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Talent

Nurturing Homegrown Talent and Attracting New Innovators to Northwest Alabama

TIME’s talent programs work to nurture our homegrown talent – both young people and adults – and attract new skilled workers, investors, and entrepreneurs to the region.

The TIME Initiative is transforming Northwest Alabama into a hub for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and innovators. By focusing on talent attraction, we’re creating a vibrant community where people want to live, work, and thrive. Our efforts are designed to improve quality of life, foster economic growth, and position our region as a desirable destination for individuals and businesses alike.

Program Goals

Talent DEVELOPMENT and Attraction

  • Use targeted digital marketing to promote Northwest Alabama as a prime location for primary or secondary residences.
  • Develop assets to support corporate meetings and amenities.
  • Incentivize housing developers to build new projects that suit diverse needs and attract skilled workers.
  • Discover and leverage innovative resources to uncover untapped talent and skills among current and future workers in our region.
  • Enhance access for rural youth and young adults to Innovation & Technology (I), Advanced Manufacturing (M), and Entrepreneurship (E) opportunities.

Placemaking and Quality of Life

  • Market the region’s outstanding outdoor recreational assets.
  • Improve infrastructure to convert recreational assets into tourism and commercial opportunities.
  • Invest in vibrant downtowns to create live/work/play environments conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • Develop destination retail, entertainment venues, and other attractions that draw visitors.
  • Promote cultural and arts assets and events, building on the region’s artisanal food production cluster.

Existing Assets Supporting Talent

Educational Resources

  • YouScience Pilot Program: Helps identify career pathways for students and supports advanced manufacturing and STEM initiatives.
  • STEM programs in high schools and industry/school partnerships promoting technical education.

Community and Cultural Highlights

  • Outdoor nature and recreation destinations, offering scenic experiences.
  • Artisanal food producers like Golden Eagle and Alabama Sunshine.
  • Local arts, including murals, folk art, and pottery.

Talent Attraction Resources:

  • Housing study: C3 recently completed a preliminary housing market analysis and surveyed the conditions of existing housing in the region. University of Alabama is helping C3 complete a full housing study along with recommendations for increasing the supply of new or renovated workforce housing and residential developments attractive to new talent.

Infrastructure and Accessibility

  • High-speed 10G Freedom Fiber ensures connectivity for businesses and residents.
  • Bevill State Community College campuses in Hamilton and Fayette provide workforce development opportunities.
  • Strategic location along the I-22 Corridor about midway between Memphis and Atlanta, with access to other metropolitan areas such as Birmingham, Tupelo, Huntsville, and Tuscaloosa.

Talent

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Innovation+Tech

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Manufacturing

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Entrepreneurship

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