BAY MINETTE — Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery arrived in China Wednesday where she will present seminars to members of the hybrid automotive company, Hybrid Kinetics Motors, and their investors.

The company announced its intentions to build a new car plant in Baldwin County, north of Bay Minette, in August 2009.

The mayor and other county officials, including county commissioners and representatives from the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, North Baldwin Utilities and others, traveled to China during the summer to tour automotive factories over there.

In a letter received by Tillery early last week, a representative from America’s Center for Foreign Investment in Pasadena, Calif. asked Tillery to come speak on behalf of Alabama and Baldwin County.

“After months of smaller and more personal seminars and meetings, we have a good opportunity for another large scale event (such as the one in June),” ACFI Executive Assistant Colin Legerton said in an e-mail to Tillery. “This one will be held in Shenzhen, one of the largest and wealthiest cities in China.”

Legerton said Tillery was selected because of her presentation during the June visit.

“Your speech was frequently cited as the highlight of the June 9th event, and we would love if you could attend and introduce the investors in Shenzhen to the beauty of lower Alabama and Baldwin County’s support of HK Motors,” Legerton said.

In addition to Shenzhen, Tillery will also visit investors in Shanghai and Beijing.

“The ACFI and HK Motors teams have been working tirelessly these past few months … traveling across China, meeting with agents and signing up investors, and making progress in other countries as well,” Legerton said in the e-mail.

Tillery announced her trip during the Bay Minette City Council meeting Monday.

“I accept this (invitation) on behalf of the state of Alabama, the county and the city of Bay Minette to go to China and speak to these groups.” Tillery said. “One of the most thrilling things I can tell you of this great honor is that we are workforce ready and willing. That is our message to these investors in these foreign countries. You invest here, you have a job force that is ready.”

Tillery said Bay Minette and Baldwin County have what new industries need.

“We have the land, we have the perseverance and the determination to make this happen,” she said.

The mayor will take with her a collection of letters of support from various officials, including state and federal representatives, county commissioners, Gov. Bob Riley, Gov.-elect Robert Bentley and Baldwin County Superintendent Dr. Alan Lee.

“One of the things they want to know: Are we ready education wise? And yessiree Bob we are,” she said.

Tillery said she received a commitment of support from officials throughout the region. 

“We will all benefit from this,” she said. “It is my desire to convey to all of the investors that we are ready; we are ready community-wide and we welcome the chance to participate in this industry of tomorrow, green industry, jobs for today and tomorrow.”