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.”
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.”
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.
“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.
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.
“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.
