Blog

The Shoals area has always had a thriving economy. From the Tuscumbia Railway Co. to Reynolds Metals, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Ford Motor Company, major players have been drawn to our natural resources and unique positionings. These employers and businesses provided vast opportunities for Shoals area citizens. One unique aspect of The Shoals is how our counties and cities, each with their own notable history, learned they are stronger together and have closely worked to develop our region. Our musical history makes harmony an appropriate word when describing what our key players are striving for. Through the Shoals EDA’s history, you can see these efforts towards harmony and how The Shoals truly is better together. As the post-World War II economic expansion ended, the entire country began to experience economic troubles. High inflation and high unemployment meant businesses and people had to learn what it meant to do more with less. In The Shoals region specifically, unemployment rates skyrocketed into the high teens by 1985. Coupled with inefficient community development efforts, regional leaders knew something had to change. Enter the Shoals Industrial Development Authority (SIDA). Through leaders’ solid efforts and the leadership of the University of North Alabama and the

Economic Development Association of Alabama Welcomes Kevin Jackson as Newly Elected 2024 Board Member The Economic Development Association of Alabama: The Shoals, Ala. – January 31, 2024 – Kevin Jackson, a prominent figure in the field of economic development, is pleased to announce his recent appointment to the board of directors of the Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA). His extensive experience and dedication to advancing economic growth make him a valuable addition to the organization. Jackson brings a wealth of knowledge and a successful track record in the realm of economic development to his new role on the EDAA board. With a career spanning over two decades, Mr. Smith has played a pivotal role in shaping economic strategies and fostering growth within the state of Alabama. “I am honored to join the board of the Economic Development Association of Alabama,” said Jackson. “Alabama holds immense potential for economic advancement, and I look forward to collaborating with my fellow board members to drive progress and prosperity across the state.” Jackon’s professional background includes senior leadership positions in both public and private sectors, where he has championed initiatives focused on job creation, investment attraction, and community development. His expertise in economic

All the Festivities Where to See Santa! Christmas Parades! All the Festivities Event Name Date & Time Location Additional Information Dashing Through The Shoals (Public Ice Skating Rink!) November 26th- January 14th Thursdays & Fridays: 3pm- 8pmSaturdays & Sundays: 12pm- 8pm Muscle Shoals Amphitheater Public Ice-Skating Rink Hours will be: Thursdays 3-8 PM Fridays 3-8 PM Saturdays 12-8 PM Sundays 12-8 PM Closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Now through January 14th.Ice-Skating is $12 and includes the skates2010 Avalon Ave., Muscle Shoals 35661. Follow Shoals Chamber for any potential weather updates. For private rental inquiries email Alyssa at acrow@shoalschamber.com Tuscumbia Christmas Parade November 28th | 6pm Downtown Tuscumbia Come join in the holiday cheer as we celebrate Christmas this year! The Tuscumbia Christmas parade is November 28th at 6:00 p.m. https://fb.me/e/10bQK4zKZ John Paul White- Home for the Holidays 2023 November 29th | 7pm Norton Auditorium in Florence Join John Paul White, on November 29th at Norton Auditorium, in celebrating the holiday season with a special holiday show featuring some of his friends! https://fb.me/e/8e6hWPt78 Muscle Shoals Christmas Parade and Open House November 30th | 5:30pm- 7:30pm Bank Independent Muscle Shoals QUENCH food truck with your favorite festive treatsSanta and Mrs. Claus to arrive at 5:45The

MUSCLE SHOALS/FLORENCE, ALABAMA – Doster Program Management and The Shoals Economic Development Authority (Shoals EDA) break ground on two speculative industrial building projects in Northwest Alabama. Click Here To View Building Details In 2023, The Shoals EDA committed to an ambitious endeavor to enhance the industrial product of The Shoals area to lure new manufacturing investment to the community. Thus, the 2023 Product Development Plan was passed by The Shoals EDA Board of Directors. “To further our mission of promoting new businesses and employment opportunities for The Shoals community, our team and Board are committed to this Product Development Plan. These two new buildings will solidify The Shoals as a leading location for industrial projects. We eagerly look forward to starting the construction and are committed to finding the ideal tenant.” Kevin Jackson President of The Shoals EDA As an integral part of the plan, the Shoals Research Airpark speculative building represents the best The Shoals has to offer in industrial building property. Located in a premier industrial park in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the building stands at an impressive 250,000 square feet on an oversized building pad for additional expansion opportunities. The building is currently under construction and will be available in 2024.

The Shoals EDA’s Employment Growth Program is officially renewed! This program, designed to promote the increase of quality employment opportunities within The Shoals community, has been a great success and asset to our community. Through the EGP, we hope to encourage full-time employment growth through a streamlined process and incentive that provides assistance to eligible applicants offering new employment opportunities for Shoals citizens. From June 2022- June 2023, 11 companies participated in the EGP. These companies created a total of 51 new jobs with an average entry-level wage of $18/hr. This means over $1.9 million in new annual payroll has been created as a result of this program.  It is exciting to witness the positive impact that this program continues to have on the Shoals community and its existing industries! To learn more and/or request an application, contact Rob Jones at (256)349-5632 or rjones@shoalseda.com.  Below is a breakdown of the program’s details and processes:  The EGP provides reimbursement to eligible for-profit companies for hiring between one and ten full-time employees (FTE) per year. The reimbursement amount for each qualified FTE is based on the entry-level wage for the position. Eligible applicants for the EGP must operate under one of the business activities described in

Southwire Announces Expansion in Florence, Ala. Company’s growth will create approximately 120 jobs, add capacity and improve current facilities Florence, Ala. – June 9, 2023: As part of its ongoing modernization efforts, Southwire has announced an expansion at its campus in Florence, Ala., that is expected to increase production capacity by 30% and create approximately 120 jobs. For more than seventy years, Southwire has been delivering power responsibly to customers throughout the world. A leader in the multi-billion-dollar North American market, the company is enhancing its proven legacy, trusted reputation and longstanding, disciplined financial management by building upon its strengths to attain sustainable, strategic growth. “At Southwire, we’re making a multi-year investment of more than a billion dollars to integrate newer and better equipment, systems and technology into our operations to increase efficiency, enhance competitiveness and ensure the operational capability and capacity to support our strategic growth. The Florence expansion is a testament to those efforts,” said Rich Stinson, Southwire’s president and CEO. The Southwire Florence Plant was acquired from Essex in 2006 to support the company’s production of commercial and residential building wire. The 300,000 square foot campus has grown over time, and this expansion will include approximately 340,000 square feet of