Alabama Power gives $2500 to county development board

By Staff
Melissa Cason
The Franklin County Development Authority (FCDA) received a large contribution from Alabama Power Wednesday to help cover operating costs and the cost of marketing Franklin County.
Franklin County Development Authority Executive Director Mitch Mays said that the power company has always supported the Authority's crusade to recruit more industry to Franklin County.
"It's important for Alabama Power to support the economic development in Franklin County," Frank Tidwell, Alabama Power's Officer Manager for Marion, Winton and Franklin counties, said.
Franklin County is one of the few counties in north Alabama to be provided power by the Tennessee Valley Authority and Alabama Power.
The southern portion of the county, including Phil Campbell, Vina and Hodges receives electricity through Alabama Power.
Tidwell presented Mays and Industrial Board member Glenn Vinson a check for their annual contribution of $2,500.
The bulk of the expense to the FCDA is in traveling to locations and industry shows to market the county to prospective businesses.
"We go to several trade shows to help promote our county as a location for these businesses," Mays said.
He added that one challenge is to provide potential industry with enough skilled workforce to do the jobs they need. Mays said that our county is combating this problem with two programs to help train workers.
"Northwest Shoals Community College and the Alabama Industrial Development Office are two places that offer training for our work force with the skills needed to attract new industry."
He added that he believes that North Alabama will be changed forever thanks to the industry that has moved into the Shoals and Tupelo, Miss.
And while there is still no word on the project looking at Guin, Mays feels the site has a good shot at landing a major project.
"We are being told that an announcement should be made anytime now, but we've been hearing that since June," Mays said.
He added that while it does take time for decisions such as this to be made, there will be more activity after a site is named.
Mays said that Franklin County has a lot to offer industry. Vina and Phil Campbell are both working on their industrial parks.
The Franklin County Development Authority is supported by all the county's municipalities and the county commission in addition to companies like Alabama Power.