FROM THE PRESIDENT    

     In the May issue of Site Selection magazine, the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance is recognized as being a 2008 TOP GROUPS HONORABLE MENTION, ranking us as one of the best 20 economic development organizations in the United States!  This issue also highlights one of last year’s projects, Ecovery LLC in its discussion of the Alliance successes.  The Top 20 recognition follows Baldwin County’s recognition in the March issue as the number two Micropolitan County in the United States for new back office, industrial/distribution/corporate headquarters type locations.

     In the last four years the Alliance has helped create over 3,104 jobs and $260,425,545 capital investment in the non-tourism, non-service sectors.  The effort to diversify the economy and create high paying jobs has been very successful but there is much work to do and we will not slow down.
 

     Familiarizing key corporate site selection “decision influencers” with our area is one of our best marketing tools.  In April we were extremely fortunate to host Dr. Robert Pittman, founder and Principal of Janus Consulting LLC, for two days.  Robert visited every area of the county, viewed over a dozen potential sites for industrial, distribution, corporate and high tech locations, met with city and county leaders, and spoke at our April Investors meeting held at Rock Creek Clubhouse.
 

     Now when Janus is doing a site search for a client, they will know us not only as a piece of GIS information showing maps and data, but also as a dynamic, aggressive county with a huge variety of potential sites and buildings and a quality of life second to none.  Similar visits from other site location consultants are in the works.
 

     Our project activity remains strong, including prospective new companies and expansions of existing companies.  With your continued support we will be successful.

                 
Robert Ingram
President/CEO
 

 
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Jim Kellen and Bob Higgins facilitated a meeting of five of our community college presidents and local business leaders on May 12th. Higgins serves as Chair of the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council (SAWDC) and Kellen is its Executive Director. Pictured behind Jim and Bob are college presidents Gary Branch (Faulkner State), Jim Lowe (Bishop State), Susan McBride (Jefferson Davis), John Johnson (Alabama Southern), and Douglas Little (Reid State).

The purpose of the Council is to align the needs of employers with our workforce development system so that we have enough people with the right skills when our employers need them. The purpose of this meeting was for the colleges to present their ideas for new or expanded career technology training programs to the Council, and for the business members of the Council to provide feedback. Ultimately, the Council must agree with their requests in order for them to be eligible for state funding. For more information, contact Bob Higgins or visit www.sawdc.org.                       
Photo by Dianne Powell, Press-Register
 

INVESTORS' RECEPTION
SAVE THE DATE

The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance Investors’ Reception

will be Thursday, September 24, 2009 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm

at the Beach Club in Gulf Shores.

Please mark your calendars and join us as we celebrate our 15th Anniversary!

Sponsor:
 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPOTLIGHT
David A. Horton
Superintendent, Public Affairs & Communications

   
     David Horton has been a member of the Alliance Board of Directors since 2004 and has served as Vice Chair, Chairman and is currently the Board Treasurer. 

     While in college, David was drafted into the US Navy where he worked as an Aviation Electrician and flew two years as an air crewman Flight Engineer on a P-3 Orion.  During his service he earned a Unit Commendation Medal.  David continued his education after his discharge from the Navy and earned his BS Degree and Masters Degree from the University of North Alabama while working as an electrician and then in management and marketing positions.  David is Superintendent, Public Affairs and Communications for Riviera Utilities.

      Throughout his career, David has been involved with many business and community service organizations.  Currently, he is the chairman of the Foley Planning Commission Board, member of the Foley Optimist Club, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life committee member, the American Heart Association “HeartWalk” committee member, a Gulf Coast Balloon Festival volunteer, Foley Methodist Church Board – Past Lay Leader, a Member of the band "Cool Change" and "Coastal Chorale" and a past member of the Foley Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Board.

     David and his wife Joanne have been married for 41 years.  They have one son, David, Jr., daughter-in-law Marsha and a grandson, Cole.  David's hobbies include:  golf, hiking, canoeing, SEC football and hunting.

     Thank you, David, for all you do for the Alliance and for your community!
 

WELCOME NEW INVESTORS!

Envision Annual Meeting
 

     The October 28 breakfast meeting will be held at the Marriott Grand Hotel in Point Clear. Registration will begin at 7 a.m., and the meeting will begin at 7:30 a.m. Cost is $20. Reservations can be made by contacting Ailey Arrow at 251-431-8621.

   Joel Kotkin, internationally-recognized authority on global, economic, political and social trends and author of the critically acclaimed book, The City, will be the keynote speaker

Envision e-Report June 2009

The Envision Coastal Alabama e-Report newsletter was released this week.
 

2009 Coastal Economy Outlook

     Envision will again co-sponsor the Coastal Economy Outlook with the University of South Alabama Center for Real Estate Studies, the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. This event will take place on Wednesday, September 30 at the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center. Dennis Lockhart, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, will serve as the keynote speaker. 

     Other speakers will include Tim Russell, Alabama revenue commissioner; Cedric Hatcher, senior market executive for RBC Bank, Troy Wayman, vice president of economic development for the Mobile Area Chamber; Robert Ingram, president and chief executive of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance; and Dr. Donald Epley, USA distinguished professor of real estate and director of the USA Center for Real Estate Studies.

The registration deadline for the event is Wednesday, Sept. 23. Cost is $85 to attend. To register, go to www.usacontinuinged.com or call 251-431-6536.

Commute Smart Kicks Off in Baldwin County

On May 9^th, the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission unveiled a new carpooling program to connect commuters in Baldwin and Mobile counties.

CommuteSmart is a web-based ride matching program which collects information from participants and in turn sets up carpooling networks of commuters from the same areas. Through these carpooling networks, CommuteSmart is able to save money, reduce wear and tear on participants’ vehicles and cut down on the number of vehicles on roadways during rush hours.  Most importantly, this program is designed to improve air quality in the area by reducing ozone emissions.

Best of all, the program is completely free and signing up is simple. To sign up, log on to the CommuteSmart Mobile-Baldwin page at http://www.commutesmart.org and register for the ride matching program.  Interested participants are encouraged to sign up through the website, but may also sign up by calling 251-706-1CAR (1224).

BALDWIN COUNTY JOB FAIR
A GREAT SUCCESS!!

2009 BOARD MEMBERS