For Release:
Thursday, 3 p.m
January 19, 2012
MONTGOMERY -- Following a series of statewide meetings in 2011 with more than 1,200 participants, Alabama’s new economic development strategy will be unveiled on Tuesday at the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s 2012 Winter Conference in Birmingham.
The announcement will be made from 1:30 – 3 p.m. at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham by: Vice President of Business Development for PowerSouth Energy Seth Hammett, Director of the Alabama Development Office Greg Canfield, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System Dr. Freida Hill, Chancellor of the University of Alabama System Dr. Malcolm Portera, Executive Director of the Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority Mike McCain, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Ellen McNair, and President of the Jackson County Economic Development Authority Dus Rogers.
“We recognize the value of our local economic development partners and we want to unveil this new plan in a setting where they are actively involved,” said Alabama Development Office Director Greg Canfield. More than 285 economic developers are expected to attend the conference.
The Alabama Economic Development Alliance, a group created in July 2011 by executive order of Governor Robert Bentley, brought together agencies and organizations that are involved in the state’s economic development activities. The Alliance engaged Boyette Strategic Advisors (BSA), an economic development consulting firm, to develop a Strategic Economic Development Plan for the State of Alabama to be called "Accelerate Alabama."
“We recognized early on that there needed to be a restatement of responsibilities,” Canfield continued. “Due to this process roles are documented and responsibilities are clarified. This plan will structure how we will recruit new jobs. We have already begun the process of identifying our targeted industry sectors.”
The new plan will ensure a well-balanced, comprehensive, aggressive and progressive economic development program for the state over the next three years in order to make Alabama the most competitive it can be from an economic development perspective. The plan will include identification of targeted business sectors along with strategic recommendations designed to position Alabama for economic development success based on its key assets.
Alliance members include Hammett, Canfield, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama President Bill Taylor, Greg Barker representing the Alabama Marketing Allies, Dr. Hill, Dr. Portera, McCain, McNair, Rogers, and Dr. Marquita Davis, Alabama's Finance Director.