CHAMBER NEWS Connect D ISCOV ER W H AT YO U R C H AMBER CAN DO FOR YOU AN D YOUR BUS IN ESS
TEAM REPORT: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Montgomery plant since 2002, and the HMMA suppliers have invested another $1.8 billion across central Alabama. Hyundai and its suppliers employ more than 15,000 people and provide $500 million in direct wages. The tax revenue from this group to the state is more than $70 million, and more than $10 million is generated in local taxes. The total impact to the state by Hyundai and its suppliers is over $4.8 billion, annually.
What resources do you and your team provide for Chamber members? We can provide information and/ or resources for companies in the manufacturing, back-office operations, logistics and IT sectors. We can assist with workforce, financing, permitting, real estate —all factors that go into a relocation or expansion. Left to right: Jessica Horsley, Shelby Stringfellow, Rachel Madore, Ellen McNair and Charlie Bass.
Additionally, we are a resource for anyone with custom data needs. We can provide
Ellen G. McNair, CEcD, Chief Officer of
With regard to the preservation and
detailed statistics on local demographic and
Economic Development at the Chamber,
expansion of our existing industrial base,
economic trends and perform industry and
offered a behind-the-scenes look at how
our team meets with area manufacturers
workforce analysis.
she and her team recruit new industry while
to explore opportunities and challenges;
supporting and expanding existing industry,
educate manufacturers on the available
all in the name of boosting Montgomery’s
resources; assist area companies with their
business sector.
expansion plans; handle issues as they
What one thing would you like MBJ readers to know about what you and your team do?
are raised by existing industry; and foster
We work behind the scenes. Most of our
Explain the economic development efforts of the Chamber.
networking opportunities, recognition
projects are very confidential, and we are
programs and all efforts to promote the
typically under non-disclosure agreements.
Every department at the Chamber is
growth and development of the existing
The competition to recruit companies
involved in economic development—it may
industries in our area.
in the advanced manufacturing, back office or technology sectors is extremely
be tourism, small business, military, etc. In
fierce. There are more than 15,000 local
development. Now, our department is
How do the local business community and the community in general benefit from the Chamber’s economic development work?
branching out to include the recruitment
The best example of how both benefit is
detailed information on dozens of topics,
of back-office operations, efforts related
Hyundai and the more than 100 suppliers
including site and building information;
to information technology and workforce
that have located in central Alabama to
financing; the availability and cost of
development. We’re even working to
support Hyundai in the last 20 years. HMMA
workforce; state and local tax structures and
improve quality of place.
has invested more than $3.2 billion in its
incentive packages; environmental issues;
the past, our department has focused on the recruitment of new industrial development, which is just one facet of economic
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development organizations across the country with whom we compete. The recruitment of these projects requires
transportation and logistics issues; utility
What is your favorite part of your job?
and infrastructure; and many others.
Our work is extremely competitive; we
What do you consider some of you and your team’s most significant achievements?
compete with communities across the state, Southeast and the United States. The only way to be successful is to have a professional, knowledgeable and
Definitely Hyundai and the supplier
responsive team, which includes many
network. In 2002, the Hyundai project was
organizations across the community and
the largest industrial project in the country.
state. We are so fortunate in Montgomery
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime project, and
to have one of the best teams in the
something we work to maintain and grow
country. What gives our team the greatest
on a daily basis. More recent achievements
reward is when we meet the men and
include the Alabama State Port Authority
women who have jobs in the companies
announcing plans for a new Intermodal
we have worked to recruit, to expand or
Transfer Facility that will generate 2,618
to retain. Providing the opportunity for
direct and indirect jobs and $340 million in
good paying jobs for the people of the
business revenues; and Amazon choosing
Montgomery area is such a wonderful part
Montgomery and investing more than $100
of our job.
million in a new IXD facility.
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IN ACTION Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Association has invested more than $3.2 billion in its Montgomery plant since 2002, while HMMA and its suppliers employ more than 15,000 people and provide $500 million in direct wages for a total annual impact of $4.8 billion to the state.