Northwest Alabama EDA

05/04/2026

From May 4 - 8, join us in celebrating Economic Development Week and 100 years of economic development impact across our nation! From the milestones that have shaped our community to the momentum driving us forward, we're honoring the past while looking ahead in Fayette, Lamar and Marion Counties. This week, we honor our elected officials, community leaders, new businesses, existing companies/industries and entrepreneurs that show up every day to make Northwest Alabama the ideal place to live, work and play. For generations, economic development has created opportunity and strengthened communities. This Economic Development Week, we reflect on that legacy while focusing on the growth, innovation and resilience that will define the next 100 years! For more info on our region, visit www.northwestlabamaeda.org.

04/28/2026

What an amazing partnership in our region! We look forward to seeing our area students take advantage of this opportunity!

04/22/2026

Busy day today! First to Cullman for the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) board meeting, where Senator Garlan Gudger welcomed the group to his hometown. Then on to Birmingham for the annual Will Bright Foundation (WBF) Luncheon. This year's featured guests were retired Auburn basketball coach, Bruce Pearl & his son and current Auburn basketball coach, Steven Pearl. Best part about the day, my husband tagged along with me. 😉

We are so grateful to have such amazing partners as Tami Reist and her staff at AMLA and Lisa Bright and her staff at WBF!

04/01/2026

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Email from C3 of Northwest Alabama Inc Q1 2026       ANNUAL "STATE OF THE REGION" MEETING 2026 C3 recently hosted our 15th Annual "State of the Region" Meeting and it reinforced why we're optimistic a

02/27/2026

It was great to attend the most recent GEDI/EDAA Leadership workshop, "The Use of AI in Local Economic Development." What an eye-opening experience! AI is not coming, it is here. It was great to learn about so many ways to utilize this amazing tool to assist in our efforts on the local level. Thank you to Jeremy Arthur and Amelia Stehouwer with GEDI - Auburn University for planning this timely class and to the Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce for hosting us in your beautiful facility. As always, it was wonderful to see colleagues from across the state.

02/05/2026

What a great Winter Conference in Montgomery! The Economic Development Association of Alabama is a vital partner to economic development organizations around the state. We are grateful for the opportunities they provide twice each year to learn, collaborate and strengthen our collective efforts to lead and serve our communities.

We were especially proud to have our own Jamie Christian, Marketing & Membership Director, serve on this year’s conference planning committee—an honor that reflects both leadership and commitment to our profession.

Although the weather required a few adjustments to the agenda, the sessions delivered timely and valuable insights. Topics included Senator Gudger’s Rural Roadmap, regionalism, forestry, defense and data centers, tax credit opportunities, airport partnerships, and the critical role of broadband in economic development. We also appreciated hearing from Governor Kay Ivey and several of our state partners, including Commerce, ADECA, EDPA, and AIDT.

Overall, it was an outstanding conference, and we return energized and ready to continue advancing economic development across our three counties in Northwest Alabama.

02/04/2026

We recently partnered with Fayette Career Center, Bevill State Community College, Fayette County Extension, & 3M to sponsor the annual Business & Industry Day at BSCC - Fayette. The event welcomed more than 400 high school students and offered one-on-one interactions with over two dozen industry leaders and employers. We were impressed with all of the students that attended. They were well-mannered and respectful - great attributes for future employees!

01/26/2026

We recently hosted our 15th Annual "State of the Region" Meeting and it reinforced why we're optimistic about our region's future.

We were honored to hear from Greg Reed, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Workforce—a newly created cabinet position leading transformative change in our state's workforce development.

Secretary Reed shared the vision behind the Alabama Workforce Transformation Act, which consolidates multiple agencies and programs under one unified Department of Workforce. This streamlined approach aims to simplify access, speed decisions, and align resources to outcomes for Alabamians seeking jobs, career changes, or skills development.

Key highlights from his presentation:
• Alabama has over 500,000 adults with some college but no degree—a massive untapped talent pool
• The new department is meeting people where they are, especially in rural communities
• Programs are being aligned to remove barriers and provide wrap-around support for training and job placement
• A single brand, sustained marketing, and integrated data hub are making it easier for Alabamians to access meaningful careers

Secretary Reed's message was clear: "For Alabamians who are interested in a job, want a new job, want to change careers, or want to increase their skills—we are here for you."

We also celebrated two outstanding honorees:

🏆 Industry of the Year: KJS Forest Products in Guin—a vital manufacturer helping utilize our timber inventory and creating quality jobs in our region.

🏆 Champion of the Year: Mayor Rod Northam of Fayette—a dedicated leader driving economic development, tourism initiatives, and downtown revitalization.

Additionally, we want to thank our 2025 Chair Kelli Colbaugh Foster for her dedication to C3 the past year & we look forward to working with 2026 Chairman Will Gilmer in the coming year.

Thank you to our members for their continued partnership and to our event sponsors: Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, Northwest Alabama Gas District, Alabama Power, Alabama Training Network and Warrior Investment Group.

Great things are happening in Northwest Alabama and we're proud to be part of building a stronger workforce and economy for our communities!

12/17/2025

Proud to see our region and Tombigbee Electric Cooperative's Freedom Fiber recognized in this past weekend's AL.com op-ed, "Expanding broadband access is an Ivey administration success story"!

The article highlights Tombigbee's transformational work and what we already know here in the Northwest Alabama EDA region: broadband expansion changes everything when done right. Our three-county region stands as proof:

📍 Lamar County: 100% coverage
📍 Marion County: 100% coverage
📍 Fayette County: 95% coverage (and growing)

These numbers are remarkable—well above the statewide average of 87%—and especially significant given our rural Appalachian geography and the challenges that come with it.

This success story belongs to Tombigbee Electric Cooperative's Freedom Fiber. In October, regional and statewide leaders celebrated Tombigbee's completion of a $145 million fiber-to-home project: 4,200 miles of fiber serving 100,000 residents across eight Alabama counties. From zero miles of fiber in 2017 to over 27,000 customers today—and still connecting three dozen new customers daily—Freedom Fiber followed the same mission as the Rural Electrification Act of 1936: serve everyone, leave no one behind.

Thank you to Tombigbee Electric Cooperative, CEO Britton Lightsey, and all our telecommunications partners for investing in our communities and proving that rural connectivity isn't just possible—it's essential for economic development, education, healthcare, and quality of life.

This is what happens when vision meets ex*****on. Northwest Alabama is connected, competitive, and ready for the future.

https://www.al.com/news/2025/12/expanding-broadband-access-is-an-ivey-administration-success-story-op-ed.html #

The executive’s “secret sauce” involved sustained convening of legislators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and rural electric cooperatives.

12/08/2025

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