C3 in the News

Fayette County, Lamar County, and Marion County, Alabama – The Northwest Alabama Economic Development Authority (EDA) has achieved the Innovate Alabama Network designation, accompanied by funding aimed at fostering innovation in the region. This designation integrates Northwest Alabama into a network of communities, nonprofits, and educational institutions statewide, bolstering Alabama’s entrepreneurial landscape.

Innovate Alabama stands as the state’s pioneering public-private partnership dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation, implementing initiatives that fortify Alabama’s innovation ecosystem.

“Through the Innovate Alabama Network, we’re focused on developing a statewide network for innovation programming and catalyzing entrepreneurship in all of our communities, large and small,” said Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO of Innovate Alabama. “The program has become extremely competitive in this second round, with record-breaking engagement. As we continue to expand the Innovate Alabama Network, we’re eager to build on this momentum and create more resources that help foster connections among the designees.”

In addition to earning the Innovate Alabama Network designation, Northwest Alabama EDA received grant funding to enhance its recently launched TIME Program. TIME, an acronym signifying Talent, Innovation and Technology, Manufacturing Modernization, and Entrepreneurship, aims to catalyze innovation in Fayette, Lamar, and Marion counties.

The TIME Program’s initiatives include a small business plan competition, with the winner receiving $7,500 for business-related expenses (alongside a $2,500 youth award). Furthermore, building owners can access matching grants of $1 for every $1 invested to enhance commercial building facades. Innovate Alabama Grant funds will also facilitate business networking platforms and events. TIME will partner with the Alabama Small Business Development Center Network and Bevill State Community College (BSCC) on entrepreneurship programs.

“We’re grateful for Innovate Alabama’s dedication to rural innovation, advanced manufacturing, and entrepreneurship in Alabama,” remarked Tom Wisemiller, President and CEO of Northwest Alabama EDA. “Becoming a part of the Innovate Alabama Network is an exciting opportunity. We look forward to collaborating with other innovative entities across the state.”

To advance manufacturing modernization, TIME will use Innovate Alabama Grant funds to collaborate with local companies, high schools, and BSCC on industry/educational partnerships. With a skilled manufacturing base and unemployment rates as low as 2.9% to 3.3%, the Northwest Alabama EDA region is primed not only to endure but also to flourish in transitioning to advanced manufacturing leveraging automation and robotics.

The region benefits from having two BSCC campuses, with recent investments to upgrade welding booths and other workforce training facilities in Hamilton. Participation in BSCC’s dual-enrollment programs among high school students is on the rise, while the college’s health sciences programs enjoy high rankings.

“Bevill State has long championed economic and workforce development in our communities,” stated Dr. Joel Hagood, President of Bevill State Community College. “We believe that the Innovate Alabama Network designation will create economic development opportunities for our students and communities, aligning with Bevill State’s mission to enrich lives intellectually, economically, and culturally.”

The Innovate Alabama grant funds will additionally bolster STEM and technology education initiatives, taking advantage of the changing dynamics in rural regions, where the presence of high-speed fiber networks like 5G/10G Freedom Fiber is drawing in skilled remote workers. Efforts to increase access to four-year universities are lauded, but economic and community leaders in Northwest Alabama also acknowledge the potential for rural students from agricultural and manufacturing backgrounds to pursue careers in IT, cyber, and computer sciences through alternative educational pathways.

In addition to introducing fresh programming, TIME will furnish cutting-edge technological resources to educators and economic development allies. One of those resources is YouScience®, a leading college and career readiness platform that was recently piloted in five schools in the region. The program utilizes YouScience® Aptitude & Career Discovery, an award-winning career pathways tool that utilizes proprietary technology to uncover student aptitudes and align them with suitable careers and educational opportunities.

YouScience is already used in other districts across Alabama. Anonymized data from over 50,000 Alabama students using the YouScience platform revealed a high aptitude but low interest for in-demand career fields like: (1) Advanced Manufacturing and (2) Computers and Technology. This grant will help students identify their aptitudes earlier, in middle school or high school, and connect them with real-world career opportunities.

“I’m excited to see the results of uncovering student talent specifically for Northwest Alabama,” said Milea Haner, Alabama Territory Manager at YouScience. “This region of our state has a lot of untapped potential. I believe the strategic efforts of the EDA empowered by this grant will have a lasting impact on student success and talent retention.”

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About Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance (EDA)
C3 of Northwest Alabama, Inc./Northwest Alabama EDA is a cooperative marketing effort among the cities and counties in Marion, Lamar and Fayette counties in Alabama. This alliance was formed to foster and promote the region’s advantages to new and existing businesses. Northwest Alabama EDA is the “go-to” organization for business owners, investors, site selection consultants, and entrepreneurs who are exploring new or expanded development opportunities in the region. Learn more at https://northwestalabamaeda.org.

About Innovate Alabama
As Alabama’s first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, Innovate Alabama implements programs and policies that support Alabama’s innovation ecosystem. Through these efforts, Innovate Alabama empowers entrepreneurs, business owners and students to build a business, a career and a life in Alabama. https://innovatealabama.org/.

About YouScience
YouScience® is the leading technology provider dedicated to solving the skills gap crisis for students and employers. Its end-to-end platform, YouScience® Brightpath, connects education with career applications designed to help students unlock their potential for future pathways. YouScience leverages proven research, artificial intelligence, and industry input to help individuals identify their natural talents, validate their skills and knowledge, and get matched with real-world educational and career pathways in high-demand occupations. YouScience is the preferred choice of individuals, parents, educators, and counselors to guide and support educational and career pathways, currently serving more than 7,000 educational institutions and approximately 2.2 million users nationwide.

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Two SEEDS-supported industrial site assessment projects commenced this week in the Northwest Alabama EDA region.

The two SEEDS projects are for (1) the 210+-acre Hamilton I-22 Industrial Park (property listing) and (2) the new 75+-acre Sulligent Industrial Site on U.S. 278. The State of Alabama’s SEEDS Program (Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act) provides grants to accelerate the development of industry-ready sites. In March, the State of Alabama announced that our region was awarded $179,000 in total SEEDS funding. The SEEDS funds will accelerate our efforts to complete due diligence, site assessment, and planning tasks for strategically located sites. The projects are also utilizing EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant funds.

• Hamilton I-22 Industrial Park (SEEDS applicant: the Hamilton Industrial Development Board): this project will deliver a master plan for additional improvements to this park, which is already one of the best-positioned industrial locations on the I-22 corridor.
• Sulligent Industrial Site (SEEDS applicant: the City of Sulligent): this 75+ acre site on the north side of U.S. 278 is a prime growth location for Lamar County. Adjacent to Sulligent’s two largest existing manufacturing operations, Bolzoni Auramo and Max Homes, respectively. The site provides ample acreage to support new and expanding industry projects.

To learn more about these projects and how industrial sites in the area can support your industrial development plans, call the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance at 205-495-9952.

Guin, Alabama – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that C3 of Northwest Alabama, Inc. will receive a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant to conduct environmental assessments and develop cleanup plans on properties located in Fayette, Lamar, and Marion Counties.

These funds are available to both public and private owners to support assessment and redevelopment planning of brownfield sites. Brownfields are real estate properties for which the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence – or merely the potential presence – of hazardous substances, and/or petroleum products. In addition to former industrial properties, brownfields may include former gas stations, dry cleaners, or commercial buildings.

“I’m proud that C3 has received this grant,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt. “This money will no doubt have a direct economic impact. This will help business development to overcome some of the regulatory hurdles that can be cost prohibitive for rural areas. I’m proud to support this type of funding in Congress.”

Property owners and investors that are considering completing Phase I and/or Phase II environmental site assessments in preparation for a potential property acquisition and/or prior to beginning site improvements and/or building construction or renovations are encouraged to reach out to C3 of Northwest Alabama to determine if your project is eligible for assistance. This program may be able to pay the full costs of environmental studies.

“I am always grateful to see such funds come back to our district,“ said State Representative Tracy Estes. These funds can be used to assist in economic development moving forward in the hopes of bringing in new jobs to the area, which benefits our communities. These programs also help to raise the overall quality of life for the district.”

“This EPA grant will help our local communities to bring sites back into productive, commercial uses,” said State Representative Kyle South. “Local and regional leaders can use these funds to plan for public improvements that will enhance community health while partnering with businesses and property owners on redevelopment of sites that might otherwise get neglected.”

“This program is a valuable tool for revitalizing neighborhoods, supporting new projects, attracting investment, and fostering environmental stewardship,” said Tom Wisemiller, President & CEO of C3 of Northwest Alabama, Inc.

Use of the assessment funds does not obligate property owners to complete remediation projects if the environmental studies indicate presence of contaminants on a site. For some investors, this program can help them to avoid buying properties with additional complications, while other investors actively seek out brownfield remediation projects.

Mr. Wisemiller said, “The goal of this program is to incentive development and plan for ways to attract new investment, not to regulate sites or compel environmental cleanup projects.”

About EPA Brownfields Program
EPA’s Brownfields Program helps communities address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization. The program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA’s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar. For more information: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields.

Andy Johnson – the Chairman of Northwest Alabama EDA – talks about exciting trends in the Columbus MS market area with the larger economic impacts extending into Lamar County AL and the Northwest Alabama EDA region.

Andy is the Chairman, Co-CEO, and CFO of the The Bank of Vernon. The Bank of Vernon – headquartered in Vernon – has been expanding into the growing Columbus, MS market area and now has five locations in AL and MS.

The Columbus MS area has attracted several major economic development projects in recent years. Last fall, Steel Dynamics announced that it is building an aluminum flat-rolled mill and a biocarbon production facility in Columbus, MS: https://businessfacilities.com/hitting-a-historic-mark.

“The $1.9 billion recycled aluminum flat rolled mill is expected to start construction this year with an expected completion in 2025. The company is expanding its existing Columbus campus located on a Tennessee Valley Authority Megasite, by building two new facilities in the Golden Triangle Industrial Park.”

Freedom Fiber – which offers 10G data speeds to residents and businesses – is a major asset for the Northwest Alabama EDA region! Freedom Fiber is offered by Tombigee Communications, a subsidiary of Tombigee Electric Cooperative.

In this video, Steve Foshee, President & CEO of Tombigbee Electric Cooperative talks about why their Freedom Fiber service is among the fastest and most innovative rural broadband programs in the southeast U.S. Steve also provides updates on ongoing and future Freedom Fiber expansion projects.

Bevill State Community College is excited to announce a contribution of $37,500 for scholarships and student competition from the Gene Haas Foundation. The Gene Haas Foundation Scholarship will be awarded to students interested in the Machine Tool Technology program on the Jasper and Hamilton campuses of Bevill State. A portion of the grant funds may be used towards sponsorship of a competition, such as SkillsUSA, highlighting the Machine Tool programs.

For more information, see this article.

Area Development, July 27, 2022:

O’Neal Manufacturing Services plans to invest $5.5 million to open a 130,000-square-foot steel fabrication facility in Fayette, Alabama. The $5.5 million project is expected to create 70 jobs within three years.

The new facility, located in an existing building, will feature robotic and manual welding stations, a beam-cutting line, wet paint booth, press brakes, plasma cutting, and saw cutting capabilities to support medium- to heavy-gauge steel fabrication.

“We are thrilled to have acquired the facility, and we are even more excited to have the skilled workers that were available in Fayette. People have always been our most valuable asset,” OMS President and CEO Kent Brown said. “In this time of unprecedented low unemployment and worker shortages across the country, good people have become even more valuable.

Read more at Area Development.