Initiatives magazine, June 2002 by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber

june 2002 review

ini tiatives huntsville madison county

chamber of commerc e

Facets of Economic Development A â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marqueeâ&#x20AC;? Project

A Perspective on Incentives

Information, Communication, Jobs

ini tiatives H u n t s vi ll e / Ma d i s o n C o u n ty • Ch a m b e r of Co m m e r c e

f eat u re s cover

Examining the Many Facets of Economic Development

A “Marquee” Project

Bringing Toyota to Town

You Know You Work in Huntsville if...

Fare Investment Partnership

A Perspective on Incentives

Information, Communication, Jobs

The Chamber Supports Existing Industr y

Examining the Many Facets of Economic Development

Giving Us the EDGE

Sharing the Secret

A Vision of Success... A Passion for Quality

Cover design by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Publications Department.

de v el o p m e n t s

Member Developments

Economic Indicators

Economy-at-a-Glance

In the Forefront

2001 New & Expanding Industries

Chamber Events

Ribbon Cuttings & Groundbreakings

Economic Development Highlights

s t a ff

Publication Manager

Rikki Thomas

Managing Editor

Barbara Nash

Contributing Editor

Joy Dawes Ken Smith

Contributing Writers

Shannon Belew Kate Gray Holly Dawn Hunter Kari Kampakis George Winters Karen Yarbrough

Account Executive

R.D. Patterson

Publisher

Jeff Thompson

mission

The mission of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County is to prepare, develop and promote our community for ecomonic growth.

contact

Chamber of Commerce Huntsville/Madison County P.O. Box 408 Huntsville, AL 35804-0408 256.535.2000 www.initiativesreview.com

President/CEO

Brian Hilson

Permission to publish any part of Initiatives Review is hereby granted exclusively to any non-profit institution and to any publisher for broadcast or publication to the general public. Credit “ Initiatives Review, a Publication of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville / Madison County.”

03 1 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Examining the Many Facets of Economic Development Economic development can easily be defined as a process - a series of steps and required functions that work for the purpose of recruiting and expanding industry in a community. But it's the people and entities behind the process - business and civic leaders, partnerships, and community - which better define successful economic development.

“Everyone who lives in a community and depends on it, deserves to know what plans are available for economic development and what its priorities are,” explains Brian Hilson, president and CEO of the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber of Commerce, “Any community should have a plan for growth.” The Chamber of Commerce is the community’s leading organization for economic development. Its focus is to recruit a mix of employers that will provide quality job opportunities and keep the economic base strong. “We measure economic development success by new and expanding industries, but our role is improving quality of life, which is often dictated by level of income,” Hilson said. Our community is comprised of a diverse base of industries. According to 2001 annual averages from the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, service industries (including technology based services, as well as retail) account for 30% of the area’s employment, while the government sector contributes 21%, with trade and manufacturing closely

following as primary employers. Perhaps it’s this commitment to a diversification of thriving industries that helped win Huntsville national recognition as a community whose economy “continues to thrive despite the national recession.” (CNN MoneyLine, December 2001.) Building recognition of Huntsville/ Madison County and creating a positive image of the community is a critical element in economic development, along with targeted marketing, continuous retention and expansion initiatives, and workforce development. The role of the Chamber of Commerce is to lead these initiatives and be an “information” business - collecting and disseminating data necessary to keep the community growing. Although 50% of the organization's $3 million annual budget is dedicated to economic development and support, the

focused efforts of this initiative come from committed partnerships throughout the community. Business leaders pledged $6 million in financial support as part of the Chamber's five-year EDGE economic development initiative. “We have a higher level of commitment and involvement from our community leaders than most similar organizations.” In addition to financial support, Hilson points to the position of chair-elect of the Chamber’s Board of Directors as a prime example of the dedication and leadership offered from community business partners. Howard Thrailkill, president and COO of ADTRAN, Inc. (one of Huntsville/Madison County’s leading employers) is this year’s Chair-Elect, also serving as the chair of the Partnership for Economic Development. Although Thrailkill operates a global company specializing in digital transmission, he continues to lead a time-intensive effort with other business peers, focused on identifying and implementing economic development strategies for the community. Area business leaders take a sense of ownership in the process, and the united effort, along with officials from State and City government, is part of the system necessary for being proactive. Mayor Loretta Spencer agrees that the State of Alabama is a key partner in Huntsville’s ability to maintain success, and she should know. “Right now we have an extremely good partnership with the State when recruiting industry, but we also have the flexibility to put together some great incentive packages locally.” 105 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Acknowledging that city leaders may new facility in North Alabama, the receive some criticism for how much company contributed $500,000 to The they give in benefits, the Mayor adds, Schools Foundation (an organization “We are looking for companies that want supporting the three public school to play a sizeable role within the commu- systems throughout Madison County) to nity - that want to be a partner in this implement a state-of-the-art distance community. So we may have to do a lot learning lab in all area high schools. to partner and get them here, but they in return invest and give back to the community.” The Mayor points to three The Future of Economic Development recent examples of the area’s for Huntsville/Madison County economic development successes, including Toyota’s $220 million engine assembly plant that was “We continue to put education as our priority, so recruited and announced in just we're seeking healthy, good industries that bring four months. Other success stories high paying jobs to the community.” include the 1.35 million square – Mayor Loretta Spencer foot Target Distribution Center and the expansion of a new shopping mall project with CBL & “Maintain a high level of teamwork and commitAssociates Properties, Inc. The ment - stay the course - focusing on high value650,000 square-foot retail develadded employers...and luck.” opment is based on a renovation -– Brian Hilson of an existing mall location and Chamber of Commerce has been a deal that first started developing in the 1980’s. Not only do these type of “To make a positive difference in the lives of the announcements indicate quality, people in the area - striving for continuous high-paying jobs offered to area improvement.” – Barbara McDaniel, Toyota residents, but when identifying successful companies to bring into or further expand in the community, economic development success also signifies potential benefits to “Toyota believes it should give back to other sectors of the community. society,” explains Barbara McDaniel, “the For instance, Target Stores supports company motto is think globally – act the arts and education and the Mayor locally.” McDaniel, Manager of External says Target has already contributed Affairs for Toyota Motor Manufacturing $52,000 in grants to the Huntsville North America, Inc., said the Huntsville community. In addition, along with facility was the quickest selection process Toyota’s announcement of its plans for a ever in North America. Community

leaders agree that it's one of the area’s great success stories for economic development and truly representative of efforts by all the partners - the State, City officials, business leaders and the community itself. So what was the deciding factor for choosing Huntsville? “There’s no one single reason,” explains McDaniel, “but it was an ideal mix of a lot of factors.” The factors included location, the proximity to the interstate and having a good highway system for transportation of the finished engines; a stable local economy; availability of a workforce; detailed information that was readily made available; and the fact that Toyota officials were “delighted and pleased” with the response from the community. But truth be told, confides McDaniel, what may have finally “tipped” the decision in Huntsville’s favor was, “the unified effort in which the business community and elected officials approached Toyota – working as a team to make Toyota feel welcome and knowing that ever y effort would be made to make it happen.” As far as the Chamber of Commerce is concerned, economic development is a cycle that feeds itself - plant seeds through marketing, cultivate relationships, and involve partners. Then develop and react to the needs of those partners and businesses by recruiting industries and addressing their particular needs. Finally, announce the arrival and help them become a part of our community. And then the cycle begins again. – Shannon Belew

Economic development, as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, is “fundamentally about enhancing the factors of productive capacity - land, labor, capital, and technology - of a national, state or local economy.” A community uses its resources and power specifically to increase incomes, the number of jobs, and the productivity of resources to provide growth. 107 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

A “Marquee” Project Bringing Toyota to Town As the “hub” of all economic development activities in the community, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County played a key role in coordinating the Toyota project (code named Project Diamond) and in helping attract this high-profile company to the area. Given Toyota's position as a globally-recognized company with a globally-recognizable product, Project Diamond has brought significant attention to Huntsville/Madison County - perhaps more than any other single project ever before.

Many locations were originally in the running for this project, which includes an initial investment of $260 million and will create 350 jobs in phase one. Toyota is projected to generate more than $135 million in state and local taxes in its first 20 years of operation. There’s a definite process involved in the competitive arena of economic

development, and Project Diamond was no exception. While a project this size normally takes at least six months to put together, Toyota announced Huntsville as the winning contender in just two-and-a-half months. Teamwork, both internally at the Chamber and externally with other economic development entities, was essential to land this much-coveted project. Chamber staff worked day and night to win over Toyota and - as always - received tremendous support from local officials who helped show Toyota how pro-business this community is. A great deal of behind-the-scenes work is involved in luring projects like Project Diamond to the Huntsville area. From the time the Chamber gets the initial telephone call that the city is in the running to the day of the announcement, Chamber staff and local leaders are busy researching the

company”s needs, hosting company officials, “selling” them on what this community offers, developing a customized incentive package, garnering political support for the project, and much more. Even after the announcement is made, a relocating company receives assistance in employee recruitment and training as well as in consultation services. The Chamber makes it a priority to nurture relationships with existing businesses to help ensure they continue thriving and expanding. Thanks to headline projects like Project Diamond, Huntsville/Madison County is quickly earning a reputation around the world as a great place for even foreign-owned companies to do business. With key successes like this, the Huntsville/Madison County area is well-positioned to maintain the progress that has defined the community for more than 40 years. – Kari Kampakis

To help illustrate how an economic development project comes to fruition, consider this Project Diamond timeline.

October 5, 2000: Toyota executives and consultants make their first visit to Huntsville.

November 2, 2000: State and local economic development officials meet with Toyota officials in Kentucky.

October 24, 25 & 31, 2000: Key Toyota decisionmakers visit Huntsville again.

November 8, 2000: Community leaders meet with the state leaders

December 18, 2000: Conference call between the Governor, Mayor, Commissioner Gillespie and Congressman CramerHuntsville wins Project Diamond.

November 16-17, 2000: Toyota officials meet with the Governor and other state and local officials.

January 2001: Finalization of agreements/ announcement planning.

February 6, 2001: Announcement at J.O. Johnson High School.

2002: Recruitment, screening and pre-employment training conducted by Alabama Industrial Development Training.

June 2001: Groundbreaking ceremony in North Huntsville Industrial Park.

2003: Construction complete/plant start-up.

November/December 2000: Toyota's state/local incentive package is developed.

You Know You Work in Huntsville if... Few people in the Tennessee Valley have escaped hearing or seeing the jokes about what makes Huntsville’s population so unique, particularly the one, “You know you’re a Huntsvillian if you proclaim, ‘But I AM a rocket scientist!’”

Huntsville’s workforce is certainly notable for the extraordinarily high percentage of high technology workers. In fact, the Software & Information Industry Association ranks Huntsville “5th in the nation for concentration of computer software related workers” (June 2000), while Expansion magazine reported in January 2001 that, “Huntsville ranks 3rd among the nation’s high-tech leaders for percentage of new technology jobs created”. Indeed, of Huntsville/Madison County’s total workforce of over 180,000 workers, close to 49% of those are involved in manufacturing and engineering services. But major employers such as the U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal, leading the list with more than 11,000 employees, DaimlerChrysler, NASA, and Boeing serve as anchors for much of the sustaining industries that compose the remainder of our regional workforce. As Bill Holbrook, Director for Workforce Recruitment for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, explains, primary (or major) employers help to bring additional workforce to the area in many ways - not just by transplanting workers, but also by attracting new and similar industries. This cumulative new workforce requires the addition of support industries as

well, such as health care, construction, transportation and education. Growth in each of these sustaining industries further adds to the area’s workforce. Much of this helps define Huntsville as having the highest paid workforce in the southeast, as well as having one of the highest concentrations of residents with advanced degrees. And while attracting employers and employees to the Huntsville area involves a number of key factors, yet the most persistent of those - the one that most often makes Huntsville the preference of many, says Mr. Holbrook - is the unparalleled work ethic that is characteristic of Huntsville’s quality workforce. The area’s overall workforce is necessarily more diversified than meets the eye, as industry growth leads to a wide variety of new jobs, and as entrepreneurs and venture capital firms are finding the area a hotbed of opportunity. Beyond the marquees of major employers, 95% of the area’s business is classified as small and micro-business, which includes home-based employment and “Mom & Pop” businesses. These employers and sustaining industry businesses constitute an equally large percentage of area employment, clearly reflected in figures provided by the U.S. Census. Overall, Madison County’s unemployment rate continues to show slight decline over the years. Since 1996, those figures have decreased from 3.1% to 2.8%, and remains historically lower than the national unemployment average. Perhaps this diversity remains the key of our success.

Quick Facts Huntsville Metropolitan Area Employment by Industry • Total Employment – 186,400 • Services – 55,800 • Government – 40,300 • Trade – 38,300 • Manufacturing – 34,900 • Construction – 7,100 • Finance – 5,100 • Transportation – 5,000 Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, 2001 Annual A verages

Total Huntsville Occupations 1990 Census • Professional specialty occupations – 26,609 • Executive, administrative, and managerial occupations – 17,211 • Administrative support, including clerical – 17, 039 • Sales occupations – 13,461 • Precision production, craft, and repair occupations – 11,906 • Service occupations other than protective and household – 10,370 • Technicians and related support occupations – 6,945 • Machine operators, assemblers and inspectors – 5,941 • Handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers, and laborers – 3,158 • Transportation and material moving occupations – 3,155 • Protective services – 2,139 • Farming, forestry, and fishing occupations – 1,332 • Private household occupations – 533

– Kate Gray

111 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Fare Investment Partnership The Huntsville International Airport, together with the Chambers of Commerce from Huntsville/ Madison County, Athens/Limestone County and Decatur/Morgan County, are sponsoring the Fare Investment Partnership – a program designed to bring lower fares to the Tennessee Valley Region. The Airport has applied for a $1 million Federal Grant from the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program. In addition, a “Travel Bank” has been established where local busi nesses can make a pledge from their travel budget to support the airline(s) that bring lower fares to the market. All pledges are flexible until an airline has given specific information about flight times, quantity of flights, destinations served and equipment. Once the airline outlines the details, businesses that have participated are free to adjust their pledges based on how well the airline fits company travel needs. This new pledge becomes a “commitment” from the company and must be used during the first year of the airline’s operation. Any residual funds will be given to the airline in exchange for travel vouchers good for an additional year. Huntsville International Airport is looking for letters and resolutions of support for the program. Samples of the aforementioned items and sample pledge forms can be downloaded from www.hsvairport.org. For questions or more informa tion regarding participation in the Fare Investment Partnership, please contact Barbie Peek or Cindy Maloney at the Huntsville International Airport at 256-7729395 Ext. 270. 12

A Perspective on Incentives Often the most talked about but misunderstood component of economic development is the incentive packages put together to entice new industry. The concept of incentives has always been somewhat of a mystery – difficult to put into perspective because the whole economic picture is often very complex. It is quite simple when placed in the context of gain for the community with the company versus cost to a community without the company. Usually everyone involved comes out a winner – the company, the local governments, and the citizens of an area. In highly-competed projects, incentives can be crucial in influencing that corporation’s decision. Deciding where to relocate or set up shop is an important decision for businesses, and in close races, incentives can be crucial in influencing that decision. Alabama’s industrial incentives, outlined below, help ensure that we stay competitive in vying for new jobs. Just as importantly, Huntsville and Madison County offer local incentives that entice companies to join our prosperous economy. Steve Finnell, Industrial Development Director at the Chamber of Commerce, says the Huntsville area takes a proactive approach to industrial development. In order to maintain a favorable recruiting position, the main local incentive is site readiness. “The public-owned industrial land we show to prospects has already been prepared with infrastructure, fiberoptics and utilities,” Finnell says. “We take care of everything upfront so sites are ready to be developed.” In addition to this and other incentives from local utilities, qualifying businesses can benefit from four key components of Alabama’s incentive package: • Alabama Industrial Development Training: The state works closely with companies to screen applicants and provide customized training so potential employees can learn job-related skills, company philosophies and a good work ethic before doors open.

• Capital Credit: Companies can receive 5 percent corporate state income tax credit for 20 years (not exceeding the total capital investment of the project). Note: Revenue generation and employment qualifications must be met. • Tax Breaks: Companies can abate noneducation ad valorem/property taxes on land building and equipment for up to 10 years. Some of the sales taxes for initial “brick and mortar” construction expenses may also be abated. • Industrial Development Grants: Companies can get grants to help with site access preparation, existing structure rehabilitation, land surveying, clearing and excavation, and other relevant and necessary site preparation work. What all this means is that the community benefits from infrastructure improvements to roads, water and sewer lines, and other public benefits. The area also gains tremendously from the worker training programs that create jobs for local workers. Equally important are the things that are not being compromised. The community is not losing education funding or sales tax revenue. Both of these elements would not factor into the local economy at all if the company chose an alternate location instead of selecting the Huntsville area. So any taxes gained are a bonus for the economy. Also, the tax breaks afforded to the company are far outweighed by the other taxes generated by the company’s locating here. Incentives are a key recruiting tool, and Huntsville’s wide range of available options keeps the area competitive with other cities and states. The incentives are a huge asset in sustaining this economy’s long-term success, and ultimately they improve the quality of life. When compared to the overall investment by companies, the incentive dollars are a small, but important part. Both direct and indirect economic impacts add up to a net gain for Huntsville and Madison County. – Kari Kampakis & Staff Writers In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Member Developments ACS Government Services celebrated its recent move to Discovery Drive in Cummings Research Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 11, 2002 conducted by Mayor Lorretta Spencer and Paul Ryan, President of ACS Business Technology Services division. ACS is a $3 billion Fortune 1000 company that provides BPO and IT outsourcing solutions to government and commercial clients worldwide.

Verizon Wireless Celebrated the grand opening of its new store located at 6275 University Drive. March 1, 2002

Four Mile Place Ms. Lynn DeYoung has broken ground on approximately 50,000 square feet of Class A office space for lease. The first building is scheduled for completion November 2002. The complex is located on the newly-named Cecil Ashburn Drive and Spring Gate Lane, just east of Carl T. Jones Blvd.

Alabama Hearing Center Opens new hearing clinic in Madison. March 5, 2002

National Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Advocacy Center

Boys and Girls Club

PowerComm

Breaks ground on new building located at the

Opens new gym at 101 Mason Court in Huntsville.

Opens new business at Biztech - Corner of Old Madison Pike & Wynn Drive. March 18, 2002

corner of Meridian and Pratt. March 11, 2002

March 14, 2002

Southern Community Home Loans

TEAMS Week 2002

Rocket Harley Davidson

Announced the grand opening of a new location at 2707 Artie Street.

Announced the opening of the exhibit hall and the kickoff of TEAMS Week.

Celebrated its recent showroom expansion at 15100 Hwy. 20.

April 3, 2002

April 8, 2002

April 13, 2002

1 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Information, Communication, Jobs

M o re. . .

The Chamber Supports Existing Industry In the mid-1990’s, the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber identified a need to improve communications with the rapidly growing Local Businesses Recognized for Being Family Friendly National Children’s Advocacy Center & Chamber honor companies that focus on family priorities at 2002 Family Friendly Awards The 2002 Family Friendly Business Awards were held March 1 at Trinity United Methodist Church. This year’s winners were: For Profit (fewer than 50 employees), Advanced Optical Systems, Inc.; For Profit (51-349 employees), Colonial Properties Trust; For Profit (350 or more), Crestwood Medical Center; and Nonprofit, University of Alabama in Huntsville.This year’s winners exemplify what it means to help employees better balance work and family life. This year’s winners were chosen from a group of 17 contenders: American General Financial Group, Advanced Optical Systems, Banks Industries, Inc., Colonial Properties Trust, COLSA Corporation, Crestwood Medical Center, Dr. Collins Prescholar Preschool, ELMCO Incorporated, Family Services Center, Huntsville/Madison County Mental Health Center, PEI Electronics, Inc., Perkins Technical Services, Railroad Bazaar, SportsMED, Sigma Services of America, Inc., Sword Microsystems, Inc., University of Alabama in Huntsville. In addition to the awards ceremony there was entertainment for adults and chil dren alike.

M embership Momentum April 2002 Number of Members Number of New Members YTD Dues Base Chamber Events Attendance YTD

April 2001

2,107

2,172

N/A

$1,217,894

$1,227,306

2,776

N/A

existing business and industry sectors in our area. In response, the Chamber solicited assistance from the Tennessee Valley Authority and created the Existing Industry (EI) Committee.

chamber executive directing the numerous programs. “Without their efforts, we would be nowhere near where we are today. They were instrumental in making this program a success.” One of the beneficiaries of the Existing Industry program is the ADTRAN Corporation. President Howard Thrailkill, 2002 Chairman of the Partnership for Economic Development and Chamber ChairElect, noted that ADTRAN and other participating companies have been able to hire a number of quality employees as a result of the EI initiative. “We can help growing companies expose their employment opportunities to employees of other compa-

Current Chamber Board Chair, Ronnie Boles, was involved in the formation of the Existing Industry group and continues to be excited about economic development through support for local manufacturers. “Eighty percent of our new jobs Bringing all those groups come from companies that are already established and are together to share information growing and expanding,” Boles and then coordinating their said. Boles explained that the interests for economic develinitial focus of the group was to get industrial and manufacturopment purposes in a unified ing CEOs and managers together to discuss issues with the effort to support existing greatest need. “We identified industry is what makes this the needs by listening to our members,” he said. “The result such a successful program. was proactive programming that placed the Chamber on the leadnies who are seeking to reduce ing edge of what has now become a staffing,” he said. “By communicatnational trend. In fact, a number of ing better among business executives other chambers have contacted and/or and personnel managers, we can also visited us to model their programs identify trends and opportunities in after our Existing Industry initiae m p l oyment.” tives.” Thrailkill also cited the Chamber Boles was quick to praise TVA’s web site, www.huntsvillejobs.com, Butch Massey and his predecessors, Hu n t sville’s New Century Technology Bill Pippin of Huntsville Utilities and High School, and numerous job fairs EI support leader Bill Holbrook, the

In i t i a t i ves June 2002

115

as good examples of results produced from executive forums identifying the needs of local business. But he is most enthusiastic about the spirit of cooperation. “I have been most impressed with the forums for coordinating the interests of business, government, and education,” he said. “Bringing all those groups together to share information and then coordinating their interests for economic development purposes in a unified effort to support existing industry is what makes this such a successful program.” Information, Communication, Jobs.

Bill Pippin, General Manger for Huntsville Utilities and chair of the EI Committee, joined Thrailkill in crediting www.huntsvillejobs.com for part of the program’s success. “This web site is really helpful,” he said. “We listed one of our positions on the site right after it was created. From there, we got a number of good applications and hired a fine employee from the local area. There are also many underemployed workers in Huntsville – people whose education and experience qualifies them for higher employment opportunities. The web site can help those individuals upgrade their jobs,” Pippin said. In addition to all that, Pippin said, “We are now holding industry sector meetings so we can better address concerns of various

segments of the economy. We’ve got a good cross-section of industrial leadership on the committee, and we try to make sure they and their companies know how much this community appreciates their investment in Huntsville.” What makes Existing Industry Programs successful? I n fo r m a ti o n , C o m m u n i ca ti o n , Jobs.

Although recruitment of new industry to the area is certainly an important part of the economic development picture, the Chamber strives to take care of the area’s existing industry first. Brian Hilson, Chamber President and CEO, explained, “We have no intention of going after a prospect that will negatively impact one of our major employers who has already made a big investment here,” he said. “We keep our lines of communication open.” Bill Holbrook, Existing Industry Director at the Chamber, sums up the Existing Industry program: “We find out what local companies need, make sure they know what is going on at the Chamber, and help them with programming developed with their input to address their critical industrial and employment needs.”

– George Winters 19 1 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Economic Indicators P O P U LAT I O N

E M P L O Y M EN T *

Madison County

City of Huntsville

City of Madison

Huntsville Metro Area

35-Mile Radius

JAN 02

FEB 02

1980 Census........................................196,966

145,604

6,081

242,971

439,023

Total Non-ag Employment......................................................................183,300

184,200

1990 Census........................................238,912

159,789

14,904

293,047

505,967

Manufacturing................................................................................33,200

33,600

2000 Census........................................276,700

158,216

29,329

342,376

582,374

Durable Goods.......................................................................... 26,900

27,300

2005 Projection....................................299,778

161,657

31,471

367,735

612,701

Non-durable Goods..............................................................................6,300

6,300

% Growth 1980-2000 ............................40.5%

8.7%

382.3%

40.9%

32.6%

Non-manufacturing......................................................................150,100

150,600

Construction & Mining..........................................................................6,900

6,900

1980 Census..........................................67,082

51,113

2,040

82,440

150,864

Trans. & Utilities....................................................................................4,800

4,900

1990 Census..........................................91,208

63,058

5,944

110,893

191,640

Trade ..................................................................................................37,500

37,100

Huntsville Metro Area**

Households

2000 Census........................................106,423

62,437

11,779

131,683

223,990

Finance..................................................................................................5,000

5000

2005 Projection....................................115,256

63,795

12,638

141,427

235,637

Services..............................................................................................55,200

56,100

% Growth 1980-2000 ............................58.6%

22.1%

477.4%

59.7%

48.5%

Government........................................................................................40,700

40,600

* Based on place of employment.

Race 2000 Pop. by Race ............................276,700

158,216

29,329

342,376

**Includes Madison & Limestone counties Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations

582,374

White......................................................72.1%

64.5%

80.1%

74.3%

82.5%

LABOR FORCE*

Black......................................................22.8%

30.2%

13.0%

21.0%

15.4%

Huntsville Region (Counties)

Asian & Pacific Islander............................1.9%

2.3%

3.6%

1.6%

1.2%

Other Races..............................................3.2%

3.0%

3.3%

3.1%

0.9%

Income & Age Avg. Household Income......................$54,995

$54,494

$69,774

$52,932

$49,969

Med. Household Income......................$43,081

$40,937

$59,801

$41,501

$38,729

Per Capita Income ..............................$22,430

$22,936

$29,581

$21,404

$20,099

Average Age..............................................35.9

36.9

33.0

36.1

36.7

Source: EQUIFAX, National Decision Systems, 2001; U.S. Census Bureau (www.census.gov)

JAN 02

FEB 02

Madison ......................................................................................147,710

148,650

Limestone ......................................................................................30,520

30,560

Jackson ........................................................................................25,650

25,530

Marshall..........................................................................................39,220

39,210

Morgan ..........................................................................................56,550

56,390

Franklin, TN....................................................................................18,910

19,060

Giles, TN ........................................................................................16,290

16,280

Lincoln, TN ....................................................................................14,570

14,820

Huntsville Regional Total..........................................................349,420

350,500

* Based on place of residence. Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, Tennessee Department of Employment Security .

R E TAIL SALES Huntsville Region (Counties) - (000â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s)

Total Food & Furniture & Retail Sales Restaurants Merchandise Automotive

Madison ..................................................................$4,197,785

$859,915

$885,953

$1,098,255

Limestone ..................................................................$568,268

$119,439

$119,026

$132,312

Jackson......................................................................$472,058

$121,340

$86,289

$101,864

Marshall....................................................................$1,327,821

$177,607

$210,540

$646,026

Morgan ....................................................................$1,472,708

$277,539

$227,308

$499,417

Franklin, TN ................................................................$325,240

$113,831

$54,755

$65,402

Giles, TN ....................................................................$294,638

$62,746

$29,714

$98,169

Lincoln, TN..................................................................$303,977

$60,861

$54,694

$98,982

Regional Total ........................................................$8,962,495

$1,793,278

$1,668,279

$2,740,427

UNEMPLOYMENT RAT E *

JAN 02

# of Projects

Square Feet

FEB 02 $ Value

# of Projects

Square Feet

$ Value

Total Const. Contracts........................163

385,000

$30,961,000

137

457,000

$27,503,000

Commercial ..........................................17

40,000

$3,439,000

186,000

$11,874,000

Manufacturing ........................................3

18,000

$610,000

Single Family ......................................128

274,000

$8,232,000

117

250,000

$9,522,000

Multi-Family............................................0

3,000

$216,000

3.8% 5.5%

Alabama............................................................................................5.3%

5.5%

United States....................................................................................5.6%

5.5%

* Based on place of residence. Source: Alabama Department of Industrial Relations (www.dir.state.al.us) Tennessee Department of Employment Security (www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd)

COST OF LIVING INDEX 3rd QTR 2001

CompositeGrocery Index Items

Housing

Utilities

Transportation

Health Care

100.2

103.0

101.4

87.3

115.3

103.9

56.8

HUNTSVILLE, AL

95.0

97.4

85.8

82.1

105.1

92.6

102.0

Dallas, TX

100.4

104.3

93.9

105.8

103.8

108.8

100.3

Orlando, FL

98.4

100.1

86.6

109.2

96.6

104.2

104.7

St. Louis, MO

99.7

93.9

94.2

103.0

106.7

102.6

103.9

Washington, D.C.

130.6

116.2

169.4

114.9

118.4

114.9

114.6

Source: American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association. Website (www.accra.org)

HOME SALES JAN 02 Houses Under Contract.....................................................................3,443

JAN 02 Index % Change

FEB 02 Index % Change

00-01

FEB 02 3,425

Houses Sold & Closed..........................................................................319

379

Avg. Selling Price..........................................................................$134,976

$125,962

00-01

United States...............................................................177.1

1.1%

177.8

1.1%

South Region...............................................................170.6

0.8%

171.0

0.5%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Atlanta, GA. Website (http://stats.bls.gov)

Goods & Services

Atlanta, GA

Source: F.W. Dodge, Printed with permission.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

FEB 02

Huntsville Region..............................................................................5.4%

Source: Sales & Marketing Management, 2001 Survey of Buying Power, Printed with permission.

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY

JAN 02

Madison County................................................................................3.7%

Avg. Days on Market..............................................................................138

122

Median Sales Price........................................................................$111,000

$105,000

Source: Huntsville Area Association of Realtors

1 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Economy-at-a-Glance Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama is located in the middle of the southeastern United States, with over 4 million people within a 100-mile radius. The Huntsville community serves as the primary e c onomic hub of the north Alabama and southern Tennessee region. The counties adjoining Madison County combine to form an eight-county regional market with a population totaling 700,000 people. The Huntsville/Madison County economy is known as one of the strongest economies in the South, with low unemployment, strong job growth and income levels leading the region. Business growth and investment from U.S. and international companies have made Huntsville/ Madison County one of the country’s top “hot spots” for growing a business and raising a family.

LEADING EMPLOYERS U.S. Army/Redstone Arsenal . . . . . . . . . .11,141 Huntsville Hospital System . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,355 Sanmina SCI

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,300

Huntsville City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3,000 DaimlerChrysler Corporation . . . . . . . . . . .2,800 NASA Marshall Space Flight Center . . . . . .2,754 The Boeing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,700 City of Huntsville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,186 Madison County Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,936 Intergraph Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,736 ADTRAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,731 Goodyear/Dunlop Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,660 Computer Sciences Corporation . . . . . . . . .1,600 Teledyne Brown Engineering . . . . . . . . . . .1,582 Walmart/Sam’s Stores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,581 West Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,300 University of Alabama in Huntsville . . . . . .1,112 Madison County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,073 Benchmark Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .921 Alabama A&M University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .890 Lockheed Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .844 Target Distribution Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .750 Crestwood Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .668 PPG Industries, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .660

Aerospace Huntsville/Madison County is home to the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and has representation from nearly every major U.S. aerospace corporation with over 90 companies employing more than 11,000 people in the local aerospace industry. Defense Huntsville/Madison County plays a key role in the U.S. Army’s technology development programs. The Army’s Aviation & Missile Command and Space & Missile Defense Command both drive a thriving engineering economy for companies supporting the technology activity of the Army in Huntsville. Electronics Over 300 international and domestic corporations in Huntsville/Madison County are involved in the design and production of electronics and computer-related technology, including Sanmina SCI, one of the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturers.

Madison City Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .644 Engelhard Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .617 Dynetics, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .600 SAIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .574 Northrop Grumman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .571 CAS, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .510 CINRAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500

Research & Technology

Huntsville’s Cummings Research Park is the country’s 2nd largest research and technology park, containing 220+ companies employing 22,500 people involved in technology research and development.

Source: Chamber of Commerce, January 2002.

Manufacturing

Huntsville/Madison County’s manufacturing industry represents a diverse mix of technology, assembly and production operations from both domestic and international corporations, comprising one-fourth of the local employment base.

121 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

The EDGE Investors Advisory Council ADTRAN Inc. AmSouth Bank BellSouth Colonial Bank COLSA Corporation Compass Bank Computer Sciences Corporation DaimlerChrysler Corporation Huntsville/Madison Co. Builders Assoc. Regions Bank SAIC SouthTrust Bank Teledyne Brown Engineering The Boeing Company The Huntsville Times Turner Universal Construction WHNT -TV

Giving Us the EDGE

Public Partners

Every community wants great companies to choose them. Everyone is competing to improve the economic future of their area. So what gives the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/ Madison County the edge in recruiting? The strategy is all contained in the name of the Chamber’s five-year development program – the EDGE. It is Excellence in marketing, Development of the workforce, Growth of local businesses, and Enhancement of image that all work together to give Huntsville and Madison County the competitive advantage it needs to attract attention of business prospects. Embedded in the EDGE program are six specific initiatives dealing with various components of the marketing strategy. Each component compliments the others to form a comprehensive plan to address the major economic needs of a community which, in turn, meets the needs of existing company expansions and new company locations. Perhaps even more importantly, it is the sense of partnership that more than 150 investor companies bring to the plan. Companies from all types of industries invest their dollars, time, and cooperation to keep Huntsville/Madison County’s economic future bright. With the direction of its investing partners, the Huntsville/Madison County community has successfully developed a solid and proven strategy for improving the job opportunities for local citizens which in turn improves the quality of life in the entire region. The strategy, simply stated, is to build on the strengths of the community - such as a highly-skilled workforce – by encouraging local companies to grow and new high-quality employers to move here. The EDGE. The name of a strategy of excellence – just what this community expects and deserves.

City of Huntsville City of Madison Huntsville Utilities Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority Madison County Commission Tennessee Valley Authority Private Sector AC, Incorporated ACT Personnel Service, Inc. Alabama A&M University Allied Photocopy, Inc. Analytical Services, Inc. APAC-AL, Inc. Arnold Hornbuckle Available Plastics, Inc. Avocent Corporation Avis Car Rental Balch & Bingham Baron Services Beason & Nalley BellSouth Mobility/Cingular Ben Porter Real Estate Bentley Pontiac/Cadillac/Mitsubishi Bill Heard Chevrolet Bill Penny Motor Company Bill Poole Realty Blount Parrish & Co. , Inc. Blue Cross/Blue Shield Bradley, Arant, Rose & White Burr & Forman, LLP Calhoun Community College Century Buick Company CINRAM Clinic for Women, P.A. Colonial Properties Comcast Cablevision Courtyard by Marriott Crabtree, Snellgrove & Rowe, PC CST (Computer Systems Tech) D. P. Associates Davidson Enterprises, LLC Decatur Transit (Hertz) Delta Air Lines DESE Research Dynetics, Inc. Enfinger Development, Inc. Engelhard Corporation ERC, Inc. First American Bank First Commercial Bank Foreign Language Services, Inc. Fountain, Parker, Harbarger Fuqua, Osborn, & Associates, PC General Products G.W. Jones & Sons Giles & Kendall, Inc. H.C. Blake Company

What’s in a name? In this case, an explanation. A description of a proven strategy. A definition of excellence.

Harold Construction Corp. Heritage Bank Hernandez Engineering HiWAAY Information Systems Huntsville Board of Realtors Huntsville Ford Tractor Huntsville Hilton Huntsville Marriott Ivan Allen JH Partners J. Smith Lanier & Co Johnson & Associates Johnston, Moore, Maples & Thompson Jones & Herrin Keystone Foods Corp. KNOLOGY Holdings, Inc. Kudzu Productions, Inc. Lamar Outdoor Advertising Lamb Commercial Services, Inc. Lanier, Ford, Shaver & Payne Lee Builders LG Electronics Madison Research Corporation Madison Square Chrysler/ Jeep/Subaru Madison Square Mall Martinson & Beason MDA Associates McLain Commercial Real Estate MEVATEC Corp. Northrop Grumman-Huntsville Oakwood College Outback Steak House Parisian Park Supply Parker Hannifin Pearce Construction PricewaterhouseCoopers Pride Home Entertainment Qore Property Sciences QuantiTech, Inc. Ray Pearman Lincoln Mercur y Redstone Federal Credit Union Regal Auto Plaza Richardson, Callahan PA Right Way Restaurants, Inc., dba Steak Out, Rosies Saint Gobain Industrial Smith Barney Samples Properties Sanmina SCI Sirote & Permutt SONAT SOUTHBank Sparta Inc. SRS Technologies State Farm Insurance Stone Engineering Co. Storie Enterprises Summa Technology Sverdrup Technology Inc. Tec-Masters, Inc. The Fudgey Nut The Heritage Club, Inc. The Spencer Companies Inc. Thrasher Oil Company Three Springs, Inc. Triad Properties Corp. TRW, Inc. Union Planters Bank United Mailing, Inc. University of Alabama in Huntsville VoiceStream WAAY - TV WAHR - Radio Wal-Mart WES-FAM (Burger King) White, Fleming & Co. Inc. White Tiger Graphics WLRH Public Radio Wyle Laboratories WZYP-Mix 93.3-WVMP-WVNN Xcel Printing Service

– Staff Writer In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Sharing the Secret Do you ever wonder how a new or relocating company hears about Huntsville and Madison County? Who is responsible for spreading the word about the area’s past four decades of growth? Making known the fact that Huntsville/Madison County has become a regional, national, and international hub of technology and manufacturing strength?

And who, for instance, informs a prospective company about the outstanding advantages of locating in Cummings Research Park – the nation’s 2nd largest and world’s 4th largest research park? Are you ever curious about how the word gets to foreign company executives that the entire area offers a rich array of cultural and artistic entertainment to its citizens? And that Huntsville and the surrounding communities offer exceptional educational opportunities to meet the needs of their employees’ children? Sometimes just one critical piece of information or even a personal introduction could steer a company toward Huntsville and Madison County. Featuring the area’s business community, natural resources, culture, and educational resources are an integral part of the promotional program the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County engages to attract new and relocating companies. Ongoing efforts to educate companies, national location consultants, and industry representatives are a part of traditional economic development activities that the Chamber and its Partnership for Economic Development (PED) have been charged to handle. It is critical to the community’s growth that continual

promotion, planting of “informational seeds”, is done with key companies Huntsville ranks as one of the top Cybercities and industries. Sometimes in the U.S.A. generating awareness of past •Site Selection Magazine, March 2002 successes in economic development results in additional Huntsville is a city with a ton of technological companies considering firepower. Huntsville as a future busi•ABC News, WJLA, ness site. Washington, D.C., The Chamber’s philosoFebruary 2002 phy involves maximizing limited resources in order to Huntsville is a thriving high-tech oasis. focus on promotional efforts •CNN, January 2002 through media channels Huntsville’s Tech Titans are developing cuttingrather than purchasing edge products that make the city a high-tech extensive advertising. This mecca. philosophy has proven to be •CNN, December 2001 more effective and cost efficient. Huntsville, Alabama provides a glimpse into One way the Chamber the future through a host of innovations. has been able to use more •Public Radio International, non-traditional avenues of December 2001 advertising are specialized Huntsville is home to five of the 500 fastestpromotional efforts like the growing companies in the nation. special contract with •Inc. Magazine, October 2001 Development Counsellors International (DCI), an economic development public relations firm in New York. as stories in the Chicago Tribune, Thanks to a grant from the State of Newsweek magazine, and other trade Alabama – ADECA – to the City of publications like Business Facilities and Huntsville for the marketing of Expansion Management. Cummings Research Park, DCI has With business headlines such as Site worked to garner media attention for Selection magazine’s proclaiming, Huntsville. Resulting coverage has “Huntsville ranks as one of the top appeared during the past year on CNN, Cybercities in the U.S.A.” in its March National Public Radio, and in newspa2002 issue, one wonders if that “seed” or pers in Japan, Korea, England, France, the many others planted by the and Germany. Chamber’s efforts will be the one that Additionally, local efforts to get media placement about Huntsville have resulted ignites a company’s interest in Huntsville. in stories being run on Bloomberg – a – Karen Yarbrough national syndicate news service – as well In i t i a t i ves June 2002

125

A Vision of Success A Passion for Quality Being prepared when opportunity knocks is an old and wise philosophy. Said another way, opportunities come to those that create them. Regardless of which statement one prefers, neither guarantees success without knowing which door to answer.

The Chamber’s Economic Development organization is dedicated to expanding local industries and bringing new companies into the region. Not just businesses that will augment the workforce, but those that will compliment existing industries that will expand an overall economic vision, keeping Huntsville and Madison County growth on the right track. The process of bringing a single new business into the community begins by evaluating market needs. Every five years, the Economic Development staff is tasked with auditing and analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the community’s growth to determine where the focus of development should lie. As well as where it should not. Research, scouting, and heavy public relations initiate the process, once target markets have been determined. Unlike some communities that typically rely on print advertisements to attract industries to their areas, Huntsville/Madison County uses other methods to gain national and international attention. Once an industry is identified, initial contact with corporate and community leaders begins a process that typically takes anywhere from 6-8 months or longer. Exchange of

information and actual recruitment leads to a customized proposal for the company. Companies interested in expanding to other regions typically look for a broad range of incentives while determining where to broaden their business. But these criteria can often be narrowed to three fundamental items: availability of a site, economic incentives such as employment and underemployment rates, and quality of workforce. These key factors surely played a deciding role in attracting one of Huntsville’s more recent returns for a long recruiting process, the landing of Delta Airlines’ reservation center. While evaluating Huntsville’s need to expand its economic base and defining complimentary markets, the Chamber’s Economic Development staff identified facilities, incentives and a potential workforce to house a supporting, or “back-office” facility. With plentiful real estate and a good employment base, the project was determined to be a good opportunity. Bringing Delta’s reservation facilities to Huntsville paved the way for attracting similar businesses, such as West Teleservices. Together, the addition of these two companies to the area created more than 1,400 new jobs. By building on area strengths, the Chamber plans to increase the region’s business base with high quality businesses and good paying jobs. Focusing on complimentary industries will keep our community one of the best places in the nation to work, live, and play.

Spotlight on Stuhlinger The first recipient of the Alabama-Germany Partnership Rainer Bauer Award is Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, a native of West Germany and resident of Huntsville for more than half a century. Dr. Stuhlinger demonstrated a lifetime’s worth of excellence in scientific achievement. He received a PhD in physics at the age of 22, after which he worked in Germany under the tutelage of Professor Heisenberg, who formulated the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. He came to Huntsville in 1950 with Dr. Wernher von Braun’s rocket development group. In the 52 years since, Dr. Stuhlinger has been intricately involved with NASA and the space program, as well as helping to educate a new generation of scientists. His work was crucial in the development of the Explorer I Satellite, which earned him the honor of pressing the launch button. He served as Director of the Research Project Laboratory of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency; additionally, he served terms as Director of the Space Science Laboratory and Associate Director for Science at MSFC. After his retirement from NASA in 1976, he worked as a Senior Research Scientist and Physics professor at UAH. Currently, he remains active as a lecturer, presenter, and chair of various symposia. Dr. Stuhlinger has made an immeasurable difference in the quality of our scientific research and technological advancement in Huntsville. His lifetime of achievement makes him a most deserving recipient for this honor. We congratulate Dr. Stuhlinger for receiving this unique and well-deserved recognition. – Holly Dawn Hunter

– Kate Gray & Staff Writers

27 1 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Huntsville/Madison County

2001 New & Expanding Industries Aegis Technologies

$2,755,000

Expanding

AMCOM Software Engineering Directorate

n/a

$28,000,000

Expanding

Baron Services

n/a

Expanding

Big Springs, Inc.

$3,700,000

Expanding

Brown Precision, Inc.

$3,200,000

Expanding

Cintas Corporation

130

$7,300,000

New

Computer Systems Technology, Inc.

164

$4,003,900

Expanding

CTA, Inc.

$2,500,000

Expanding

Davidson Enterprises

200

$2,666,000

Expanding

Dura Coat Products, Inc.

150

$5,500,000

New

Engelhard

$15,590,000

Expanding

General Standards Corporation

n/a

Expanding

Green Mountain Soap Company

n/a

$10,000

Expanding

Infinity Technology

237

$887,000

Expanding

Huntsville Engine

$400,000

Expanding

John Blue Company

n/a

Expanding

MD Atlantic Technologies

n/a

Expanding

MEMS Optical

$4,720,000

Expanding

National Space Science and Technology Center

n/a

$27,000,000

New

Northrop Grumman Corporation

$2,000,000

Expanding

Panalpina World Transport

n/a

$6,500,000

Expanding

Palco Telecom Service, Inc.

175

$3,500,000

Expanding

Remtech, Inc.

$20,000

Expanding

Service Steel

$2,600,000

Expanding

Stephen Gould of Alabama

$50,000

Expanding

Theatrical Lighting Systems, Inc.

$3,575,000

Expanding

Toyota Motor Manufacturing

350

$260,000,000

New

Triana Industries, Inc.

100

$3,000,000

Expanding

WestWind Technologies, Inc.

$125,000

Expanding

White Tiger Graphics

$2,500,000

Expanding

Wolverine Tube

$5,000,000

Expanding

TOTAL

1,923

$397,101,900

Source: Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County, Alabama Development Office, 2001

129 In i t i a t i ves June 2002

Chamber Events

Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors & Executive Committee

May

Elected Board

Existing Industry Appreciation Outing Sponsored by Huntsville Utilities, Crestwood Hospital, Port of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley Authority.

31 - 6/1

Cummings Research Park 40th Anniversary Celebration

June

Ronald W. Boles

David Jensen

Howard Thrailkill

William Johnston,Jr.

Pete Apple

Raymond Jones,Jr.

Scott Averbuch

Tracy Jones

Marc Bendickson

Charles Kettle

George Beason

Donna Lamb

Sheila Brown.

LTG James Link

Barbara Buice Watson

Lynne Lowery

Gina DeSimone

John Riche

Joel Daves

Karen Stanley

Wyn Dobbs

John Stallworth

Marshall England

William Stender

Dick Fountain

Johnnie Vann

Bill Gurley

Peter Voetsch

Richard Holloway

Jean Wessel-Templeton

Dr. Eric Janssen

Executive Committee Ronald W. Boles, Chair

Donna Lamb, Treasurer

Howard Thrailkill, Chair-Elect

John Riche, Vice Chair Government Affairs

Tommy Beason, Vice Chair Small Business

Scott Seeley, Chair Appt.

Hall Bryant, Chair Appt.

Loretta Spencer, Chair Appt.

Gina DeSimone, Secretary

Karen Stanley, Vice Chair Workforce Dev.

Dave Hargrove, Vice Chair Membership

Paula Steigerwald, Vice ChairCommunications

Chairman Mike Gillespie, Chair Appt.

Jeff Thompson, COO

Brian Hilson, President/CEO

Clay Vandiver, Past Chair

William Johnston,Jr., Vice Chair Resource Development

Small Business Celebration 17th Annual Living the Dream Reception at 5:30 and 6:00 Dinner at the Von Braun Center For more information, call (256) 535-2017

The Futures Golf Classic at The Ledges Regsitration due by June 17th at 5:00pm. For more information, call (256) 535-2012.

Chamber of Commerce Staff Brian Hilson - President & CEO

Membership

Jeff Thompson - Chief Operating Officer

Pat Jackson - Membership Director

Economic Development

Donna McCrary - Member Relations Coordinator

Kelli Brown - Member Development Steve Finnell - Industrial Development Director Alex Hardy - Cummings Research Park Director Bill Holbrook - Existing Industry Services Director Workforce Recruitment Director Laura Kendrick - Executive Assistant Amy Locke - Industrial Development Assistant Hiroko Sedensky - Research Assistant

Small Business Development Elizabeth Garcia - Small Business Manager

Communications Barbara Nash - Communications Director Joy Dawes - Creative Services Manager

Judy Short - Existing Industry Assistant

Business after Hours AutoPlex of Huntsville

Ken Smith - Economic Development Center Coordinator

Governmental Affairs Mike Ward - VP, Governmental Affairs

xxxxxx

Tina Leopold - Program Assistant

Leadership Sarah Savage - Leadership Director Mary Stewart - Youth Leadership Coordinator Allison Harbin - Leadership Assistant

July

Workforce Development Melody Whitten - WFD Director Dorothy Bridges - STC Coordinator

22-26

Armed Forces Celebration

Publications Rikki Thomas - Publications Manager

Accounting Ken Williams - Controller Dora Boston - Accounting Clerk Alison Brockman - Accounting Clerk/Buyer

Administration Lillie Ben - Executive Assistant Tom Burnett - Facilities Supervisor Penny Carothers - Information Desk Clerk Allison Harbin - Information Desk Clerk Desman Holt - Systems Administrator Bobbie Patterson - Information Desk Clerk

For more information, call (256) 535-2031.

1 In i t i a t i ves June 2002