BCEDA welcomes Matt Kelly to the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance as Business and Community Development Manager. Matt was hired in August for an apprentice and recently has come on full-time with BCEDA. He came to us from the DeSoto County Economic Development Council in Mississippi and also has a background in Public Relations. Matt received his undergrad degree from Mississippi State University and is currently completing his Masters in Economic Development at the University of Southern Mississippi. You can contact him at (251) 947-4998 or mkelly@baldwineda.com

Working in coordination with Bob Higgins of BCEDA, the Economic Development Committees of the Eastern Shore and South Baldwin Chambers each have about a dozen members interviewing existing businesses in their areas. The objectives of these interviews are to help establish new relationships between business leaders and to identify opportunities where the community can help these businesses grow. So far over 40 interviews have been completed. This effort is part of a state-wide program that recognizes that our strongest economic growth opportunity is – as always – through our existing businesses! While the individual company responses are confidential, we will share some of the overall results with you in our next newsletter.

BCEDA Business and Community Development Manager, Matt Kelly, recently attended the 2003 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference and trade show in Orlando. Kelly, who began working at the Alliance in late August, represented Baldwin County and helped at the South Alabama Aviation Advantage (SAAA) booth in Orlando. The SAAA booth was arranged as a regional marketing effort for south Alabama. Those who helped at the SAAA booth included representatives from Alabama Power, Alabama Electric Cooperative, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), as well as local economic development agencies and area airport representatives. Kelly said the trade show was an excellent opportunity to network with aerospace and general aviation companies from all over the world in hopes of attracting more aerospace/aviation firms to the state, and more specifically to Baldwin County. “I was able to meet with numerous aerospace firms and come away with some promising leads in terms of companies to pursue that would be nice matches for Baldwin County,” Kelly said.

Also in attendance from Baldwin County was Gulf Shores Airport Administrator, Russ Kilgore. “The NBAA trade show is extremely beneficial because you have 90 percent of the manufacturers in the aviation world in one location at one time,” Kilgore said.

BCEDA and the Baldwin County chambers invited the Alabama Technology Network to teach its introductory classes in “Lean Manufacturing” and “Lean Office” to area companies. These classes provide companies with tools to get their employees involved productive, profitability improvements. About five different companies sent 17 people to these classes. When asked if we should recommend other Baldwin companies take these classes, every one of the students gave an enthusiastic endorsement. They also said that they learned enough in the introductory class to immediately apply these principles in their own business. If you are interested in learning more about this, contact Harry Cecil at ATN (888-925-8764 ext 103)

The Business Incubator is busier than ever! Over the last 18 months of its existence, we have helped over 100 start-up or young companies in the area.

The newest company in the incubator is Custom Concrete Creations in Elberta and Gulf Shores. This company specializes in designing and manufacturing custom, high quality styled concrete components for up-scale homes and commercial buildings. Some of their products will be curving exterior stairs, railings, and columns, window surrounds, and fireplaces. They also will manufacture a few “standard” products like paver bricks and straight railings. Contact them at 251-986-6645.

If you are thinking of starting a business in Baldwin County, contact Bob Higgins at 251-947-5715 for information on incubator and community resources that may be available to help you.

Baldwin County Schools have taken a very progressive role in establishing academies within several high schools to meet the needs of the different communities. As a result of a business survey and other efforts by BCEDA and the school system, Daphne High School has announced that it will open an “Information Technology Academy” within their normal curriculum in the fall of 2004. While the exact content is still being developed, it is expected to provide a four year set of elective courses in business-related information technology leading to entry-level professional certification for graduating seniors. The individual elective courses would also be available to other students in the school. If you are interested in being on the business advisory committee for this academy, contact Mike Lucci, Vice Principal, at 251-626-8787.

Bill Payne of Fairhope was honored by the Economic Development Association of Alabama at their Winter conference with the award of “Volunteer of the Year” for Alabama. Bill currently serves as Chairman of the Industrial Development Board of the City of Fairhope.

Bill has been instrumental in developing and implementing several projects such as revitalizing the industrial development board, enhancing the economic development strategy for the City of Fairhope and securing a 123,000 square foot building for industrial recruitment.