EDC delivers on ROI

County riding wave of economic expansion

Story by Carol Pappas
Submitted photos

When the St. Clair County Commission and Partnership for Tomorrow, a coalition of business, industry and local governments, invested in the St. Clair County Economic Development Council back in 1999, the most likely question was: What will be our return on investment?

Turns out, the county’s ROI has been sizable year after year since EDC’s inception – numbers that other communities would be hard-pressed to match even if they span multiple years, let alone a single one.

Proof of that was evident when 150 county leaders gathered for the EDC’s Annual Investor Breakfast this year, hearing a recap of the past 12 months and getting a glimpse at the future.

One of major players in the success story has been the county’s grant resource center headed by Candice Hill. In its first two and a half years, it has secured $12.75 million in grants, $2 million in appropriations and applied for $15 million in additional funds that do not have to come out of city funds. It is providing “solutions and funds for those solutions.”

EDC Executive Don Smith at the Annual Investor Breakfast

A $3.8 million grant awarded through the Growing Alabama program will spur development of a new commerce park in Springville that is expected to be a hub for regional economic growth.

In Pell City, TownePlace Suites by Marriott opened in February, representing a $12 million investment and approximately 20-25 new jobs to the local economy.

City, county and state officials in March cut the ribbon on Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse in Pell City, bringing new dining options and more than 300 jobs to Pell City and St. Clair County.

The common thread running through all these projects are the key components to the county’s success over the years – collaboration and partnerships.

Springville Commerce Park

 Springville’s $3.8 million grant partners the City of Springville with the St. Clair County Commission, the Industrial Development Board of St. Clair County, the State of Alabama and donors, including Norfolk Southern and Alabama Power, which provided the funds to clear and prepare sites for a rail-served commerce park off Interstate 59.

“Springville’s new commerce park will provide jobs and opportunity for hundreds of Alabamians, and its impact will surely be felt across St. Clair County and in surrounding communities,” said Gov. Kay Ivey.

“Alabama is open for business, and one of the key ways we show that support is by helping local governments prepare industrial sites to welcome world-class companies,” she said. “The Growing Alabama program has been a vital tool in that mission.”

Aerial view of the Springville Commerce Park development site

Growing Alabama is a public-private partnership that supports local industrial development efforts by providing resources for site development, infrastructure improvements and community readiness. Companies and individuals receive state income tax credits for donations made to approved economic development projects through the program.

Collaboration is the key ingredient behind the program’s success, said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“The most successful economic development projects happen when everyone works together toward a common goal,” she said. “Growing Alabama is an example of that kind of teamwork, and great things happen when we all share a vision and strategy for building prosperous communities.”

McNair described St. Clair’s “secret sauce” for success as its ability to work together in regional cooperation. “Growth knows no city or county boundaries,” she said, and St. Clair is “unique” in keeping that culture of cooperation together. “It’s why you are so successful.”

The latest grant will provide site readiness at the Springville Commerce Park, strengthening the county’s ability to attract new industries, create jobs and support long-term economic growth.

The new park, located on property known as the Riley Farm, has the potential to provide more than 1,000 new jobs across multiple employers.

 “This is not just a Springville commerce park but an I-59 commerce park,” said Springville Mayor Austin Phillips. “It will help employ citizens from all the surrounding counties. I am looking forward to what the future holds.”

Economic development is about partnerships, said St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon. “We couldn’t have better partners. We work closely to support all our communities in the county.”

St. Clair Economic Development Executive Director Don Smith pointed out that this will be one of only a few parks that are rail served, noting that the county lost some industries in the past by not having sites served by rail.

Tyler Preast, Senior Manager of Industrial Development for Norfolk Southern, said the company’s support for the project reflects its commitment to fostering growth by attracting forward-thinking companies to create high-quality jobs.

“We’re proud to champion St. Clair County’s vision for building an industrial hub on Norfolk Southern’s rail network,” he said. 

Marriott brand location speaks volumes

February saw community leaders, business partners and residents celebrating the official ribbon cutting of the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, marking the opening of Pell City’s first Marriott-branded hotel and a major milestone in the city’s continued growth.

Located at 265 Vaughan Lane, the 89-room TownePlace Suites is owned by Shivaay Hospitality LLC, led by co-owners Darshen Patel and Vishal Patel.

City Manager Tim Kurzejeski, Mayor Bill Pruitt, TownePlace Suites owners Darshen and Vishal Patel, Councilman Jay Jenkins

“We identified Pell City as a growing market and believed this location would be the perfect fit for our guests,” said Darshen Patel. “We are proud to officially open our doors and become part of this community.”

The hotel is conveniently located near Premiere Cinema, national brand restaurants and a variety of retail destinations. Designed for both short- and extended-stay guests, TownePlace Suites offers spacious rooms with kitchenettes, complimentary Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast, a lobby bar, outdoor pool and a firepit area.

“Our guests have the flexibility to explore everything Pell City has to offer or enjoy a comfortable, convenient stay right here at the hotel,” added co-owner Vishal Patel.

City officials emphasized the importance of the new hotel in supporting tourism, business travel and ongoing economic development.

“Pell City is always supportive of new investment, and this hotel gives more people the opportunity to experience all the great things happening in our community,” said Mayor Bill Pruitt. “It also provides a high-quality lodging option for the manufacturers and businesses that rely on visiting executives and team members from out of town.”

St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon also praised the project, noting its role in strengthening the county’s tourism and hospitality offerings. “As we continue to market tourism events and attract visitors to our area, having well-known hotel brands like Marriott is essential,” Batemon said. “This investment shows confidence in St. Clair County, and we are proud to support it.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony by the Pell City Chamber of Commerce highlighted the collaborative efforts between Shivaay Hospitality, the elected officials and business community that brought the project from planning to completion.  “We have a growing business community in Pell City,” Chamber Director Urainah Glidewell added. “We believe additional brands will draw more people to our community and give them an opportunity to experiences that we enjoy daily.”

With Pell City as home to a half dozen international companies with 2,000 manufacturing jobs, hotels like this for visitors associated with those companies flying in was a definite need. The Marriott brand certainly helps fulfill that need, according to Smith.

“We are grateful for the support from Mayor Pruitt, the City Council, County Commission, and the entire community throughout this process,” Darshen Patel said. “We look forward to serving Pell City for many years to come.”

Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse open

By March, nearly back-to-back ribbon cuttings signaled a new era for dining in Pell City.

City, County and state leaders celebrated the Olive Garden brand’s newest restaurant in Pell City, marking an important milestone ahead of the restaurant’s official opening to the public on March 9. Longhorn followed on March 16.

Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt gives thumbs up to steak at Longhorn

The openings reflect the continued growth and economic momentum in Pell City and St. Clair County. City leaders and developers highlighted the project because of strong collaboration between the private sector and local government.

“This new Olive Garden is another sign of the positive growth happening in Pell City,” said Mayor Bill Pruitt. “We’re proud to welcome a nationally recognized brand that sees the value in our community. Projects like this and other recent projects are possible because of the partnerships between the city, the county, our developers and the businesses choosing to invest here.”

The restaurant was developed in partnership with Bill Ellison, whose work has helped bring new commercial opportunities to the area for decades.

“We’ve seen incredible momentum in Pell City over the last several years,” said Bill Ellison, developer of the project. “The strong market growth, supportive local leadership, and the community’s enthusiasm made this an ideal location for Olive Garden. We’re excited to see this project come to life and contribute to the area’s continued development.”

Officials noted that the new location further strengthens Pell City’s position as a regional retail and dining destination for residents across St. Clair County and the surrounding region.

Jarred Jackson, General Manager for Olive Garden, said the company is excited to join the community with their growing brand and provide a quality service to local guests.

Developer Bill Ellison, the driving force behind Olive Garden and Longhorn, speaks at Olive Garden opening

“We’re thrilled to officially become part of the Pell City community,” Jarred Jackson added. “From the beginning, the collaboration with city leaders, county officials and our development partners made this a seamless process.”

Local leaders emphasized that the project mirrors the continued success of partnerships between municipal leadership, county officials and private developers working together to support responsible growth in St. Clair County.

“We want to commend Bill Ellison, the City of Pell City and Olive Garden for the investment in our county,” echoed County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon. “The Commission and I are happy to be part of this project from the beginning and to celebrate years of hard work.”

Ellison also developed the Longhorn project with the same partners as well as Metro Bank on both developments.

Ellison is quick to give credit to a saying his wife, Dana, shared with him. “Teamwork makes the dream work.” And while he is the spark that fuels the momentum, it’s the team that makes it happen.

Longhorn began in Atlanta, Ga., in 1981 and now nears the 600-mark for locations throughout the country and select territories.

St. Clair Mayors Association

Celebrates 25 years and still going strong

Story by Carol Pappas
Submitted Photos

The year was 2000. Y2K. It was a time for thinking about new beginnings. After all, a new century was dawning.

Meanwhile, a new, young mayor had come on the scene in St. Clair County – full of ideas, yes, but a yearning to learn from his older counterparts, too. So, Guin Robinson, mayor of Pell City at the time, took an old idea, resurrected it and helped put it on the road to revitalization.

This past December, the St. Clair Mayors Association celebrated its 25th year as what has become a catalyst for engaging leaders from around the county with programs, conversations and informational resources to play a role in moving the county forward as a team.

Springville Mayor Austin Phillips, St. Clair School Board Member Bill Morris and Moody Councilman Ellis Key

Robinson, no longer mayor but dean of economic development for Jefferson State Community College, welcomed the group to the college’s Pell City campus to celebrate. In the midst of the reminiscences, it was easy to detect the camaraderie developed over the years.

“When we organized the St. Clair County Mayors Association 25 years ago, the county was in a very different place than it is today,” Robinson recalled. “The St. Clair County Economic Development Council was still new, and the idea of cities and towns working together was, for the most part, untested.

In 2000, a largely new group of mayors from across the county was elected. “Early in that first year, we met as a group and quickly recognized that we had much in common, enjoyed working together and could accomplish far more collectively than we ever could alone,” Robinson said. “That moment was significant and, in my view, marked the beginning of a new spirit of cooperation that continues to this day.”

The original mayor’s association had been established years before but had gone dormant for some time before Robinson suggested it be revitalized.

Guin Robinson addresses the crowd

Robinson served as its first president and soon, the group was up and running and making an impact. They exchanged ideas. They heard updates from state and county officials. They shared what worked and what didn’t in their own towns and cities.

The end result was a more unified county of leaders, sharing in each other’s triumphs and learning from each other’s tries that may have fallen short of success. They found common ground, and they worked together to make a positive impact.

“Over the years, the Association has grown to include non-mayors, a change that has only strengthened both the organization and its impact,” Robinson said. “Today, it serves not only as a forum for leaders to gather, but also as a catalyst for collaboration aimed at improving the quality of life for citizens throughout our municipalities and the county as a whole.

It became a resource center for not only mayors, but county officials – even state officeholders. They were able to hear the latest news from all parts of the county from those who knew it best, and they impressed state and federal officials with a unified front when requesting funding.

In an editorial the same year the association reorganized, The Daily Home newspaper endorsed the concept, calling it “a major breakthrough in effective communication with the ability to bring about improvements all around the county.”

The editorial rightly noted that issues like transportation, infrastructure and water are not unique to a single town. They are shared. “But, more important,” the newspaper said, “they realize the answers are shared, too.”

That has been the key to this success story since 2000. It’s a cooperative effort that continues to provide a strong foundation for progress that still thrives today.

“In my opinion,” Robinson said, “the Mayors Association has exceeded our earliest hopes for what could be accomplished.”

Longhorn Steakhouse and Olive Garden

Much-anticipated restaurants set to open in Pell City

Story by Paul South
Photos by David Smith

There’s a recipe for cooking up a broader restaurant menu for hungry St. Clair County residents and visitors – patience, hard work and teamwork.

And that formula will come to life in 2026, with two popular national chains coming to Pell City in early Spring – Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse. Groundbreaking for the restaurants took place in March 2025, and Longhorn Steakhouse is expected to open first with Olive Garden’s following about three weeks later, officials say.

The two newcomers will join Outback Steaks and prove an unwritten economic development adage, said Pell City developer Bill Ellison. Brands follow brands.

Classic western vibe at Longhorn Steakhouse

The restaurants come on the heels of the Pell City Square retail development that features Hobby Lobby, PetSmart, TJ Maxx, Old Navy, Ross, Ulta and others. Ellison was a co-developer of the shopping center.

The new restaurants, located at the intersection of U.S. 231 and Hazelwood Drive adjacent to the I-20 interchange, are in response to residents who have long hungered for new full-service eateries in one of Alabama’s fastest growing counties.

“This has been something  the community has really wanted,” Ellison said. “We’ve  had a lot of retail success, but we just didn’t have the full-service restaurants. We’ve done well with everything else.”

He added, “I think when Pell City Square shopping center came in with that store mix, that’s  sort of a regional type shopping center. The tenant mix that’s there, we had hoped, would bring in at least one full-service restaurant to the community, and we got Outback.”

Outback has had blockbuster success, Ellison said. “It’s a truly outstanding restaurant. As I understand it, the restaurant had the highest opening volume of sales in the history of Outback, and it’s been extremely high volume ever since.”

Booth waiting on customers to sit at Olive Garden

Pell City Square’s arrival lured more shoppers to Pell City than had shopped there in the past, Ellison said. The restaurants are the culmination of two to three years of work, Ellison said.

“The expansion of the trade area helped us to recruit Olive Garden and Longhorn to Pell City. It’s kind of like brands follow brands. When we got that shopping center, and Outback came, other brands look at Pell City, and they say, ‘Those stores came to Pell City. We might need to look at that.’ That just kind of gets the synergy going.”

Don Smith, executive director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council, said bringing in new full-service restaurants was part of the public’s wish list.

“Having more sit-down restaurants was something that the community had expressed a desire in having here,” Smith said. “The elected officials have listened and made it a priority for us to work on. Through collaboration and partnerships with the developer, property owner, the city, the county and the EDC, we were fortunate to get those national chains to come to the community, to go along with those shoppers who are coming from outside of Pell City to shop at the new Pell City Square.”

Longhorn and Olive Garden are under the Darden Restaurants umbrella of brands, Ellison said. Darden operates 2,100 restaurants nationally with more than 200,000 employees.

Pell City’s growth, local industries and the Honda plant, tourism with Logan Martin Lake and a growing health care landscape all fueled the company’s decision to come to the county.
“Needless to say, that’s a big honor for Pell City, Alabama,” Ellison said. “To attract those restaurants to this city, that really says something.”

All of this economic activity can have a snowball effect that can bring more restaurants and retail to the area. Big picture is that it can mean a regional boost to northeast Alabama.

“Like I said  earlier, brands follow brands,” Ellison said. “It’ll just be a continuing progression. We’re expecting St. Clair County to continue  to grow with a very bright future moving forward. As long as St. Clair County continues to grow and Pell City continues to grow, our region will continue to grow.”

Smith credited Ellison’s efforts.

“Bill Ellison worked really hard on a number of different retailers and eateries,” Smith said. “He felt, and we felt that these two brands (Longhorn and Olive Garden) filled a void that had existed. I think the community’s demographic fits really well with (the restaurants’) target customer.”

Ellison makes a critical point. “I didn’t do this by myself. I’m a hard worker and the rest of it. But the elected officials in Pell City and in St. Clair County and the EDC and Metro Bank through the years, have been with me hand in hand through all of this. It’s a team effort.”

Jefferson State Community College

Celebrating 60 years of education excellence

Story by Roxann Edsall
Submitted Photos

For the past six decades, Jefferson State Community College has been guided by a single principle – opportunity. Since it’s opening in 1965, it may look different – much bigger, in fact, but it hasn’t wavered in providing opportunities.

Celebrating its 60th anniversary this past fall, Jefferson State now has its highest enrollment ever – 10,400 and eclipsing its old record set in 2010 by 800 students. The Pell City-St. Clair Campus experienced enrollment gains as well.

Whether it’s opportunities for students to learn and find gainful employment or those doing the hiring having an opportunity to hire workers with the skills they need, its workforce development program has been making a sizable impact in both sectors.

Lineman, welding and construction programs are part of the offerings at Jeff State

Keeping pace with the needs of today’s industries, Jefferson State has unveiled a new milestone in its mission. The college opened a new Workforce Education Center building on the Jefferson Campus, which serves the entire system.

Housing industrial and craft skills training courses, it includes their existing line worker program and new electrical, HVAC and multi-craft maintenance technician programs. The 7,500 square-foot building features flexible classroom spaces and laboratories that can be adapted to a variety of needs within the college’s short certificate Fast Track program.

The Fast Track program is a credentials program offering 35 options within their portfolio of skills training, specifically focused on developing skills needed for high-demand entry level career opportunities. “The new building really represents opportunity for our community,” says Leah Bigbee, dean of Workforce Education for JSCC. “We’ve been strategically focused on industrial and craft skills training because business and industry have been asking for these programs.”

Bigbee says the Workforce Development Program relies on relationships with local businesses and industry to share their needs and help develop and refine the curriculum in each specialty. “Across the board, our programs are developed with actual jobs in mind – from developing the curriculum to having seasoned veterans teaching classes to mock interviews to actual job interview days,” said Bigbee.

“Our programs are really co-created with industry, which is especially helpful in teaching the specific, current skills needed by area businesses,” said Bigbee. “We have the ability to adapt and be flexible to meet those needs. Really, our north star is those companies who give us continuous feedback.”

CDL drivers are in high demand these days

Guin Robinson, Jefferson State’s dean of Economic Development, has a unique perspective and understanding of the workforce needs of area businesses, having served as mayor of Pell City for five years and at Avondale Mills in Pell City as manager of Human Resources.

“When I was mayor, it was all about community and connecting industry and business and recruiting through the Economic Development Council. It’s what I’ve always done and love doing, connecting community to, in this case, the college.” 

Jefferson State offers 116 transfer programs, 40 career and technical programs, and 35 non-credit, credentialed workforce education programs. They also offer online courses and 100 dual-enrollment course options.

“The credit classes that transfer to four-year institutions is still a lot of what we do,” Robinson says. “But not everyone has to have a four-year degree. As we came out of the COVID experience, that helped to highlight and better articulate what training and workforce needs we had. Our Fast Track program is playing a vital role in developing and training that workforce. Our new building, being the first completely new building on campus in years, speaks to the significance of the program.”

The short-term Fast Track programs include electrical, HVAC, lineworker, forklift operator, commercial driver (CDL), welding and a host of business and healthcare options. These credential programs help meet the needs of fresh high-school graduates beginning their careers, as well as those reentering the workforce or wanting to change career paths.

“We serve almost three thousand students in the Workforce Department,” says Bigbee. “Our data shows us that 80 percent complete the program and go on to find employment. Companies depend on us to create these customized training programs that really do give someone a leg up and give them a better chance to make it in an entry-level role and be retained, as opposed to someone who is just hired off the street.”

“At the end of the day,” adds Robinson, “it’s about providing economic opportunity for our students and marrying that with the needs of business and industry. It’s very rewarding.”

Some of the Jefferson State workforce development partner companies in St. Clair County include Goodgame Company, Ford Meter Box, Hubble Power and Gorbel. Jefferson State welcomes inquiries from other companies who might want to partner with their workforce development programs.

Several Fast-Track programs are offered at the Jefferson State St. Clair-Pell City Campus each year, including a clinical medical assistant class funded by the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.

In the spring, additional fast-track offerings such as welding, field engineering, and clinical medical assistant will be available.

Editor’s note: For more information, go to jeffersonstate.edu/fasttrack.

CVEC marketing staff earns state recognitions

Photo: Winners at the convention. Kylie Entrekin of Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative’s marketing team is second from left. Kylie Mason is third from left. She is in sales and marketing for Coosa Valley Technologies.

The marketing team from Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative and Coosa Valley Technologies received six awards at the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives Communications Awards, which recognize excellence in marketing, communications and public relations among electric cooperatives across Alabama.

The awards, given during AREA’s annual communications conference in Huntsville, are for work created in 2024.

“These awards highlight the impact that marketing does for cooperatives and subsidiaries,” said Jon Cullimore, CVEC general manager. “I’m grateful for the team’s efforts and look forward to seeing what they can achieve next.”

CVEC and CVT each earned two Awards of Excellence, the highest honor given in each category. Cullimore received the Best Column Award for his Alabama Living magazine piece, “Giving Thanks After Helene.” The column recounts the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and highlights the critical role Alabama’s cooperatives and linemen played in restoring power to affected communities.

“Orchestrating an Outage Response,” also published in Alabama Living magazine, was named Best News Story for its behind-the-scenes look at the coordinated efforts required to respond to a power outage.

CVT, a subsidiary of CVEC, won Best Wild Card for “Daily Dose of Fiber,” a nutrition-label-themed cereal box featuring the organization’s fiber service features. Pioneer Utility Resources, a firm specializing in electric cooperative marketing, created the cereal box design.

CVT’s Trunk R Treat Cybersecurity Halloween Event was recognized with the Best Event Campaign Award for its engaging, family-friendly approach to promoting online safety.

CVEC also received two Awards of Merit. The Alabama Living article titled “Helping with Helene” highlighted CVEC linemen providing mutual aid after Hurricane Helene. It was honored in the News Story category.

Safety Director Tommy Tant earned a Best Photo nod for his nighttime image titled “Nighttime Ballet,” which captured the precision and teamwork of linemen working after dark.

Marketing efforts from 2025 will be recognized during the annual conference in October 2026.

Museum Exhibit Perfectly Blends History and Art

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mackenzie Free

mphasis on preserving the history of Pell City and that of its families and community.  One of its most recent exhibits perfectly blended that history with the art of quilting.  The museum, on the second floor of the Municipal Complex, typically contains its exhibits to the interior of the museum, but recently has been expanding outside its doors to showcase the work of the area’s talented citizens.

“Hosting exhibits like the quilt show allows us to celebrate the incredible talent in our own community,” said Museum Coordinator Erica Grieve.  “It reminds us that art isn’t just found in galleries far away.  It’s being created right here at home.”

The quilt exhibit ran from late October through November and featured roughly 40 quilts created by members of the Friendship Quilters Guild of St Clair County.  The opening featured a presentation by historian Joe Whitten, a quilt collector himself, who shared stories about the history of quilts and shared some of his quilts.  There were also demonstrations showing the making of a quilt from start to finish. 

Part of the history of quilting included the quilting bee, a social gathering of ladies whose focus was on finishing a quilt together.  Such was the case in the making of Janet’s Double Wedding Ring quilt on display by her daughter Janet Jones. 

A group at Pell City United Methodist Church got together to complete the quilt for a silent auction.  When the silent auction did not meet the minimum bid to cover expenses, the ladies voted to give it to Janet’s mother, Janet Weldon. 

Weldon had reportedly done much of the hand-stitching, including the stitching around each of the intertwined rings.  Her daughter said quilting was so important to Weldon that when her mom passed, they elected to drape her casket in the Double Wedding Ring quilt, rather than having a funeral spray.  “Because it was cold, we also took some of her other quilts to the graveside to cover our legs,” said Jones.  “She would have liked that.”

Ken Kilgroe came to the exhibit to honor his now-deceased grandmother, Roxie Moore.  One of her quilts, made more than 60 years ago, was on display.  Moore, an Eden native, reportedly hosted quilting bees often in the 1950s.

The Museum of Pell City’s next special exhibit opens Dec. 4 and features the beautiful woodcarvings of local artisan Eric Knepper.  A reception will be held on Dec. 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The museum is open to view other compelling pieces of the history of Pell City, St. Clair County and Alabama Thursdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.