A Compelling Story of Growth and Potential

With the announcement of several large developments, Alabama’s Gulf Coast has been brought forth upon the national stage. It is in this environment that Baldwin County, with Mobile to the west and Pensacola to the east, finds itself prepared to play an increasing role in regional growth.

From 2006-2008, around 3,000 new condominiums and hotel rooms have been added for an estimated $600 million to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach’s inventory creating about 3,600 new jobs

Over 3 million square feet of new retail space has opened or is under construction requiring an estimated 12,000 employees

Approximately 4.7 million people visited Baldwin County in 2007 spending $2.3 billion

International Paper announced plans for two 50 year developments, The Highlands in Spanish Fort, 11,000 acre mixed use development with 28,000 homes and an estimated 7,000 jobs by 2022, and Roan's Creek in Loxley a 5,600 acre development

ThyssenKrupp AG announced development of a $3.7 billion and 2,700 employee steel mill in Mobile County with an estimated 5,500 indirect jobs in the region

Northrop Grumman and EADS North American won the contract to build KC-45 Air Force tanker a $600 million investment employing 1,150 with an estimated 3,000 indirect jobs regionally

Airbus announced plans to construct a civilian cargo version of the Airbus A330 in this facility, resulting in additional 300 jobs

Austal USA has initiated a $200 million expansion with 1,200 new jobs to support construction of the US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship

APM Terminals North America announced development of Mobile Container Terminal, a $300 million intermodal facility, set to employ 1,700 and increase the port’s container capacity from 75,000 TEUs to 800,000 TEUs per year

Retirement Systems of Alabama opened the RSA Tower, a 35 story building, with over 650,000 square feet of Class “A” office space, a $200 million investment

In just these few events, $5 billion of investment and almost 30,000 new jobs have or are planned to come into the region and these are just part of the story. Forbes’ listed the city of Mobile as having the fastest rate of growth of any metropolitan area in the country, 34% between 2007 and 2012. The region is experiencing growth unlike anything seen since the build-up during World War Two to construct the “arsenal of democracy.”

Mobile and Baldwin County are home to a convergence of several factors: a strong transportation infrastructure, a growing population, quality educational institutions and a location providing superior quality of life. With interstates, rail, airports, in-land waterways and deep water ports, all possible modes of transportation are represented. Furthermore, with a regional population of 882,000 consisting of 404,000 in Mobile County, 172,000 in Baldwin County and 306,000 in Escambia County, Florida, location of Pensacola, a large pool of population exists within easy reach. Couple these assets with the scenic beauty of Alabama’s beaches and the recreation industry, great potential exists for the future growth and development of Alabama’s Gulf Coast.