87° M/SUNNY, Magazine puts Shoals among best in business
Last Modified: Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 8:56 p.m.
The Shoals has been recognized for its recent economic development successes by a business magazine that circulates in 17 states.
Southern Business & Development magazine ranks the Shoals as one of the "Top 10 Comeback Kids" in its Winter 2008 publication.
Also, in an upcoming edition that publishes in late June, the magazine will list the Shoals as No. 4 among the nearly 3,000 small markets in the region in terms of economic development success in 2007.
"Alabama, in general, is doing well, and the Shoals has shown to be a very attractive place for economic development," said Michael Randle, who researched and wrote the stories. "It's real obvious that the Shoals has been extremely successful.
"At no time over the past 15-16 years that we have been covering the South has the Shoals done better."
The magazine keeps track of all significant economic development announcements in the South. That data is a key component in the rankings, said Morgan Holiday, assistant to the publisher.
In the "Comeback Kids" article, the Shoals is rated second in the top 10 listing behind Augusta, Ga. Others on the list are Martinsville, Va., Danville, Va., LaGrange, Ga., Elmore County in Alabama, Little Rock, Ark., Lake Charles, La., St. Louis and Kansas City.
The article mentions that the area's double-digit unemployment rate in 2001 has fallen to about 4 percent. It touts the successes of attracting National Alabama, North American Lighting, Walgreens and SCA Tissue to the Shoals.
"That's a comeback of note," the article concludes.
Holiday said the record shows that the Shoals has "become a major player in economic development."
Community leaders view the magazine as positive recognition of the area's unified approach to recruiting industry.
"I was excited that the Shoals area got recognized for its accomplishments over the past eight years," said Muscle Shoals Mayor David Bradford. "The article talks about the number of manufacturing jobs lost in the '80s and '90s and how things have started turning around.
"The way the Shoals is working together as a unit has played a big role in our recent success. We began working on the (Retirement System of Alabama) project in 2001 and it just kept going with SCA Tissue, Walgreens, North American Lighting and National Alabama."
In the upcoming edition ranking the top small-market performers in 2007, the Shoals is joined in the top five by two Mississippi cities, one in Georgia and one in Texas. The magazine defines a small market as any metropolitan area with less than 200,000 residents.
Randle said a point system was developed to determine the list.
"Each year, we track and rank all deals involving 200 jobs or more, an investment of $30 million or more, or both. Areas receive votes based on the size of the deals."
The Shoals saw several expansions of existing industry in 2007, but the big project was the 1,800-job National Alabama railcar plant.
Like Bradford, Shoals Economic Development past chairman Macke Mauldin praised the united effort among the area's elected officials and private leaders. He also cited the work of SEDA Executive Director Forrest Wright, Assistant Director Susie Heird and other SEDA staff members.
"We focused on pulling ourselves up and putting ourselves in a position of controlling our own destiny," Mauldin said. "This recognition is a reflection of a lot of hard work by a lot of people.
"And I don't think we have realized our full potential. (With the economic incentive fund), we are now in a position to be proactive instead of reactive in economic development."
Bradford said the key for future success is continuing to work and develop the area's resources. The collection of a half-cent sales tax for economic development should assist that effort, he said.
"Now that we have a mechanism to help promote these incentives, it really gives us an upper hand with other communities to go after the jobs we want to see come here," Bradford said. "We need to keep the momentum going."
Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.
Next Article in
Events Calendar More Events Submit Event
- Law & Order
- 'He was like a father to us'
- Sheffield Holiday Inn loses its franchise
- Lions pick up former Tider Burnthall
- Deputy says shoes a match during Colbert murder trial
- Deadly fire's origin still unknown
- Jamborees kick off season
- Earthquake rattles Franklin, Marion
- Law & Order
- Former UNA coach Bill Jones dies
- Florence BOE 4 hrs ago
- ‘Be Like Aquaman’ 16 hrs ago
- Bottling Plan Pushes Groundwater to Center Stage in Vermont 16 hrs ago
- Researchers Question Wide Use of HPV Vaccines 16 hrs ago
- Senator Fails in Effort to Move His Corruption Trial to Alaska 16 hrs ago
- Too Old and Frail to Re-educate? Not in China 16 hrs ago
- Georgian Crisis Brings Attitude Change to a Flush Poland 16 hrs ago
- Report Rejects Medicare Boast of Paring Fraud 16 hrs ago
- More Than 150 Die in Madrid Plane Crash 16 hrs ago
- Big Dreams for North Korean Industrial Park 16 hrs ago
Comments
Post a comment | View all comments on this topic.
May 12, 2008 6:24:14 am
RE: http://timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/NEWS/805120316/1011
This is good news indeed and is according to the article, the result of area leaders working together. Residents of Florence should however take note that most of this good news is happening in Colbert County and it will continue to happen there if the good people of Florence do not wake up and decide to elect a dynamic, capable leader as Mayor. Bobby Irons, touted as being able to bring development to out town, has done next to nothing. Wake up people and take those Bobby Irons signs out of your yards and get behind someone who will make a difference. I don't care who you support but it is not Bobby Irons, he has had his chance and has not produced. He is a joke.
May 12, 2008 8:13:03 am
As a Florence resident, I too would like to see some of these jobs come to our side of the river. I think you have to look at the needs of the companies also. I'm not sure about Walgreen's or North American Lighting's decision to build or place their companies in Colbert county but SCA and the rail car place had good reason to go over there. It was my understanding that SCA needed a spot that was close to the river for intake reasons. I remember reading some time ago that they draw a couple hundred million gallons a day from the river or something like that. I don't understand why it coulden't have been on our side of the river, oh wait.. thats right we had to build some ball fields to replace the ball fields we already have!
As far as the rail car place goes that needed a huge spot and also needed convience to the rail line. As I recall that building alone was going to be over a mile long! I'm pretty sure the main rail line that runs along hwy 72 was the main attraction. That rail services Memphis, Decatur, and Birmingham. I don't think the line that runs into Florence industrial park has many larger depots anywhere close.
I'm sure the folks that live in Florence that make the drive all the way down to Cherokee everyday are loving the gas prices too!
May 12, 2008 8:58:49 am
Okay, which is it? Leaders working together, or Irons not? As a business owner, I don't care which side of the river gets the development. It's good for the area, which means it's good for Florence, it's good for MS, it's good for Sheffield, and it's good for Tuscumbia.
SEDA understands this, the Chamber of Comemerce understands this, apparently the municipalities understand this on occasion. Unfortunately, this area will never reach its potential until everyone gets over the "we, them" attitude that has persisted since the beginning of time in this area.
May 12, 2008 4:50:05 pm
Exactly, Crusty. "The Shoals" has to come together as one to entice good jobs. The whole three strands are stronger than one thingy...
May 13, 2008 11:40:30 am
The jobs at the RailCar plant and Lighting Company are here because of Bob Riley and David Bronner. Period. If my cute little dog was "mayor" these jobs would have come because of powers greater than exist here in local politics. They are good to have absolutely. But they aren't here because of leadership from Florence by any stretch.The people paying the extra tax is also why. Without that there is no "economic development" to use a hackneyed term.
Politicians crowing about creating jobs is like a rooster taking credit for the sunrise.
Florence "leaders" have actually screwed up the biggest capital project they are directly in control over at that Sports facility deal.
They show no imagination with a University in town, and provide no hope or opportunity for young people who are still looking for the exits. We need new, creative, energetic leadership with Vision.This same old, same old ain't getting it done. Not by a long shot. It's time for a real change.
This time let's get it right.
May 13, 2008 6:38:06 pm
Very Well said CrustyMac!!!
May 16, 2008 12:11:07 pm
NOTE !!!! I agree with Crusty 100% on this.
The horsemen are surly riding.
May 16, 2008 2:01:35 pm
Quote by Hollyhunterfan
.
.
This is true. Local government may have been involved but were very small players in this whole deal.
You know what, Hollyfan? I think your little dog would make a great mayor..but he might be susceptible to alpo or bacon bribes.
.
.
May 16, 2008 5:58:17 pm
I'm not one of those stupid partisans of Florence, but as a WORKER it sure would be nice to find a job on THIS side of the river.And why is it that whenever someone complains about Florence getting none of this action, they are accused of partisanship? If what happens in Muscle Shoals is good for Florence, then what happens in Florence must be good for Muscle Shoals too -- right? Or does that just work in one direction?
May 16, 2008 7:04:51 pm
I have no interests in either county, I moved here about two years ago. Still, while I have money to buy what I want, if I didn't, I wouldn't want to be using half my takehome pay to purchase gas. Florence needs jobs as much as Sheffield, etc.
Post a comment | View all comments