County growth continues upward trend
Story by Linda Long
Staff and archived photos
St. Clair County is at it again. Fiscal 2024 is shaping up as another banner year – like the one before it and the one before that. Despite inflation, run amok, threats of a recessionary economy and an uncertain election year the county continues to chalk up impressive economic numbers, showing an upswing in new investments especially in manufacturing, and a surge in retail expansion.
Don Smith, executive director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council (EDC) called 2024 a “positive” year for the whole county. “We had 10 large projects that we either broke ground or announced plans for expansion. These 10 projects represent a total of 343 new jobs and over $117 million in new investment,” said Smith.
According to Smith, high on this year’s economic agenda is implementing the county’s new 5-year strategic plan with renewed focus on helping St. Clair communities transition from small towns to the suburbs. The county’s Grant Resource Center is playing a vital role in helping with that transition.
As Smith explained the county has a new strategic plan in place every five years, but he was quick to note, “the plan is not what we (EDC) think, but rather a consensus from hundreds of people – business leaders, elected officials, community leaders – people who come together at three different events to get a full picture of what the vision is for St. Clair County.
“From those hundreds of people, giving us their expert opinions,” Smith continued, “we’re able to formulate what it is we need to focus on for the next five years “
The current plan was released the first of the year, and certainly part of its focus is to help St. Clair’s small towns make that critical transition from rural to suburban.
“This is showcased with the creating of our new Grant Resource Center that will provide the County Commission and all the municipalities with the knowledge of funding opportunities as well as the tools in which to apply and be awarded grants needed for many of the needs of a growing community,” Smith explained
Some of those needs include “water, sewer, transportation – in a word, infrastructure. We need those things so we can bring in more employers,” he said. “So, we can bring in more retailers. That’s why the strategic plan is calling for an entity to assist our communities obtain different grants that are out there – federal, state and regional.”
As Smith explained, every single dollar a community can raise in grants is a dollar that doesn’t have to be taken from what Smith called “hyperlocal” expenses.
“Most cities in Alabama don’t have anything like this,” he continued. “It’s a valuable resource. So far, the new Grant Center has helped secure $6.5 million in outside funds that would normally have to be paid for with local funds. This money is coming in from different grants that have been written, and we’ve already been approved for. The more money we can obtain from these grant sources, the more the local dollars can be put toward local needs.”
One such project was the purchase of 250 acres on the I-59 corridor. Smith said that property will soon be developed to attract large, quality employers to add to the ones already in that area. “These new companies will employ our citizens, raise the average buying power of the community and generate more taxes for our cities”
St. Clair County was the fifth fastest growing county by percentage in 2023. “This growth,” said Smith, “requires long-term planning and a larger investment in infrastructure. We are working with our elected officials and providing resources to help them manage the increased demands that come with this growth.
