development Authority (MDA) is a government-backed economic development authority established to oversee the redevelopment of the former Fort McClellan Army Base, which closed in May 1999. Headquartered at 4875 Bains Gap Rd in Anniston, Alabama, the MDA manages a 10,000-acre master-planned community and offers property development opportunities across five zones: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Education, and Research & Technology. The organization generates revenue through one-time property sales and leases, supplemented by modest usage-based fees from recreational facilities including the 18-mile McClellan Multi-Use Trails, Lake Yahou Park, Camp McClellan Horse Trails, the Aquatic & Fitness Center, and Cane Creek Golf Course.

The MDA's core products and services are land and building assets rather than technology offerings. Notable completed transactions include the $3.5M sale of 94 acres and 16 buildings to FEMA for the Center for Domestic Preparedness (2014) and the $2.3M sale of the former Post Headquarters and four barracks for an independent living facility (2017). The authority manages a diverse anchor tenant ecosystem including FEMA/CDP, the Fort McClellan Army National Guard Training Center, Jacksonville State University McClellan Center, ALDI, Lowe's, International Automotive Components, and multiple healthcare providers in the McClellan Park Medical Mall. The operating model is direct-to-consumer and direct-to-enterprise, with property inquiries routed to a named staff contact (Aaron Norris) and supported by partnerships with the Economic Development Council of Calhoun County and private real estate brokers (Keller Williams, Shannon Waltchack).

The MDA is supported by a small staff of 1–10 employees led by an Executive Director, with a board providing governance oversight. It functions in close coordination with the City of Anniston, Calhoun County, and state agencies (including the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, which awarded a $653,424 grant in 2024). Its go-to-market approach combines an updated website (exploremcclellan.com), active social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Nextdoor), a quarterly newsletter, and community events such as the Alabama Cycling Association State Championship Race and the Treadhoofalon. The 2024 Certificate of Achievement from the U.S. Department of the Army and the Q4 2024 unveiling of a 700-acre trails extension concept indicate an active organization with ongoing development momentum.

Name

McClellan Development Authority

Legal name

McClellan Development Authority

Website

https://exploremcclellan.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The McClellan Development Authority is a government economic development authority that manages and redevelops a 10,000-acre master-planned community in Anniston, Alabama, originally the former Fort McClellan Army Base, serving property buyers, tenants, and recreation visitors across commercial, industrial, residential, educational, and research sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development & Land Redevelopment

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Rental and Leasing Services (532), Lessors of Real Estate (5311)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH), Equestrian & Rodeo Facilities (MPAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Real estate development
• Property management
• Recreational facilities
• Master-planned community
• Economic development

Headquarters

HQ city

Anniston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Sales and Leases: The MDA generates revenue through the sale and lease of land and buildings within the McClellan redevelopment zone, offering commercial, industrial, residential, educational, and research & technology parcels.
2. Recreation Access Fees: Revenue is generated from user fees at recreational facilities including Lake Yahou Park ($5 fishing license), Camp McClellan Horse Trails ($5 day rides, $10 primitive camping, $20 electric camping), and the Aquatic & Fitness Center (daily memberships starting at $6).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

McClellan Development Authority oversees the economic redevelopment of the 10,000-acre former Fort McClellan Army Base in Anniston, Alabama, offering land and building sales and leases across Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Education, and Research & Technology zones. It also operates multiple recreational facilities including multi-use trails, Lake Yahou Park, Camp McClellan Horse Trails, Aquatic & Fitness Center, Cane Creek Golf Course, and Anniston Sports Complex, with user fees for fishing, camping, fitness, and equestrian access.

Product overview

McClellan Development Authority is a property development and recreation authority overseeing a 10,000-acre master-planned community in Anniston, Alabama. The organization offers property development opportunities across five zones: Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Education, and Research and Technology. The portfolio includes recreation facilities (McClellan Multi-Use Trails spanning 18 miles, Lake Yahou Park with 8-acre lake, Camp McClellan Horse Trails on 900+ acres, Aquatic & Fitness Center, Cane Creek Golf Course, and Sports Complex), educational facilities (DHS/FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness, Fort McClellan Army National Guard Training Center, Jacksonville State University McClellan Center), and various available commercial, industrial, and residential properties for development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Property Development Services Property sales and leases for Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Education, and Research & Technology zones on the 10,000-acre McClellan master-planned community, targeting developers, businesses, and institutions.
• McClellan Multi-Use Trails 18 miles of multi-use singletrack trails for hikers, bikers, walkers, and runners across the McClellan community, contributing to $9.7 million in economic impact from visitor spending in 2023.
• Lake Yahou Park Recreation park featuring fishing, biking, hiking, paddle boating, picnic areas, half-mile walking trail, and 50-foot pier on an 8-acre freshwater lake; requires a $5 fishing license.
• Camp McClellan Horse Trails & Campground Over 900 acres of horse trails and campground maintained by the Back Country Horsemen of America McClellan Chapter, offering day rides ($5), primitive camping ($10), and electric camping ($20).
• Aquatic & Fitness Center Fitness center with 8-lane 25-yard pool, fitness classes, weight lifting equipment, and full-size indoor basketball court at 130 Summerall Gate Rd; daily memberships start at $6.
• Cane Creek Golf Course 18-hole public creekside golf course spanning 7,049 yards from back tees and 5,186 yards from forward tees, with 27 strategically placed bunkers, an on-site Golf Shop, and Cane Creek Grill restaurant.
• Anniston Sports Complex Athletic facility with lighted fields and courts for football, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, and track, plus picnic pavilions, duck pond, and gazebo.
• McClellan Senior Living Retirement community offering independent and assisted living with 64 apartments, guided by medical professionals through activities of daily life.

Quantifiable outcome

• McClellan Trails generated $9.7 million in economic impact from visitor spending in 2023.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FlowMotion Trail BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019FlowMotion Trail Builders has been the primary trail design and construction partner for the McClellan Multi-Use Trails. They designed Phase I (2019) as the first trails in Alabama built specifically for middle and high school mountain bikers, in collaboration with IMBA Trail Solutions. Phase II and III expanded to 18 miles. At end of 2024, FlowMotion was contracted to design a 700-acre multi-use trails extension on Iron Mountain Rd.
• IMBA Trail SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Trail Solutions collaborated with FlowMotion Trail Builders on the original design of the McClellan Multi-Use Trails Phase I in 2019.
• Calhoun County CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019In 2019, the MDA deeded 930 acres of land to the Calhoun County Commission for only $1 for the development of horse trails. The county now maintains Camp McClellan Horse Trails, which are managed by the Back Country Horsemen of America McClellan Chapter.
• FEMA / Center for Domestic PreparednesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 July 2014In July 2014, the MDA finalized a contract for the sale of 94 acres of property and 16 buildings to FEMA's Center for Domestic Preparedness for $3.5 million. The CDP provides training to ~50,000 emergency responders annually and is a major anchor tenant at McClellan.
• Economic Development Council of Calhoun County (EDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EDC maintains the McClellan Industrial Park and has several industrial properties for sale. EDC Executive Director Don Hopper can be contacted at (256) 236-0032 for industrial property inquiries. The EDC also manages the Industrial Park infrastructure improvements.
• Alabama National GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MDA aided the Alabama National Guard with the expansion of the Fort McClellan Training Facility, utilizing previously undevelopable land. This collaboration was recognized with a Certificate of Achievement from the United States Department of the Army in September 2024.
• City of AnnistoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MDA works closely with the City of Anniston on various projects including infrastructure improvements (Summerall Gate Road resurfacing, $572,000), wayfinding signs installation, police camera purchases, and the 42-acre residential subdivision plan (which was not approved by the City). Contact for property inquiries: Toby Bennington, Director of Planning and Economic Development.
• Anniston Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe MDA partnered with APD to purchase four live-feed police security cameras and three years of network cards, installed at strategic locations around McClellan in 2023 to enhance community safety.
• Back Country Horsemen of America — McClellan ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Back Country Horsemen of America McClellan Chapter maintains the Camp McClellan Horse Trails, which span over 900 acres transferred to the Calhoun County Commission in 2019. The chapter also participates in trail safety consultations for the 700-acre Iron Mountain Rd expansion.
• Jacksonville State University (JSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJSU operates the McClellan Center at McClellan, housing the Office of Continuing Education, Department of Emergency Management, Inservice Education Center, Northeast Alabama Police Academy, Center for Applied Forensics, and Strategic Partnerships and Special Projects.
• Simmons Sign & Graphics (SSG)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSSG of Gadsden designed and installed over 24 wayfinding signs around McClellan, the largest project in the company's history. Signs are color-coded and alphanumerically mapped.
• Hutto ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHutto Construction prepared the site for the 42-acre 'Park at McClellan' residential subdivision project.
• L.I. Smith & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerL.I. Smith & Associates provided the design and engineering plan for the 42-acre 'Park at McClellan' residential subdivision project, which was not ultimately approved by the City of Anniston.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• YMCA of the USA: Operator of community aquatic centers, fitness facilities, and youth sports programming. Comparable to MDA's Aquatic & Fitness Center and Anniston Sports Complex in delivering fee-based recreation and wellness programming to local communities.
• Campspot: Online reservation platform for campgrounds and RV parks — already integrated as the booking system for Camp McClellan Horse Trails. Comparable as a technology-enabled recreation access channel.

Direct peers

• Fort Ord Reuse Authority (FORA): California-based public authority established to redevelop the former Fort Ord Army base into a mixed-use community — directly comparable to MDA in mission (military base redevelopment), tools (land disposition, infrastructure planning), and customer mix (residential, commercial, education).
• Five Point Holdings: Public master-planned community developer behind Great Park Neighborhoods in Irvine, CA. Closely comparable to MDA in selling/leasing mixed-use land parcels within a redeveloped site while running community amenities.
• Newland Communities: Developer of master-planned residential and mixed-use communities across the U.S. Comparable to MDA in developing and selling/leasing land parcels within planned communities with shared amenities.

Emerging players

• American Golf Corporation: Operator of public and private golf courses nationwide. Comparable to MDA's operation of the 18-hole Cane Creek Golf Course as a fee-based public amenity within a larger community portfolio.
• Kampgrounds of America (KOA): Largest U.S. franchise of private campgrounds. Comparable to MDA's Camp McClellan Horse Trails and campground operations in delivering branded outdoor recreation stays with associated fees.

Broad incumbents

• The Howard Hughes Corporation: Developer-operator of large-scale master-planned communities including The Woodlands and Summerlin. Operates the same land-and-amenity community model as MDA, but at far greater scale and as a publicly traded REIT rather than a public authority.
• Brookfield Properties (formerly Forest City Realty Trust): Large diversified real estate operator with mixed-use developments and adaptive-reuse projects. Comparable in scope of mixed-use community operations but operates at city/national scale rather than single-site redevelopment.

Regional players

• Economic Development Partnership of Alabama: State-level economic development organization promoting business recruitment and site selection in Alabama. Comparable to MDA in promoting industrial/commercial property prospects within a defined geography, though operating statewide rather than at a single site.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/exploremcclellan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcclellan-development-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McClellan Development Authority