St. Clair Tourism

Blair Goodgame promoting county in new post

Story by Leigh Pritchett

Photos by Graham Hadley and submitted photos

Blair Goodgame has been to 15 countries spanning four continents.

Though she relishes traveling, she tends to share Dorothy’s sentiments in “The Wizard of Oz”: “There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home!”

Enjoying the place she calls home … and encouraging others to do so … is what Goodgame does on a daily basis.

In September 2019, she became tourism coordinator with St. Clair County Economic Development Council (EDC). “It is a brand-new position and program, part of the EDC’s five-year plan, Partnership for Tomorrow,” Goodgame said. “We are in year one of that.” Hiring a tourism coordinator was one of the first-year goals.

As tourism coordinator, Goodgame spends her days exploring and discovering different aspects of St. Clair County and promoting them to potential visitors, businesses and industries.

Tourism “goes hand-in-hand with economic development,” Goodgame said. She called tourism a “clean” industry that is indicative of a vibrant life within a community. Such vitality is what business prospects want to see in a locale they are considering.

In quick succession, Goodgame enumerates one asset of the county after another, starting with the resort areas Neely Henry Lake in northern St. Clair and Logan Martin Lake in southern St. Clair. She adds to that Horse Pens 40 near Steele, Mustang Museum in Odenville and the Forever Wild park near Springville. She points out that the county has outfitters, outlets for kayaking, extreme sports parks, bouldering destinations, competitive events, motorcycle racing, off-road trails, aerobatics flight instruction, summer camps, national tournaments, nature preserves and Moody’s Miracle League, a baseball league for people with special needs.

As for the arts, St. Clair has a prolific visual, musical and theatrical community, Goodgame continues. A few examples would be galleries, concerts, entertainment, songwriters and music festivals and stage productions. She also mentioned learning opportunities, such as music schools and dance studios.

Plus, there are wedding chapels and venues for parties, reunions, receptions, conventions and conferences.

“We’re learning more every day. … (There are) so many more things I didn’t realize we have here … (and) other people in the county were not aware of also,” said Goodgame.

In addition to all that, Talladega Superspeedway to the east of St. Clair and Barber Motorsports Park to the west bring visitors through the county, visitors who may stop to eat, shop or refuel, Goodgame said.

“It is also hoped that the more people who visit on a regular basis, some of them will want to actually live and work in our community,” said Jason Roberts, EDC’s director of industry and workforce development.

When that happens, Roberts said, the county’s population increases, as does its workforce, which naturally appeals to prospective businesses and industries.

Among Goodgame’s responsibilities as tourism coordinator are compiling an encompassing list of sites, venues, parks, events and opportunities countywide; creating a calendar of events in the county; getting input from communities on promoting what they have to offer; establishing a multimedia means for disseminating information about St. Clair’s tourism aspects and using regional and state resources to spread the information beyond the county’s borders.

Soon, she will engage a branding company to create a slogan that captures the essence of St. Clair in a few words.

“Blair has really hit the ground running and has already begun cataloging and identifying assets throughout the county, while also building relationships statewide with other tourism organizations,” said Don Smith, EDC’s executive director. “She is preparing to begin a branding campaign the beginning of 2020, as well as meeting with event organizers for a variety of events in the spring. We had very high expectations for Blair after the extensive search (for a tourism coordinator), and she continues to impress us all daily. She is the perfect embodiment of our county’s tourism opportunities.”

Goodgame grew up on marinas and in campgrounds in the Pell City area, enjoying St. Clair’s warm climate and beautiful scenery. Logan Martin Lake and the great outdoors were her playground.

“I’ve always had a love of the outdoors, and the water still resonates with me,” Goodgame said.

She credits her mother, Cindy Goodgame, with nurturing that desire to be in nature. “She is always supportive. She shares a love of the outdoors,” said Blair Goodgame, who kayaks, camps, gardens and participates in community theater and yoga classes. “… (She) made me the woman I am today.”

After graduating from The Donoho School in Anniston, Goodgame majored in English at Auburn University and minored in art history. Her plan was to become an attorney. To prepare, she served as a congressional intern in the office of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-AL.

Yet, at law school orientation in 2009, she decided this was not the path her life should take. She returned to Pell City and became operations assistant for Goodley Corp., the family business.

“I love Pell City. I love St. Clair County. It’s home,” said Goodgame, who lives in a 1902 farmhouse.

In 2011, she became owner of Lakeside Package and Fine Spirits, which she operated almost five years at her family’s Lakeside Landing RV Park & Marina. Determined that Lakeside Package should be an “experience” rather than just a store, Goodgame offered party supplies and events, such as wine tastings and an appearance by Tim Smith from the television show, “Moonshiners.”

That marketing strategy translated into a sales increase of at least 35 percent each year. Pell City Chamber of Commerce selected hers as “emerging business of the year” in 2013.

The business venture, Alexandra Blair Calligraphy and Celebrations, has operated concurrently with her other work endeavors. As an artist and event specialist, Goodgame plans weddings, showers, birthdays and other memorable occasions and produces the artistic elements and hand-lettered envelopes needed.

In the community, Goodgame was president of Pell City Rotary Club and district Rotary governor, a board member of Pell City Chamber of Commerce, a graduate of Alabama Leadership Initiative, and a graduate and board member of Leadership St. Clair (which is an EDC program). In 2014, the Rotary Club deemed her “Rotarian of the Year” and a “Paul Harris Fellow.” She would receive the latter award again in 2015 and 2018.

Recently, Goodgame was selected to serve on the PARCA Roundtable of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama.

To help those in need, Goodgame serves as board of trustees secretary for Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama and was chairwoman of the YWCA Purse and Passion fundraising luncheon in St. Clair. During her four years as Purse and Passion chairwoman, corporate and community support for the St. Clair luncheon increased manifold, reaching $105,000 in 2017. In 2014, the Alabama Chapter of Fundraising Professionals chose Goodgame “volunteer of the year.”

Candice Hill, EDC’s retail/marketing specialist, sees Goodgame as the ideal fit for the tourism coordinator position.

“Blair has a vast knowledge of tourism assets in St. Clair County, as she has a history here and has always been an explorer of things around her,” Hill said. “In both her educational background and her personal experience, she has a host of abilities to bring to the table for tourism in St. Clair County. I believe that her spirit and energy, along with her love for St. Clair County, will make her very successful in this position.”

Goodgame finds that the more she discovers and learns about the county, the more enthusiastic she is to call attention to those assets.

She excitedly talks about one of her ideas, which is to establish “trails” through St. Clair for things like barbecue tasting, birding, history, outlaws and moonshiners, locally made items, you-pick farms. …

“Our options,” she said, “are endless right now.”

Editor’s Note: St. Clair County Economic Development Council is funded through the St. Clair County Commission and private partners. The EDC is housed on the campus of Jefferson State Community College in Pell City.

Big Canoe Creek

Kayaking in nature’s splendor

Story by Linda Long

Submitted photos

Get out the paddles, the oars and canoes. Don’t forget fishing poles, tackle boxes and bait. Throw in those binoculars for some serious birdwatching. Some have even spotted an eagle or two. Oh, and don’t forget the sunscreen.

Folks in and around St. Clair County are heralding the arrival of spring and all it has to offer. Tops on just about everybody’s favorites “to do” list is Big Canoe Creek. The treasured waterway runs through Ashville and Springville, providing adventures not only for kayaks and canoes, but also for fishing enthusiasts, birdwatchers and anybody who’s seeking to unplug and unwind.

For Meg Hays, who along with husband Perry own Big Canoe Creek Outfitters in Springville, getting out on the creek is almost a spiritual experience.

“We offer a trip down the creek where people get to experience nature in a different way … a way that a lot a lot of people never get to see,” Hays says. “It’s peaceful here. It’s quiet. We see all kinds of wildlife, a very diverse group of fish and birds, egrets, owls, hawks. I mean all kinds of birds. 

We even have a couple of bald eagles that live around here.”

She believes the creek’s solitude is a big draw for many visitors. “You don’t pass any civilization. You’re just out there in the woods.

Paddling the creek provides a great family time to enjoy nature together. “I think that’s why a lot of people have come to see us.”

Randall Vann, owner of Yak tha Creek in Ashville, couldn’t agree more. “We’re all outdoors people here at my house. We’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, whether it’s on the water or in the woods. We’re passionate about it. We spend a lot of our downtime enjoying the nature that God has given us.”

Vann gives his business address as “off the side of the road, on Highway 231, at the bridge coming into Ashville.” Folks seem to have no trouble following those directions. On a weekend day from April through Labor Day, cars are lined up at the bridge, their passengers ready for an adventure on the creek.

“It’s about a three to three-and-a-half-hour trip,” said Vann, “although there is no time limit. We’ve got people who come just to fish. They’ll stay from eight in the morning till dark.”

But for the most part, Vann says, they come to “pretty much, just enjoy the creek, the scenery and the weather. They get in their boats and may have to paddle a little bit to stay straight, but typically, they just get out there with a Bluetooth speaker listening to music with a group of friends. They just hang out. They’ll find a place by the side of the creek to go swimming. It’s just a place to relax. Sometimes we get a mom and dad and a couple of kids, and the kids like to race their parents to see who gets back first.”

Yak tha Creek opened in 2016. Since that time, according to Vann, “we’ve grown and grown and grown. We started out with 12 little store-bought boats and one pickup truck. Now, we can handle about 60 people at a time,” he said. “We have a passenger van to haul people, and we run three pickup trucks all weekend long.”

He says visitors come from all across Alabama.

Vann’s success seems to reflect a national trend in kayaking. According to a recent report in

Time, kayaking has risen to one of the fastest growing sports in the nation. It has grown to more than 8 million active participants, marking a substantial increase from 3.5 million just 10 years ago.

Hays isn’t surprised by the boat’s growing popularity. “Anybody can kayak,” she said. “One of the beauties of this section of the creek that we’re on is that it is very beginner friendly. We’ve had so many newbies come through. They had never been in a kayak before, and they loved it. They learned the boat and how to paddle and were able to make it to the end. They said they couldn’t wait to come back.”

There is also, no age limit on who can paddle the creek. “I’ve sent them down as young as six and as old as 78,” she recalled. “We also had a 2-year-old ride the creek in a tandem boat, where the parent paddles in the back.”

The Outfitters have recently opened four primitive campsites, complete with picnic tables, fire rings and tent areas. The business is open year-round, seven days a week. Reservations are $35 for a single kayak; $50 for a double. The shuttle fee with your own boat is $10.

Yak tha Creek is open weekends, April through Labor Day, and weekdays with prior arrangements. Cost is $30 per kayak and $5 for your own boat.

Discounts are offered to the military, nurses, teachers, fire and police.

Group discounts are available with five or more renting.

Doug Morrison, president of the conservation group, Friends of Canoe Creek, has said, “paddling the creek is giving people a chance to explore, to stop and see, if they will pay attention. They’ll see that when you paddle up a creek, you tend to observe nature more than just walking outside in your backyard. When you paddle up a creek, you will see all kinds of creatures. In today’s society there’s just not enough outdoor recreation. People are too plugged into their electronic devices.”

Marion Frazier

A beacon of love, hope and service

Story by Joe Whitten

Photos by Wallace Bromberg Jr.

Submitted photos

“How would I describe Marion Frazier?” Bill Hereford, asked, echoing the interviewer’s question. “That’s easy — dynamite comes in small packages. Marion is a great community leader and friend who lives her faith. She gives me chills when she sings our national anthem.”

If you don’t know Marion Frazier, you’ve missed knowing a Pell City personality whose countenance and demeanor radiates her love for God, family, church and community. She has a deep concern for others — a life principle instilled in her by her mother, Lizzie Roberson. Marion voiced this when she spoke of her students as “the students I served.” Only the rarest of the best see teaching as a service to students.

“My mother was one to help people in the community,” Marion recalled, “She instilled in us that we needed to help somebody when they need it … and that’s what I’ve done.”

Born to John H. and Lizzie Roberson, Marion grew up in a home full of love. The family was one of togetherness that included evenings at the fireplace singing, playing games and mom making popcorn ball treats. These times contributed to a large family learning to live together. Her parents believed, “All of us want to live and want to be in harmony. That’s what we were taught at home. We didn’t fight at home.” She paused, then with a laugh confessed, “But we took care of each other if we needed to when we got outside!”

Her community influence started in 1967 at Eden Elementary School, and she’s been a driving force since then in the betterment of Pell City and St. Clair County. “She is dedicated to the betterment of the community,” said Sherry Bowers.

For 32 years, she “served” Pell City’s children. Her first year at Eden, she had a combined first- and second-grade class, which presented difficulties, she admitted. However, it was a good year. “Although I was the only black teacher there,” she remembered, “they took me under their wings — teachers, parents and children. … And all those children at Eden school, I loved them. I still get letters from them, and I see them in town and we just had a wonderful year.” She taught at Eden seven years, at Iola Roberts nine years, and finished her career teaching at Kennedy. She emphasized that she enjoyed teaching in each of those schools. All of her “children” were under her wings of love and acceptance.

“Marion Frazier was an exceptional teacher who loved her students and was dedicated to meeting each one’s individual needs,” said Sherry Pate, Marion’s principal at Kennedy. “She not only educated minds but also hearts. Mrs. Frazier’s spiritual beliefs spilled over into the lives of her students. It was an honor and pleasure to work with my good friend, Marion Frazier.”

Her God-given compassion got her appointed to the YWCA Purse and Passion Steering Committee. “Purse and Passion is a part of the YWCA,” Marion explains. “We work to fund Our Place, a home for abused women and children from St. Clair and Blount counties. It has been in existence since 2008. I came on the Steering Committee in 2010.”

The biggest fundraiser for this is the summer luncheon. At this event, tables are sponsored by individuals who invite friends to come who know they’ll be asked to donate to the local domestic violence shelter. Corporate and private foundation gifts are collected or pledged prior to the luncheon. The event raised $54,000 in 2019, though naturally the amount fluctuates year by year. According to the August 8, 2019, St. Clair Times article, Purse and Passion has helped raise $650,000 over the past 10 years.

Blair Goodgame, who served as co-chair of the event, considered Marion’s help as vital to the luncheon’s success, saying, “Marion has been an invaluable asset to the YWCA Purse and Passion Luncheon. Serving on the steering committee and as a table captain for many years, Marion has contributed not only her time, but also her talents. She often sings the National Anthem at the luncheon. As her voice fills the First United Methodist Church’s Beacon, it puts a smile on the faces of everyone in attendance … She is a true blessing for the St. Clair County community.”

For more than 20 years, Marion has served on the boards of The Children’s Place and DHR. The Children’s Place provides help for abused children. An April luncheon raises funds for this important facility. The director of DHR meets with the board to bring concerns to them for their counsel. “Marion and I worked together as DHR board members,” said Rev. Paul Brasher. “She is one of the most caring and tender-hearted persons I’ve ever known. She’s a fantastic person and a fantastic Christian that I really respect. It’s an honor to be her co-worker.”

Marie Manning spoke of Marion’s work in helping college students financially. “She has served on the Scholarship Committee of the Delta Epsilon Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma to provide students with funds for college. … She is truly a leader in her community and the city.”

With a servant’s heart, her sunshine disposition has blessed many people at St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital, where Marion has volunteered as a Pink Lady for 26 years.

She has served patients by reading to them and family members by praying with them in the chapel, and she now works in the gift shop. Undoubtedly, she has brought comfort to a hospital room through her singing, for songs can soothe the troubled soul.

Church is a sustaining force in her life. She’s been active in First Missionary Baptist Church, Pell City, since childhood. “I was over the Youth Department for 27 years,” she said. “My mother was a singer, and I enjoy singing. I have been singing in the choir since I was in the youth choir, and then the adult choir, and now I’m still singing in the senior choir.” Of their September 2019 Women’s Conference, she said, “We brought in a speaker, a singer — she was a recording artist — and we had a splendid time!”

Although having given up a lot of her church responsibilities, she’s still over the program committee and does all the programs for special events. “She has worked in the church and community for many years, and I’m certain her efforts are appreciated by many,” said Dr. Jeffrey Wilson, her pastor,

Her sphere of service extends beyond the local church, for since 2000, she has been secretary of the Mount Zion Coosa Valley District Association of churches serving St. Clair and Jefferson counties.

Married to Jesse Frazier for 46 and a half years, they have one son and daughter-in-law, Jamey and Kimberly Frazier, who are parents to Isabella.

Kimberly Frazier wrote, “To my second Mother, You have been the best mother-in-law anyone could ask for. You portray everything good in the world, and I am honored to be your daughter. You are always there for us, without hesitation, and with loving, open arms. Thank you for the father and husband you raised for Isabella and me. He carries your Godly spirit. You mean the world to us, GG.”

Marion’s mother was the great influence in her life, and the love of God the guiding force. A song she loves is Dottie Rambo’s “He Looked beyond My Faults and Saw My Need.” The concluding stanza reads: “I shall forever lift mine eyes to Calvary / To view the cross where Jesus died for me. / How marvelous the grace that caught my falling soul; / He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs.”

Marion Frazier has looked beyond the faults of others, saw their need and sought to lift up wounded, falling people to give them help and hope.

Faith and dynamite — that’s Marion Frazier. And when faith and dynamite join hands, step aside. l

What’s for breakfast?

New London firefighters
serve community

Story by Scottie Vickery

Photos by Graham Hadley

Jim Landrum, chief of the New London Fire Department, glanced at the pancake order handed to him on a small piece of paper. He smiled, poured some batter onto the hot griddle, and plopped some plump blueberries on top of the mix. “Coming right up,” he said. “Have a seat, and we’ll get it right to you.”

Made-to-order pancakes and omelets are just a few of the offerings at the community-wide breakfasts hosted twice a month by Landrum and his crew of volunteer firefighters. There’s also applewood bacon, sausage links and patties, eggs cooked to order, grits, hash browns, biscuits and gravy. For a donation of $8 a head for all you can eat, it’s a deal that makes you look forward to getting out of bed.

At least twice a month, the firefighters put down their gear and pick up their spatulas. The tools may change on Saturday mornings, but the dedicated volunteers are still doing what they’ve always done best: serving their community. The 22-member department, however, serves up much more than a great meal at a good price. They also provide their neighbors with security, protection and peace of mind.

“They’re good people,” Candi Childers said after enjoying a recent breakfast. “They do a lot of nice things for the community, and we try to support them whenever we can. They take good care of us.”

Percy and Sharon Jennings can attest to that. A few weeks before Christmas, a shed at their lake house went up in flames, and the responders managed to put it out just before it consumed their nearby home. “We had hired someone to burn leaves, and they’d put them out that afternoon, but about five hours later, the fire started up again,” Percy Jennings said. “Next thing we knew, the world was on fire.”

The Jennings’ daughter and son-in-law were at the house at the time and tried to battle the flames with fire extinguishers, but that proved impossible once the gas in the lawnmower ignited. “They were there within three minutes,” Sharon Jennings said. “That’s what saved our house. How do you thank them for something like?”

Pancakes with a purpose

Enjoying a plate (or two) of breakfast is a good way to start. The department receives $3 a month per household from the New London Water Authority, but the money raised at the breakfasts goes right back into the community. The firefighters have paid funeral expenses for struggling neighbors, helped provide Christmas gifts and given gift cards to help fire victims meet their immediate needs.

Mostly, though, the income allows them to purchase equipment to help them do their job more effectively. “It’s expensive to run a fire department,” Landrum said. “A nozzle to fight a fire is $600, and radios run about $700. We’re looking at buying our own air fill machine for air packs, and that’s $40,000. Turnout gear is $2,000 a firefighter, and we have to replace hoses and other equipment. We try to be as modern as we can on voluntary donations.”

They’ve come a long way in recent years, Landrum said. The department, which has three stations, boasts four full-size pumpers. The Water Authority is providing a fifth pumper truck in February, at which time one of the older pumpers will only be used to carry extra water and air packs. The department also has a brush truck for wood fires, as well as a fire and rescue boat. “We’ve got a first-class fire department now,” Landrum said, adding that each house in the district is within five miles of a station.

Like the residents of the New London community in Cropwell, most folks in Alabama rely on their neighbors in emergency situations. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an entity of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Alabama has 806 registered fire departments. Of those, 89 percent are completely or mostly volunteer, while the rest are totally or primarily staffed by career firefighters.

The New London crew, which provides fire protection, safety education and rescue services, participates in training twice a week. On Tuesday evenings, they focus on firefighting techniques and safety. Weekends are devoted to rescue skills, such as cutting people out of cars and lifting patients properly. “I’m so proud of this fire department,” Landrum said. “These guys put a lot of time and effort into this, and they don’t get a nickel.”

Neighbors helping neighbors

Landrum, who grew up in Birmingham and had a demanding career in Atlanta, came to Logan Martin Lake most weekends before he and his wife, Ilene, moved to the lake full-time about 11 years ago. He joined the fire department the same way most of the volunteers do – after being recruited by a friend – and has served as chief for three years.

Brad Hicks came on board about two years ago after calling the fire department himself. “About a month after I moved into my house, I smelled what I thought was an electrical fire. They showed up on a snowy day less than five minutes after I called,” he said. It turns out his electrical box shorted out, which they discovered with a thermal imaging camera. Before leaving, the firefighters asked him if he wanted to be part of the team.

“I had a hard time saying no,” Hicks said. “How could you not want to be a part of a group of good people who do so much for the community? These folks are a family.”

Much like other families, they enjoy eating together so the breakfasts are a perfect fit. Landrum, who fondly remembers enjoying the community-wide breakfasts held in the 1980s and 1990s, proposed the idea of bringing them back several years ago. They have been a tremendous hit, often drawing diners from Birmingham, Anniston and other communities. The breakfasts are typically held the first and third Saturdays of each month from 7-10 a.m., although the firefighters took some time off for the holidays and often host more breakfasts during the spring and summer months.

“One year, we did it every Saturday during the summer – that was brutal,” Landrum said with a laugh. “It’s turned into quite an event, though. It has grown and grown and grown. The community loves it, and we love doing it.”

Short order cooks

The breakfasts draw crowds of about 120-150 people. The crew arrives about 5 a.m. to begin preparing since diners arrive with big appetites. Each event requires 45-60 pounds of bacon, 6-8 pounds of sausage patties that are donated by Royal Foods, 4-5 pounds of link sausage and 12-14 dozen eggs. Landrum, who typically mans the griddle, estimates he makes about 150 plate-sized pancakes, which can be ordered plain or with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, bananas or any combination of the toppings. About 60-80 omelets are made each time with any combination of bacon, sausage, ham, cheese, tomatoes, onions, peppers, jalapeño, salsa and sour cream.

“We look forward to breakfast here,” said Glenn Barton, of Lincoln. He and his wife, Debra, meet Barton’s sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and Doug Robinson, at the events most weeks. The Robinsons, who live in Moody, have a weekend place at the lake and love to catch up with family and friends while enjoying a good meal.

That’s a draw for many of the diners. One recent Saturday, the seats were full, and a line of about 20 people had formed about 8:30. Conversation was in full swing and hugs were in abundance as folks greeted neighbors and family members they hadn’t seen in a while. “We meet somebody new every time we come,” Childers said. “The people are what makes this nice. You get to socialize, and the money goes to what is needed.”

If that’s not reason enough to get out bed, there’s always Barton’s philosophy. “It’s a special occasion,” he said with a grin. “It’s Saturday, and there’s bacon.”

St. Clair growth

Economic trend continues for county

Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Graham Hadley

If anyone is keeping score of late, St. Clair County’s tallies in the economic development column looks enviable from most vantage points.

Calling activity in the investment and jobs creation arena “robust” in 2019, St. Clair Economic Development Council Director of Industry and Workforce Development Jason Roberts also hints at a just as lively start to 2020.

“We are working on two large projects with international companies that we hope to be successful in recruiting in the very near future. One of these projects could be potentially the largest private investment in St. Clair County’s history.”

St. Clair EDC Executive Director Don Smith took it a step further, saying that it underscores that St. Clair is not only competing statewide and regionally, it is competing on a global stage. And, it’s doing quite well.

Like an accountant calculating record sales, Roberts recounts the activity and announcements for year-to-date, where St. Clair has experienced growth in existing industry – TCI, Ford Meter Box, WKW’s two expansions, Allied Minerals, Benjamin Moore, Unipres, J&M Exotic Foods and Advanced Tank.

Investments amount to more than $103 million and approaching 150 newly created jobs over the past 18 months.

WKW, which is in the automotive sector, completed its second expansion at the end of September and brought another business line from China. The new line will begin production in 2020. WKW, already in St. Clair’s top five employers, is adding another 30 jobs through its $13 million investment.

Allied Minerals represented a $12 million investment with retention of 60 jobs plus 30 new ones created by consolidating a facility from the east into the brand-new Pell City construction.

Unipres in Steele completed a large expansion at its stamping facility for metal automotive parts. Add $40 million in investments and 70 new employees to St. Clair’s economy in just that one project.

Benjamin Moore is adding a 10,000-gallon latex reactor to its paint facility, generating eight new jobs, $33 million in investment and illustrating the county’s successful venture into high tech competition. “The last couple of years, the community has been able to flex its muscles when competing domestically and internationally,” Smith said.

J&M Exotic Foods in Moody is doubling the size of its facility that produces spices and herbs with custom blending and packaging. Figure in another $2 million investment and 11 new jobs to St. Clair’s credit.

Roberts called Advanced Tank’s growth a “relatively small, but important expansion. St. Clair competed with a site in Colorado, the base of Advanced Tank’s operation, for the upgrading of its plate processing and sandblasting.

Advanced Tank has had a presence in Pell City since 1978, and while the $3.5 million investment and 12 new jobs created is impressive enough, “that we got it to come here is pretty important. New investments in new facilities usually are the last to suffer cuts” if there is a downturn, he said. “New investment means viability in the future.”

In other economic news, Smith pointed to an improving housing market, a new car dealership announced for Odenville and a half dozen or so retail and restaurant projects as reasons to be optimistic about the future.

A major retail development is hoped at I-20 at the site of the old county hospital, but there are no final plans or announcements to be made right now.

“We have had good announcements in nearly every community in the county in the past 18 months,” Smith said. And those without announcements thus far, “we’re working on very large projects. Hopefully, it will be a record-setting end of 2019 and beginning of 2020.”

Why all the focus on St. Clair? “We have all the amenities of a large, urban area like Birmingham combined with safety and low cost of a rural community and the close-knit family friendly aspects of a suburban community,” Smith said. “We’re able to market all three of those.”

Geographically, St. Clair sits in an enviable spot with two major thoroughfares – Interstate 20 and Interstate 59 running through it.

“Our leadership throughout the county works extremely well together,” added Roberts. “It makes it easier to operate here. It is an unparalleled level of collaboration and cooperation.”

Tally it all up, and it appears St. Clair County continues to be in the economic driver’s seat.

Good news in Moody

Economic trend continues with new openings

Story by Linda Long
Contributed photos

Ribbons may soon be in short supply in Moody thanks to a flurry of grand openings and ribbon cutting ceremonies. The old tradition of putting scissors to ribbon symbolizes a new start that says, “come on in, we’re open for business.” And Moody is definitely open for business. 

Proof lies in the sounds of the times: That annoying, but necessary, ‘beep-beep’ warning as a construction foreman lets folks know his heavy bulldozer is backing up. The nearby rat-a-tat-tat of a noisy jackhammer is heard playing its raucous tune. And the cement trucks maintain a steady drone as concrete is smoothed out for a new foundation. 

Some might call it noise. But for Moody Mayor Joe Lee, it’s music to his ears.

And, why not? Lee loves seeing the town grow from barely a blip on a map to the second largest city in St. Clair County. He has been in public service for the past 27 years, first as a member of the Moody City Council, then as mayor for the past 16 years.

Commenting on the number of building projects, both commercial and residential, under way right now, Lee said, “I’m real proud of what I see happening here. I’ve been part of the leadership of this city for a long time, now. I’ve put a lot of effort into making sure we have grown and grown in the right way.”

The new Metro Bank building, which opened its doors officially with a ribbon cutting in November, is testament to that growth. It’s the newest and, perhaps, brightest gem in Moody’s economic crown. 

“They were leasing a spot in the Professional Building, and people couldn’t find them,” said Lee. “Now, they’ve got their own brick-and-mortar store and the location is promoting new business. People drive by them every day. They say Moody has a Metro Bank that’s here to stay.”

Although the bank building is new, Metro Bank has been open in Moody for the past 10 years. Still, Metro Bank President and CEO Jason Dorough agrees with the mayor predicting new customers will come with the new location built by Goodgame Co.

“We really needed more exposure,” said Dorough. “We had people tell us they didn’t even know we were in Moody.”

That problem should be eliminated with the building’s new location, right on Moody Parkway and its 6,500 square feet. The bank’s lobby is graced with a stately cathedral ceiling with lots of cheerful windows to bring in the light.

“What can I say?” laughed Dorough. “We’re a newer, bigger, prettier facility.”

He was quick to point out that despite moving upscale, the one thing that will not change, is Metro Bank’s commitment to remain Moody’s only community bank. “All of our employees are Moody people.

“They live here, shop here, work here. They’re making a big commitment here,” Dorough said.

“Most of the other banks are larger, not headquartered in St Clair County. We try to leave the bank business to the people who run the branch. They are all good people, with a lot of experience. We let them make their own decisions. If they need our guidance, we’re here for them.”

One of the biggest pluses with the move is “we’ve got room to grow. In all of our other locations, we’ve wished we had more offices and things of that nature. Moody is a growing town, and we want to grow right along with it. We feel like there’s a lot of potential here in Moody.”

More growth ahead for city

Apparently, Metro Bank isn’t the only investor seeing potential in this St. Clair County community. According to Lee, several new businesses are in varying stages of completion.

A 95-room Holiday Inn Express is under construction fronting Interstate 20. According to Lee, “the same folks building the Holiday Inn are also building a new Exxon station with an additional two new store fronts for lease, though we don’t know yet what’s going in there.” Those structures are located on U.S. 411, across from Adesa Auto Auction.

Popeye’s Fried Chicken, located on U.S. 11 and Markeeta Spur Road was 90 days away from opening in November and according to Lee, another yet to be identified, retail store will be built on property located between Popeye’s and Bojangles.

“We’re expecting a real shopping hub to develop in the area around Popeye’s,” said Lee.  “We’ve got more property for sale around there and behind Bojangles, there’s eleven commercial acres for sale. We look for it to develop in the near future.”

Two other business developments that are expected to bring new jobs to Moody include a supermarket located in the shopping center at Moody Parkway and an expanding J.M. Exotic Foods, located in Industrial Park.

“We’re in negotiations right now with a supermarket to try to backfill the space left vacant when Fred’s went out of business. That’s going to create 55 new jobs, Lee said. “Also, Exotic Foods has a new packing contract that’s going to double the size of their operation.

That will bring in 11 more jobs.

The growth is seen well beyond retail and industrial, though. “All the commercial growth we’re having is pushing residential growth as well.” A 58-unit senior citizen complex is under construction for those 55 and up. Completion date is expected around the first of the year. “It’s a little village in itself,” said Lee.

“It has a clubhouse and common areas, and each unit is for rent.”

The mayor said some new subdivisions under construction include 120 new homes at The Reserve in the Highlands and 135 houses being built in Oak Hills. 

Population in Moody following the last census was 12,457. According to Lee, the projected population following the next census in 2020 is expected to be 15,000, underscoring the fact that Moody has long since shed its status as a blip on the map.