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A Message from the President

As the saying goes, Spring has certainly sprung here in Alabama. Along with the azaleas and hydrangeas, we're fortunate to have new facility locations and expansions popping up across the state. As you'll see from the table below, this first quarter has certainly been a busy one. We can attribute this to our fantastic business climate and the outstanding teamwork between local and state-level economic development organizations. Our team here at EDPA stands ready to provide assistance for companies looking to locate in Alabama - where everything is coming up roses.

Birmingham among "most livable" cities in the U.S.

Add “one of the most livable mid-sized cities in the nation” to Birmingham’s boast list. The national nonprofit group Partners for Livable Cities ranked Birmingham among its elite 30 of the best cities in which to live, work and play. The rankings are based on novel approaches to economic development, creative financing strategies and collaborative leadership to improve their downtowns. To find out more about what makes Birmingham one of the elite, visit www.mostlivable.org.

New and expanding industry

Alabama continues to roll out the red carpet for new and expanding industries. In the first quarter alone, companies invested more than $450 million and created more than 3,000 jobs. Following is a breakdown of first quarter announcements for 2004:
 
 
 

The Southern Advantage

In The Southern Advantage, Tennessee corporate executive Joe Hollingsworth Jr., defines the South as a vivacious engine, emerging in the 21st century as the nation’s economic leader. According to a review by writer Cecil Johnson, “The Southern Advantage makes the case for investing or locating in the South so effectively that it should be an indispensable tool in the kit of every economic-development specialist in every chamber of commerce and every agency of local and state government in the South.”

Huntsville fighting the "brain drain"

While cities across the country are struggling to fight the “brain drain,” downtown Huntsville is stepping up to attract young professionals with plans for an artist colony district with clusters of art galleries and studios as well as a 1,000-seat Performing Arts Theater. The recently unveiled Create Huntsville Plan centers on expanding the city’s arts and cultural opportunities in a variety of ways to support Huntsville-Madison County’s economic development goals. The plan notes that young professionals seek to work in cities with lively downtowns featuring a wide array of arts and entertainment opportunities.

EDPA News

Jennifer Braxton has joined the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama as Economic Development Analyst. Braxton joins EDPA from World Business Advisors, where she worked extensively with economic development research and proposal analysis. Previously, Braxton was employed with Southern Progress Corporation, where she worked in the Southern Living Advertising Department as a research assistant and a research analyst for seven years. Braxton is a graduate of Alabama A&M University.

Tammy Radmard and Ernie Cowart, CEcD, have been promoted to Senior Economic Development Analyst. Radmard has been employed with EDPA since 1997 and is a graduate of Troy State University. Cowart has been employed with EDPA since 2000. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama, and his Masters in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi.

EDPA Vice President Angela Wier promoted Alabama's aerospace industry in a speech given at the Speed News second annual aerospace and defense suppliers conference in Los Angeles.

Local Economic Development News

Nails joins Morgan County Economic Development Association
Jeremy Nails was recently named Vice President of the Morgan County Economic Development Association (MCEDA). He joins MCEDA from the North Alabama Industrial Development Association (NAIDA) where he worked as Project Manager. Jeremy is a graduate of The University of Alabama and the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

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