The Fort Payne Time-Journal- September 19, 2011
Fort Payne Mayor Bill Jordan was recently recognized for his contributions to economic development in Fort Payne, DeKalb County and northeast Alabama.
Jordan recently received the Michael D. Roberts North Alabama Excellence Award from the North Alabama Industrial Development Association at the organization's annual conference in Huntsville.
The award was created in 2003 to publicly recognize special groups, people, projects or activities that have positively impacted the North Alabama region both economically and socially.
The first award was presented to both Congressman Bud Cramer and Congressman Robert Aderholt for their contributions and support of economic development in North Alabama.
Tate Godfrey, president and CEO of the North Alabama Industrial Development Association presented the award following the announcement of the recipient by Jimmy Durham, director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority.
"Mayor Jordan has been a strong advocate for economic development not only for Fort Payne but for DeKalb County and North Alabama as a whole," Durham said. "He has worked diligently in all areas of economic development including industry and retail recruitment, business retention, agriculture, education and tourism."
Jordan said he's honored to receive the award. "Really, I look at this more as an award for the City of Fort Payne as a whole than for me personally," he said.
The award Jordan received is named after Micahel D. Roberts, who served as the assistant director of NAIDA from 1988 until 1994 and its executive director from 1995 until 2003.
Roberts died in 2003 after a long bout with cancer. Due to his dedication to the area and his zeal in assisting in the creation of jobs for the people of North Alabama, the NAIDA Board of Directors decided to memorizlize him by formally renaiming the North Alabama Excellence Award to the Michael D. Roberts North Alabama Excellence Award in 2003.