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Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. announced March 28th, 2011 that it has selected Thomasville, Ala. as the location for its first manufacturing facility in the United States. Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. is the leading supplier of precision copper products throughout the world. Read more in our
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Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group
Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. Chooses Thomasville, Alabama for the First U.S. Plant
Investment $100 Million
THOMASVILLE - Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. announced March 28th, 2011 that it has selected Thomasville, Ala. as the location for its first manufacturing facility in the United States. Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. is the leading supplier of precision copper products throughout the world. The company will provide its American customers with products produced in the new Thomasville plant, which is located in Clarke County. Final terms of the agreement are subject to approval by the various government entities of the state of Alabama and the People's Republic of China.
Upon completion of the $100 million copper manufacturing facility, Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. is projected to employ more than 300 people. The company will work with Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) for workforce development. The 500,000+ sq. ft. facility and campus will be located on a 50-acre parcel of property on US Highway 43 (SR-13) in Clarke County. Additionally, it is 97 miles from the Port of Mobile.
Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. in Thomasville will be an application center for the most modern copper tube mill in the world, employing state of the art cast and roll technology, processing methodology and equipment. The processing equipment will have a closed loop recirculating system, and a water treatment center producing negligible water discharge in any form. The plant will have the capacity to transform more than 100 million pounds of copper per year using advanced proprietary continuous casting technologies capable of producing 100% NDT (non-destructive testing) certified products.
"Our customer's needs are our top priority. We are fortunate to have a high quality, loyal customer base in the United States," said Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc.'s Chairman Li Changjie. "Our new facility in Thomasville, Ala. will allow Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. to continue to provide the highest quality copper products available in the US market. While we were fortunate to find many excellent sites for our first U.S. facility, Thomasville was the right fit for us."
Governor Bentley was on hand for the signing ceremony. "The State of Alabama welcomes Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc.'s first manufacturing facility in the United States to Thomasville," said Governor Bentley. "The team at Golden Dragon will find the best and most dedicated workforce in Alabama ready and eager to partner with them. Welcome to Alabama, Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc."
"Though the gods sent us clouds today, however in our hearts there is sunshine," said Li, speaking through a translator at the ceremony. "We agree together that we have a great investment environment here," Li said.
At the ceremony, Congresswoman Terri Sewell said, "Today is a great day. It's a great day for the City of Thomasville. It's a great day for Clarke County and the Black Belt, and it's a great day for the state of Alabama."
"Thomasville has gone through a very stringent selection process and we are grateful that Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. has selected us as the site for their first U.S. facility," said Sheldon Day, Mayor of Thomasville. "We are pleased and honored to welcome Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. to Thomasville and to Alabama."
State, Federal and local officials along with the Alabama Development Office worked together to recruit Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. to Thomasville.
"I would like to commend the visionary leadership of Mayor Day, the City of Thomasville, and Clarke County as well as the state of Alabama. I think that only through partnerships such as these can we really move the state of Alabama forward," said Congresswoman Sewell.
"Alabama has a strong, growing base of international investment, but until today, we had no companies from China on that list that we had successfully recruited. I am proud that GD Copper will join us as an international partner in investment," said Alabama Development Office Director Seth Hammett. "I am also excited that Thomasville will be an application center for cutting edge research and development and glad that the city was the right fit for GD Copper," he continued. "As one of Alabama's newest corporate citizens, we stand ready to help your company prosper in our state."
"Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. will be an excellent addition to the region's industrial community. GD Copper's commitment to creating opportunity for the citizens in the region, their reputation and stature within the industry, and their expressed desire to be good corporate citizens reflect the quality of this project," said Jim Searcy, Executive Director of Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance (CGEDA).
The selection came after months of intensive due diligence on the part of Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. and its representatives. "This transaction represents a significant milestone in U.S. China relations. We have worked with many state's development office officials and received more than 62 submissions during this RFP process and each one was outstanding, but we were thoroughly impressed with the passion and commitment shown to us by Alabama and Thomasville officials resulting in the final selection," Raymond Cheng, CEO of Sozo Group, which has been retained by Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. as corporate advisors and consultants for the project. "This endeavor represents the outstanding commitment of city, county, and state officials in working together to create jobs and bring the best to their local communities.
Cheng praised Mayor Day's tireless efforts for the City of Thomasville. "On behalf of my team, we pledge full support. We pledge that we will work tirelessly also to bridge cultural gaps, to iron out all the issues, and to make sure that we are great corporate citizens in the local community," said Cheng.
"I believe this is a great start to many opportunities to come, and we look forward to working with Governor Bentley and the Alabama Federal Delegation on those as they develop," Cheng said.
Searcy Said, "While there will be in excess of 300 jobs created, in association with this project, the true regional benefit will be the validation provided for all the communities in the Coastal Gateway Region. For GD Copper to select Thomasville, after such a rigorous selection process, is indicative of how effective and successful cooperation and regionalism can be. Thomasville was selected from after 62 communities had been considered. A rural community in southwest Alabama was selected because it had the necessary infrastructure but also the passion and commitment to compete".
About Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc.
Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group Inc. located in Xinxiang City, Henan, China. It is the world's largest producer of specialized copper tubing. It is active in product research in China, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. For more information, please visit www.gdcopper.com.
About Thomasville, Ala.
For more information, please visit www.thomasvilleal.com.
About the Alabama Development Office (ADO)
For more information, please visit www.ado.alabama.gov.
About Clarke County
For more information, please visit www.clarkecountyal.com.
About Sozo Group
The SoZo Group is a corporate advisory company bringing high quality investors together with U.S. businesses to develop mutually beneficial investment opportunities. For more information, please visit www.sozonet.com.
About Alabama-China Partnership
For more information, please visit www.alabamachina.com.
Media Contact:
205-307-6572
Darlene Rotch, Darlene@prview.com
1-205-328-9334 ext. 1, Mobile 1 205-531-5181
Sonja Lother, Sonja@prview.com
1-205-328-9334, Mobile 1 205-807-1262 |
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CGEDA 2011 EDPA Community Partner
 | | CGEDA Board of Directors & Executive Director, Jim Searcy met with EDPA Representatives in January. |
Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance (CGEDA) recently signed on as a Community Partner of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), becoming one of 16 participants in the current program. EDPA developed the program to give proactive communities and regions the opportunity to work strategically with EDPA and its Strategic Partners to solve specific needs and enhance the efforts of local and regional economic development efforts. CGEDA will utilize the resources associated with the program to continue development of comprehensive regional economic development strategy that addresses the regions diverse assets.
This partnership between Coastal Gateway and EDPA will allow more efficient use of resources when addressing issues related to marketing, workforce development, and the establishment of an effective existing business initiative. One of the first projects undertaken as a result of this partnership is a survey of the current CGEDA board to determine priorities and gain insights into the expectations of the board and to identify appropriate benchmarks in evaluating the overall effectiveness of CGEDA. One of the most beneficial aspects of this partnership is the availability of resources that can be directed to local economic development efforts.
This partnership is an important step in creating a more cohesive region with common goals that also reflect the uncommon diversity that is ultimately the strength of the Coastal Gateway Region.
Buildings & Sites Report
EDPA provides it's Community Partners with reports that track how often a property is accessed by public web users of the Buildings, Sites, and Communities database at www.edpa.org. Please click here to view the reports. CGEDA and Choctaw County are in the process of adding buildings and sites to the database. |
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El Camino East/ West Corridor Update
 A group of dedicated community leaders from the states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana gathered in Washington, D. C. the week of February 7th - 10th, 2011, in support of an ongoing project to four lane U. S. Highway 84, the El Camino East/West Corridor, from Brunswick, Georgia to El Paso, Texas, a distance of some 1,729 miles. What is presently known as the El Camino East/West Corridor Commission was created in 1989, and has as its members dedicated community leaders from the aforementioned states, as well as Texas.
The project was originally designed as an economic boost to regions of the states through which U. S. Highway 84 passes. The El Camino Commission is dedicated to completing the entire corridor for a fourfold reason: to serve as a major east-west emergency evacuation route in the wake of Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, Rita, etc.; to stimulate economic development and tourism through a largely rural slice of America; to relieve the heavy traffic flow on interstates 10 and 20; and to preserve the historic significance of the corridor.
The corridor is rural in nature, with its mid-point being the Natchez, MS, Vidalia, LA area. Along the corridor, major employers are those involved in agricultural products, timber, and textiles. All have been adversely affected by the global economy, and are in vital need of the four lane highway infrastructure in order to foster continued growth and development. According to Marty Parker, Customer Focus/Governmental Affairs Manager for Boise Paper in Alabama, there is a critical need for four laning the highway across Alabama to support existing industry, and to attract any new industry. "All counties in Alabama to the west of interstate 65, through which U. S. 84 crosses, continue to demonstrate population losses. We need this highway to grow and support our existing businesses, and if we are to continue to attract new industries, it is critical."
In all, this scenic route passes through the heartland of the Old South, crossing some 48 counties in the southern United States, as well as six Louisiana parishes, impacting 1.5 million residents of these areas. When considering the economic impact of the corridor, and taking into account the population base within 75 miles of the corridor, the population impacted is close to seven million persons. In the total 1,729 miles of El Camino in the United States, the only two metropolitan areas it intersects are the trade center of Dothan, AL, and the Temple-Killen-Belten, Texas area. The remainder of the route is strictly small town U.S.A., which offers tremendous opportunities for tourism and economic development.
As the project currently stands, the states of Georgia and Mississippi are well on their way to completion of the four laning in their respective states. Georgia has completed 234 miles of four lane, with only 25 miles left, currently in the design phase, for a total of 259 miles. Alabama has completed 54% of its project, with 127.64 miles completed in four lane, 17.32 miles in the design phase, and 5.58 miles in construction, and another 90.12 miles not in the planning stages. Mississippi has completed 176.20 miles in four lane, with 10 miles pending in the construction phase, for a total of 186.20 miles. Louisiana has completed 26 miles in four lane, with 8.20 currently in the design phase, and 2.0 miles in the construction phase, and 131.8 miles pending construction. Although there was no representative from Texas at the annual meeting, the project is 73% completed in Texas, with a total project length of 704 miles, 513 of which are in four lane, with 191 miles pending construction.
According to El Camino Corridor Commission President, Janet Sullivan (who also works for the Mississippi Department of Transportation under Executive Director Butch Brown) the corridor is vital to the State of Mississippi, which is why the project is being encouraged by their delegation, even though the state has virtually completed its own four laning, in a methodical approach which was begun in 1989. "Mississippi has proven that it can be done, now we just need our partners in Alabama, Louisiana and Texas to come to the table and declare this a high priority project." Georgia, like Mississippi, is well on its way to completion of the corridor. David Nichols, Mayor of Monticello, Mississippi, and Vice President of the El Camino Corridor Commission, echoes Janet Sullivan in saying that..."since the four lane process has been completed through Monticello, it has brought economic development projects to our town that otherwise would not have looked here."
In the words of Wayne Brown, Highway Commissioner through the southern part of Mississippi, "El Camino is a true economic development highway. If you build it, they will come."
For additional information on El Camino, please visit the website, at www.elcaminocorridor.org; or contact Sandy Smith, Director of the Monroeville Chamber of Commerce. Smith can be reached at (251) 743-2879 or sandy@monroecountyal.com. |
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Choctaw County Hospital Groundbreaking
 | | Photo Courtesy of Rush Health Systems, Inc. |
BUTLER - "Let us celebrate this day as a sign of better things to come for Choctaw County," J.W. Cowan, newly appointed administrator of Choctaw General Hospital, said during last Thursday's groundbreaking for the new facility.
Hundreds of local residents, elected officials, Rush Health System officials, media, and other well-wishers gathered in Butler on Thursday, February 24, to break ground for the new Choctaw General Hospital. The long-awaited celebration marked the beginning of what is being hailed as the most significant economic and healthcare development to come to the county in decades.
Following opening comments by Donnie Smith, Vice-President of Human Resources for the Meridian-based Rush Health Systems, Cowan told the crowd that the $25-million facility would be the largest such project in the history of the county, and that the state-of-the-art facility would rival any other hospital within hundreds of miles of Choctaw County.
Rush Health Systems board of directors announced earlier this year that they would build the new critical access hospital, incorporating the former Vanity Fair building into the new construction. When complete, the total project will consist of a 25-bed hospital spanning 35,000 square feet on the north side of the present structure's 36,000 square feet, for a total of 71,000 square feet of inpatient and outpatient care areas.
Choctaw General will include a 24-hour physician-staffed emergency department, fully-equipped laboratory, and imaging department that includes x-ray, MRI, and CT capabilities, a surgical procedures suite, an intensive outpatient program, and a swing-bed program, The facility will also be equipped with a helipad for air ambulance transport. Once completed, the facility promises to bring up to 120 jobs to the area, with an anticipated annual economic impact of between $10 million and $12 million.
According to Cowan, the facility will be a place that Choctaw Countians can be proud to call their own.
"We want the people of Choctaw County to say 'this is MY hospital'," Cowan told the crowd on Thursday. "This will be more than just a place for the sick to receive treatment. We want it to be a place for fitness and good health, and we are looking for people to join the team."
Cowan said that information would be forthcoming in the weeks ahead to allow local residents the opportunity to apply for positions, both for the construction of the facility and staff positions following its opening.
Butler Mayor Ben Smith welcomed the crowd to the town, noting that most of the county's elected officials were present at the celebration, along with Meridian Mayor Cheri Barry, Demopolis Mayor Mike Grayson, and a host of other prominent figures from Choctaw and Lauderdale counties.
"We've been working for many years to bring about this new hospital," Smith said. "Many obstacles, bureaucratic regulations, and other issues were all overcome and decisions were made, and now we are here today."
Smith pointed out that there would be only five or six new hospitals constructed nationwide in the coming year, and Choctaw General would be one of them.
"We should all be thankful, and proud," he said.
Probate Judge D'Wayne May also addressed the crowd, noting that the Rush organization had long been a part of medical care in the county, including the operation of the former Rush Hospital-Butler.
"This is like welcoming an old friend back home," May said.
Among the elected officials who attended the celebration, District 22 Senator Marc Keahey also addressed the group, touting the positive impact that the new facility is already having on the county and the region.
"Sometimes it's hard to wake up and see all the bad news," Keahey said. "But this is a day for good news."
Spokespersons for U.S. Representative Terri Sewell and U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions spoke to the group, pledging their continued support for the project.
Before the close of the ceremony, Cowan introduced the newly-appointed Board of Directors for Choctaw General. Chairman of the Board will be Womack Hill resident Ruby Singley, retired clinic manager of Gilbertown Family Medical Clinic who has worked in the field of medical administration for many years.
Board members also include Dr. Lee Armistead, board-certified family medicine physician affiliated with Gilbertown Family Medical Clinic; Leon Brown, custodian at Choctaw County High School; Cliff Bryan, Supervisor of Logistics/Customer Service Executive for Georgia Pacific Company, Naheola Mill; Duane Johnson, baseball coach at Patrician Academy; Seketha Mitchell, Chief Financial Officer for the Choctaw County Board of Education; Sheila Skelton, mathematics instructor and program coordinator for Alabama Southern Community College in Gilbertown.
"We are very fortunate to have such an outstanding cross-section of highly-regarded community representatives who have agreed to serve on our hospital's board of directors," Cowan said. "Each individual brings a wealth of knowledge and love for this community to the table, as well as a healthy dose of integrity. I want to thank them personally and on behalf of the entire Rush organization for the commitment of their time and talents. I know that their involvement from the very beginning of the building phase will result in the new hospital being built with a great deal of input from the customer's perspective. We are building this hospital to serve this community, and we trust that these dedicated board members' involvement will help us shape the future of healthcare in Choctaw County in a manner that will allow all of us to be very proud."
Cowan also thanked the many supporters who were involved working together through the pre-construction licensing steps to make the hospital project a reality.
"So many individuals have stepped up to help. We are very grateful for your support," he said. "I am very proud to again be affiliated with Rush Health Systems. Together with this wonderful community, we are going to build and operate a hospital that will add greatly to everyone's quality of life - as a healthcare provider, an employer and an economic engine. I can't wait to open the doors next year and welcome you all in."
The new Choctaw General Hospital is expected to open in early 2012.
Citation: Campbell, Dee Ann (2011, March 2). New hospital a sign of better things to come for Choctaw County. The Choctaw Sun Advocate, pp. 1A, 4A.
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Cowan named administrator of new Choctaw General Hospital
 | | Photo Courtesy of Hopson Photography |
BUTLER - Butler native and Choctaw Co. Emergency Services Director J.W. Cowan has been named administrator of the new Choctaw General Hospital.
Rush Health Systems announced last week that they have selected Cowan to take the helm of their newest facility, which is set for groundbreaking this Thursday in Butler. The announcement was made by Rush officials during a meeting at the Choctaw Co. Emergency Services building on Friday.
"I am very pleased to have the opportunity to rejoin the Rush family, and I appreciate the confidence that Rush Health Systems has placed in me, allowing me to work with the Rush team to create something special for Choctaw County," Cowan told the Sun-Advocate. "The pioneering and innovative spirit that is part of the Rush legacy will help us improve healthcare for the people of West Alabama."
Rush officials told the Sun-Advocate that they selected Cowan because of his extensive experience in administration, budgeting, and planning with large organizations, healthcare facilities, businesses, and other entities. Cowan, who also serves as director of the county's Emergency Management Agency, served as mayor of Butler from 1988-1996. He owned and operated J.W.'s Clothing Company in Butler from 1986 until 1998. In the healthcare management field, Cowan served as administrator of Tombigbee Regional Medical Center in Livingston from 1984-1986 and worked with Rush Foundation Hospital from 1980-1984, first as Night Administrator and then as Assistant Personnel Director for the facility.
Cowan is past-president of the Choctaw Co. Chamber of Commerce and served as a board member for the Utilities Board of the Town of Butler. He has also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Alabama League of Municipalities. He currently serves as a member of the Choctaw Co. Health Council and is and Adjunct Faculty Member for Alabama Southern Community College in Gilbertown.
Cowan and his wife Melynda, a native of Thomasville, have two children, Jay, 13, and Olivia, 11.
"J.W. Cowan will provide strong leadership for this new facility," said Larkin Kennedy, Director of Critical Access Hospitals, Rush Health Systems. "We feel very fortunate to have him in the role of Administrator. His lifetime ties to the community along with his wealth of executive leadership and healthcare experience make him the perfect person to lead this building project and open this new hospital. He is highly attuned to the needs of the people of Choctaw County and he has a strong personal commitment to making the new Choctaw General Hospital an outstanding healthcare resource for the people for whom he cares so deeply."
Cowan told the Sun-Advocate that he will continue in his positions with the local EMA and Choctaw County EMS and that the roles will be interconnected to provide the best healthcare for the county.
"Until the hospital is ready for occupancy, I intend to continue working for Choctaw EMS and Choctaw EMA to coordinate the services of our ambulance transport company and the hospital," he said. "It will be essential for the hospital and ambulance service to work together to achieve the best delivery of healthcare to the people of Choctaw County and West Alabama. In addition, having a hospital in the county will bring about changes in our response planning in the Emergency Management Agency as well. It will be an exciting and busy time, and I ask everyone in Choctaw County for their prayers and input as we work toward the common goal of better healthcare for everyone in the area."
The official groundbreaking for the new, 25-bed hospital will be held on Thursday, February 24 at 3 p.m. To be built on the former Vanity Fair site in Butler, the new Critical Access Hospital will have 24-hour emergency room services staffed by in-house physicians, laboratory, X-ray, MRI and CT scan capabilities that incorporate new digital technologies, rehab services and swing bed services.
Rush Health Systems is headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi with healthcare facilities in East Mississippi and West Alabama. The organization includes Rush Foundation Hospital, Specialty Hospital of Meridian, Medical Foundation, Inc., Rush Medical Group, Laird Hospital, Union, Mississippi, H.C. Watkins Hospital in Quitman, Mississippi, Scott Regional Hospital in Morton, Mississippi, and John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital in DeKalb, MS.
Citation: Campbell, Dee Ann (2011, February 23). Cowan named administrator of new hospital. The Choctaw Sun Advocate, pp. 1A, 6A. |
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Second Lakeside Steel Project Announced
Thomasville Finishing Works will provide 80 additional jobs for the Coastal Gateway Region
THOMASVILLE - In an official
announcement ceremony, Lakeside Steel announced today they would locate their second manufacturing operation in Thomasville, Alabama.
The company will invest $10 million to construct a heat treating and end-finishing operation. The new facility will be located just north of Lakeside's Casing Mill which is currently under construction in Thomasville. The new end-finishing and heat treatment facility will enable Lakeside Steel to upgrade and process the high value-added American Petroleum Institute-certified J, L, N and P grades of OCTG products that it produces and which are required throughout the majority of drilling operations in North America.
Jim Byard, ADECA Director, on behalf of Governor Bentley today thanked the Lakeside officials for their investment in Alabama. Byard said, "I am pleased to represent Governor Bentley and officially announce an additional 80 jobs for Thomasville, Clarke County and the State of Alabama. Between these two projects, Lakeside will invest more than $50 million and create over 200 jobs.
"Ron Bedard, President and CEO of Lakeside Steel, said that numerous sites over several states were considered for this project. "However, we were extremely comfortable with Thomasville and the State of Alabama and knew we could make this project a success here", stated Bedard. Bedard went on to say that Lakeside is committed to growing in Thomasville and will continue to help the City grow as well.
"Just 316 days after my first visit to Thomasville, Alabama, Lakeside Steel is announcing our second project", said Chris Roik, Vice President/General Manager of Lakeside Steel Alabama. "This new operation will allow Lakeside to produce competitive, quality products close to our end use markets and better serve our customers", Roik continued.
Mayor Sheldon Day in his closing comments said, "Rural Alabama can compete for economic development projects. We are not New York City, and we don't want to be; we want to be the best Thomasville, Alabama that we can be. We are proud to be a partner with Lakeside Steel and welcome them to Clarke County and Thomasville, Alabama."
For any additional information, please contact Mayor Sheldon A. Day office, 334-636-5827, cell 334-534-9045, or email sday@thomasvilleal.com.
About Lakeside Steel Inc.
Lakeside Steel is a 2011 TSX Venture Exchange 50 company and the parent company of Lakeside Steel Corporation (Lakeside"). Lakeside, located in Welland, Ontario, is a diversified steel pipe and tubing manufacturer with a focus on manufacturing and upgrading Oil Country Tubular Goods. Lakeside's list of customers includes large oil and gas end users as well as distributors across North America.
Lakeside Steel also indirectly wholly-owns Lakeside Steel Alabama which will be a diversified steel pipe manufacturer strategically situated in the southern United States on successful completion of the construction of the new facility in Thomasville, Alabama. Construction of the Alabama facility is currently underway. |
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Local Economic Developers Meet with CGEDA
Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance (CGEDA) met with local economic developers from Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe counties on Thursday, March 31st in Monroeville to discuss issues that confront the 5-county region.
Topics for the meeting included additional ways the regional organization can enhance local efforts in the area including: existing business support, recruitment, effective regional marketing materials, and data needs. Jim Searcy, Executive Director of CGEDA, also discussed services the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) provides to CGEDA as a 2011 Community Partner. One of the most valuable aspects of this partnership is the availability of resources that can be allocated to local economic development efforts.
Searcy, who has a regional economic development background, said that one factor in his decision to come on board with CGEDA was the quality of economic development entities within the region. "It is comforting to those of us who are taking a regional approach to economic development to know that somebody wakes up every day in a city or county thinking about how to make it more prosperous," said Searcy.
The ability to communicate and work effectively with local developers is a top priority for CGEDA. Searcy plans to converse with local economic developers frequently; and regional developer meetings will be held quarterly. To collectively become a more competitive region, we will continue planning long term in ways that transcend geographic and political lines to create a sustained regional pattern of growth.
The next regional developers meeting will be held on Thursday, June 30th. |
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Business/ Community Briefs
Hampton Inn at Rivercane still on schedule
Construction of the four-story, 81-room Hampton Inn on two acres of the Rivercane development in Atmore is still on schedule. The hotel is projected to open in early November of this year. The hotel is expected to employ around 30 people once operational.
Amenities of the facility will include meetings rooms and a swimming pool for guests. Also, shuttle services will transport customers to area points of interest.
The City of Atmore will enjoy additional tax revenue through lodging and sales taxes because of the hotel's location in the Rivercane development.
SAWDC Awarded NFWS Grant
The Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council (SAWDC) has been awarded a National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS) grant in the amount of $300,000 over two years. This Social Innovation Fund (SIF) investment will allow SAWDC to establish and support four fully functioning workforce partnerships supporting the following industries: maritime, aerospace, healthcare, and process manufacturing.
The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is an award-winning national initiative focused on helping low-wage workers obtain good careers while at the same time ensuring that employers have the high-quality skills that will enable them to succeed in this highly competitive economy.
Mayor Long Named Jackson Citizen of the Year
In March, Mayor Richard Long was named 2010 Citizen of the Year in Jackson, AL.
Mayor Long, now in his third term as mayor, retired from Boise in 2008. During his time in office, Long has focused on business and industry along with infrastructure improvements and community amenities.
Long is proud of donations made (a quarter of a million dollars) to Jackson's four locals schools, the $1.2 million White Smith Memorial Library expansion, the $1.2 million Jackson Police Complex and the adjacent court complex.
Mayor Long is particularly proud of the new $1 million Jackson Senior Citizens Center. A new downtown fire station is also in the works.
Mayor Long serves on the Board of Directors for Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance.
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Follow Coastal Gateway on Facebook & Twitter!
The Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliace Facebook Page is another good opportunity to help us keep in touch with you. Here you can view photos, happenings of the Alliance throughout the year and regional events as they relate to economic development.
There almost sixty members on our page so far. We encourage you to join in and help spread the news about the Facebook Page. If you would like us to post specific information or include pictures from your region please contact info@cgeda.net.
To visit or join the page: click here.
CGEDA is now on Twitter! We encourage you to follow us on Twitter to keep up to date on news in the region! To follow us on Twitter: click here. |
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Coastal Gateway Mission Statement
Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance's primary mission is to market and promote the assets of Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Monroe and Escambia Counties.
Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance will accomplish its mission by implementation of four program goals: Marketing and recruitment of the area as a top tier southeast destination location, the retention and expansion of existing business to strengthen and expand all areas income potential, the creation of a planning and development program to assist in prioritizing county wide issues that impact the area as a whole and the development of a flexible resource fund to help execute entrepreneurial opportunities, regional networking and seed capital for initiatives.
Coastal Gateway Regional Economic Development Alliance will carry out its mission and fulfill its goals by partnering with the local chambers of commerce, the local county economic development authorities, local industrial development boards and local city and county governments. |
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