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Jimmy Faulkner's
Mumblings
Agency deserves
recognition for assisting in Baldwin County's economic development
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MUMBLINGS May 10, 2001
There is a comparatively new private agency working day and night for the
present and future development of this great county. It would probably be
the truth to say that not one in 10 of our citizens could name it.
Its goals are tremendous, its accomplishments great.
The agency is the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. It began in
1994 and fully operating several months later, a group of forward-looking
Baldwin citizens worked hard for the high purpose of the organization.
As stated, its policy is, "The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance
is a private, non-profit operation that was formed in 1994. The purpose of
the alliance is to implement an economic program which promotes an improved
quality of life for the residents of Baldwin County, Alabama.
"With the input and help of business and government leaders from all areas
of Baldwin County, the Alliance has developed an aggressive, five-year
economic development plan called Alliance 2005. The plan includes goals,
strategies and tactics in three major areas.
 | Existing business expansion and work force development. |
| Business development. |
| Continuous community development. |
The Alliance raised over $1.6 million to fulfill its program of
increasing businesses, employment and income in the four-year period from
1996 through the year 2000.
Highly successful businesses increased during this period from 4,472 to
5,843; number of employees from 33,409 to 43,250 and, amazingly, total sales
increased almost one third or over $900 million.
Relying on this four years of success, the Alliance has just completed a
fund raising drive of over $2 million with plans of having over $4 million
during the next period, from 2001 through 2005, which is called Alliance
2005.
The new, ambitious program is: $200 million in new capital investment, 4,000
new quality jobs, 120 re-location expansions and start-ups, $10 million in
work force/business grants and expand tax base by $16 million.
Through the backing of many leading businesses and men and women of Baldwin
County, you can reasonably expect this program will be fulfilled.
With the above help, the driving force and much reason for success was the
selection of Lance Lacour, Executive Director, to lead the Alliance. Lance,
an unassuming, efficient, dedicated, intelligent, attention to detail sort
of person, has done well and I feel confident will continue to do so.
He not only depends on his own abilities and hard work, but he has
intelligently surrounded himself with a fine group of people, who offer him
assistance in many areas. They are: Marshall Rogers, Assistant Director;
Sean Lytle, Information and Resource Coordinator; Karen Glover, Public
Relations Coordinator and Joyce Kinard, Secretary. Well stated, "Alliance
2005 is designed to accelerate Baldwin County's movement into the new
economy".
See you again soon, I hope.
Jimmy Faulkner of Bay Minette is a former newspaper
publisher, state senator, and gubernatorial candidate. |
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