Story by Carol Pappas
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It’s an oft quoted phrase – You can’t get to where you want to be if you don’t have a plan to get you there.
From its infancy, St. Clair County Economic Development Council not only had a plan, they developed new ones every five years and executed them to perfection. They set goals. They met goals – and they exceeded them.
Today, as in years past, St. Clair County holds its familiar place as one of the fastest growing counties in Alabama. It is consistently in the top 10 fastest growing by population percentage, sometimes top 5, in the state.
In 2019, EDC put in motion its five-year plan in:
- Education and Workforce Development
- Job Recruitment and Retention
- Marketing
- Tourism
- Leadership
Like a well-schooled student checking off homework assignments, the team at EDC went to work and by 2023, goals were completed and in many instances, the outcomes exceeded the expectations.
In Job Recruitment and Retention, an A+ would certainly be in order.
Goal – Announce $150 million in new capital investments
Outcome – Announced $672 million
Goal – Announce $50 million in new payroll from new jobs created
Outcome – Announced $54 million
Goal – Announce $3 million in additional tax revenue for schools
Outcome – Announced $11.5 million
Goal – Announce 1,500 new jobs
Outcome – Announced 1,608 new jobs
More than a passing grade goes across the board in all areas of the plan.
In Education and Workforce Development, EDC hosted an annual meeting to create partnerships between employers and educators. That partnership ensures that the county has a trained, skilled workforce to meet available job opportunities.
They raised awareness about regional job opportunities, advocated for education courses relevant to employers’ needs and strengthened relationships and partnerships with education.
The EDC completed work to identify and market 500 acres of sites in the county, surveyed existing business to determine growth potential and needs, raised awareness about the county’s healthcare and educational assets and coordinated successful grant requests from municipalities.
To ensure that industries are armed with the information they need on available incentives, proper use of incentives and updates on new incentive programs, EDC held an Economic Development Summit.
In Marketing, they developed communication strategies for messaging on a wide range of subjects, working with Realtors, Chambers, educational institutions and geographical areas, like the I-59 corridor.
For Tourism, they promoted tourism events, activities and sites throughout the county, networked with state and regional tourism organizations and have developed a detailed tourism strategy.
And in Leadership, they continued to build on the strong alumni base and identified prospective leaders in each community, worked in community planning and evaluated Main Street program potential.
“It’s been a great run,” Executive Director Don Smith told a group of investors in EDC’s Partnership for Tomorrow. “We want to accelerate that going forward.”
If the past is any indicator of the future, better fasten your seatbelts.
