President's Report

June 30, 2008, not only marks the mid-point of the Alliance’s fiscal year, it also marks the mid-point of our ALLIANCE 2010, five year strategic plan.

We have made solid progress on many parts of the plan.  Highlights include Top Ten Micropolitan recognition nationally for new manufacturing, distribution, and corporate office locations, in 2006 and 2007; creation of a new organization to help facilitate future workforce housing initiatives, and creation of a regional partnership to spearhead workforce recruitment and development.

In our effort to diversify the economy, to protect against downturns in the tourism/service industries, we have provided direct assistance to over 35 firms creating over 2,000 new jobs—many of which are high pay, high tech.  These range from biofuels, to aerospace manufacturing and aerospace engineering.  And this does not include Mobile County projects such as ThyssenKrupp, in which we played a role and which are providing direct and indirect jobs to our citizens.

Your Alliance continues to focus on long term initiatives as well, such as the creation of a “Certified Megasite” in the north part of the county and the identification and development of smaller industrial and/or white collar type properties in other parts of the county.  The five Chambers of Commerce, seven Industrial Development Boards, two hybrid business/industrial boards, thirteen incorporated communities and the Baldwin County Commission all play active roles in assisting us with these efforts.

We now have approximately 100 active Investors, up substantially in the last two years.  It is this public/private partnership which allows us to compete successfully against larger, better funded economic development organizations.

As we fight our way through the ongoing downturn in the economy, it is more important than ever that we remain focused and continue our quest for more and better jobs and for economic diversification.  Our future depends on it.

Robert Ingram
President/CEO

Five Star Southern Hospitality

Congratulations to all of the folks who have worked hard to put together the Five Star Southern Hospitality program. Faulkner State Community College was notified that they have been awarded a $105,000 grant from the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development to help offset tuition costs. This certification is based on a set of courses that are designed to help people in the hospitality industry learn about the area and master the skills they need to give everyone they come in contact with a great experience.

FDIC Chair Sheila Bair to Keynote
Coastal Economy Outlook on Sept. 30
Credit Markets, Regulation Focus on Seminar

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chair Sheila Bair will keynote the 2008 Coastal Economy Outlook, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Mobile Convention Center.

The event is sponsored by Envision Coastal Alabama, the University of South Alabama Center for Real Estate Studies, the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance.

Bair will discuss the current credit markets, federal regulations and restrictions and the impact on the Southeastern economy.

In addition to serving as the chair of the FDIC, she is also a member of the FDIC Board of Directors and the dean’s professor of financial regulatory policy for the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

Her professional experience also includes service with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the New York Stock Exchange. Bair received a bachelor’s degree from Kansas University and a law degree from Kansas University School of Law.

Other speakers will include Tim Russell, Alabama revenue commissioner; Bill Sisson, vice-president of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce; 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 Tuesday, Sept. 23. Continuing Education credit is available for attendance.

For more information about the Coastal Economy Outlook visit http://cres.southalabama.edu/ or www.usacontinuinged.com. Or call (251) 431-6536.

Board of Directors Spotlight
David J. Rauch, P.E., President

Hutchinson, Moore & Rauch, LLC

David J. Rauch, P.E. serves as President of Hutchinson, Moore & Rauch, LLC and is manager of the Foley office.  He is a founding member of the firm which was established on April 1, 2000.  Hutchinson, Moore & Rauch, LLC provides Engineering, Surveying and Land Planning services throughout Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Gulf Coast and they maintain offices in Daphne, Foley and Mobile.   David has 37 years experience and is a registered professional engineer.

David is currently serving as the Vice-Chairman of the Alliance Board of Directors for 2008 and has been a valuable member of the Alliance Board for the past three years.  He is a member of several Board Committees where he has actively recruited new investors for the Alliance and assisted with our recent new office renovations.   David’s expertise is a true asset to the economic activities of the Alliance.

In addition to serving on the Alliance Board, David is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Alumni Association for the University of South Alabama from which he graduated.   He is Vice Chairman of City of Foley planning committee and a member of four authority boards for the City of Foley.

David and his wife Nancy live in Foley and have 2 adult children.  They are currently awaiting the birth of their first grandchildren!

Hutchinson, Moore & Rauch, LLC
Engineers · Surveyors · Land Planners

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