Keeping you informed and inspired. July 2022
VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 7
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Boeing Discusses Its Economic Impact, Celebrates 60 Years in Alabama
COVER STORY
Boeing, Alabama’s largest aerospace company, commemorated its 60th year of operation in Huntsville with a presentation last month at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. By Dawn Suiter - Page 5
EMPLOYMENT
Recent Labor Statistics Looking Up for Huntsville
At the national level, many key employment indicators in the U.S. look similar to before the COVID-19 pandemic, and robust employment growth plays a part in that. But the impact the coronavirus had on employment can’t be overstated. By Gus Wintzell - Page 20
ADDITIONAL STORIES • Sit Down With Success: Connor Knapp of Piper & Leaf on Stepping Out of the Cage By Dawn Suiter • Page 3
• Warehouse Needs Grow as Businesses Move Into Huntsville By Mike Eastering • Page 6
• Meta Announces Further Expansion of Huntsville Data Center Campus By Dawn Suiter • Page 11
• Rent or Buy? A Look Into Huntsville’s Housing Market By Noah Logan • Page 16
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HUNTSVILLE
BUSINESS JOURNAL Vol 5, Issue 7 July 2022 600 Boulevard South Suite 104 Huntsville, AL 35802
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
TRANSPORTATION
LATAM to Provide Direct Cargo Service from HSV to Brazil The Port of Huntsville announced a greater opportunity for businesses as the new LATAM Star route begins air cargo service direct from HSV to Brazil. LATAM Group (“LATAM”) is offering the service in collaboration with freight forwarder DSV at Huntsville International Airport. “We are thrilled to add this direct service to South America from Huntsville,” said Barbie Peek, Business Development Officer, Port of Huntsville. “With a supply chain pushed to the limit by the pandemic, cargo operations have struggled to keep up. The new LATAM Star service will provide a welcome remedy to businesses wishing to get their product to the Brazil market quickly and efficiently.” In an interview with the Huntsville Business Journal, Peek stated that this new opportunity translates to immediate success for Huntsville’s transportation industry. “Air cargo has been a vital part of our transportation logistics operations at HSV for decades. Our mission has always been to support economic development for our entire region and to grow the marketplace for new partnerships, more international business, and increased commerce. “HSV has enjoyed working with LATAM before as they have served our market with some temporary projects in the past. The LATAM Star route has been in the works for the past several months as we prepared to open up this trade lane to more businesses who can benefit from nonstop service to Brazil,” stated Peek. Tagged as the LATAM Star, LATAM Group together with DSV will
offer service from Huntsville with direct service to Viracopos, Brazil. This route provides relief needed for a congested supply chain in offering a direct cargo load by DSV Air Sea at the Huntsville International Airport. When asked about the benefits of this collaboration, Peek explained that, “The greatest benefits of launching LATAM Star service are in opening the door wider for increased international movement of air cargo through Huntsville International Airport. Doing so enriches the economies of both North America and South America by creating efficient, effective, and economical trade lanes, and Huntsville International Airport has advantages in our geographic location away from congested metropolitan areas and within Foreign Trade Zone No. 83. The success of the LATAM Star route will hopefully lead to the growth of this route and increased frequency of service.” Voted as No. 1 on U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Places to Live list for 2022-2023, Huntsville is an optimal origin and destination
By Ashlyn Grey / Photos courtesy of Port of Huntsville/DSV
point for clients as a less congested option to more traditional cargo facilities in the nearby area. “The relaunch of the route from Huntsville is proof of the opportunities created by the growth of our B767F fleet,” said Andrés Bianchi, LATAM Cargo CEO. “This allows us to provide differentiated solutions to our clients, regarding origins, destina-
tions, and frequencies, and strengthen our connectivity to, from, and within South America.” This unique collaboration is a quick turnkey solution, loaded and controlled by DSV Air & Sea with the full commitment and lift by LATAM. Routed in return from Viracopos, through Bogota and Miami—this full-service offer is a game changer for many looking for relief in this market. “DSV has grown its Air Freight competencies and volumes over the last years, and with that we will continue to build on our strong and growing charter network,” said Mads Ravn, Executive Vice President, DSV Air&Sea. “The new Huntsville – Brazil - Bogota service is another add-on which expands the DSV Charter Network to the resurging Latin America region from the uncongested Huntsville International Airport.” w
July 2022
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SIT DOWN WITH SUCCESS
Connor Knapp of Piper & Leaf on Stepping Out of the Cage Sit Down With Success is a feature of the Huntsville Business Journal on entrepreneurs and their keys to success. To read the full story, please visit the Huntsville Business Journal website. Not far past the Tennessee River on US-231S/431S, the new Piper & Leaf Tea Company headquarters greets travelers with a roadside sign featuring its familiar logo. The building at the end of the gravel drive welcomes guests with raised herb beds and a large, inviting covered porch with rockers and picnic tables. Founder and co-owner Connor Knapp comes from a multi-generational military family, all born in different states. “There’s quite a large age gap in the kids in our family so different ones of us lived in different areas and it wasn’t until I moved back that we had all ever been in one city at the same time,” he explained. With a Mason jar of Front Porch Special tea in hand, I sat down with Knapp to discuss the past, present, and future of his company. It had to take a big leap of faith to jump from being a Doctor of Physical
Therapy to starting your own tea business. What was the deciding factor? I did both for quite a long time and it got to a point where I had to decide on one or the other, ‘cause both were taking up too much of my time. You only have so many hours in a week and I valued the ability to work with family and friends and invest in our community, much more at that point than working in [medicine] ... it was really more about the values that I wanted in my community and in my life more than anything else. People think that we’re this huge company that makes millions of dollars…it’s not true. It’s literally all our family walking around here doing things and we make a living–we don’t make a lot but the value is the quality of life and what we’re able to do. When did you realize that Piper & Leaf was going to be a big success? We were having some mild successes at the farmers’ markets. The whole design of the business…focused on compost with tea on the side made from our garden. We had it in little paper bags and
we made a couple gallons of it every week. Long story short, nobody ever bought the compost but they kept buying our tea. It was actually the Madison Street Festival in October of 2013…we had a booth and people were going crazy over it. We ended up with a line about 2½ blocks long. We kept running out and we kept having to run back and make more. We were carrying tea in five gallon buckets about six blocks because you couldn’t drive into the area. And while we were stressed out and trying to fulfill all the needs of the booth we noticed, ‘Hey, these people aren’t upset that are standing here in line for 30-45 minutes. They’re talking to each other.’ That was interesting to see, and it was more interesting to see that people started jumping in to help us be able to serve more customers faster. That’s when we realized that this was bringing the community together; this needs to be a full time business. Because that was the reason we started, to bring communities together. And that’s when we decided,
By Dawn Suiter / Photo by Steve Babin
‘Okay, this is a full time business, we’ll pursue opportunities from here on out.’ What are the greatest challenges you’ve faced since starting your business? One of the biggest challenges my family has faced in starting our business and have had to overcome is sourcing supplies. Both for our locally made tea blends and any other products or services that we use. There is a large gap between retail sources and industrial level sources for supplies. We have had to be creative and form our own network over the years. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
Subsidiary of EVENT Publishing
President /Publisher……………………………………………… Todd Stephenson Editor …………………………………………………………………… Gus Wintzell Writers………………………………………………………………… Alan Clemons Mike Easterling Ashlyn Grey Marie Johnson Noah Logan Dawn Suiter Graphic Design ……………………………………………………… Justina Simon Website……………………………………………………………………… Jim Gharib Photographers………………………………………………………… Steve Babin Justina Simon Director of Sales ……………………………………………… Carolyn Stephenson Account Executives…………………………………………………… Noah Logan Marilyn Pinchock Distribution……………………………………………………………… Glenda Mace Huntsville Business Journal is published monthly by EVENT Publishing,
PO Box 14219, Huntsville, AL 35815. For advertising information call 256.533.8078, e-mail todd@eventhuntsville.com, or visit us on the web at www.huntsvillebusinessjournal.com For editorial information contact editor@huntsvillebusinessjournal.com ALL CONTENTS ©2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION OR USE IN WHOLE OR IN PART OF THE CONTENTS WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER IS PROHIBITED. HUNTSVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF EVENT PUBLISHING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. UNSOLICITED PHOTOGRAPHS OR ARTICLES ARE SUBMITTED AT THE RISK OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER OR AUTHOR. EVENT PUBLISHING ASSUMES NO LIABILITY FOR THE RETURN OF ANY UNSOLICITED MATERIALS AND MAY USE THEM AT ITS DISCRETION.
July 2022
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT By Dawn Suiter / Boeing Discusses Its Economic Impact, Photos courtesy of Redstone Gateway and Dawn Suiter Celebrates 60 Years in Alabama Boeing, Alabama’s largest aerospace company, commemorated its 60th year of operation in Huntsville with a presentation last month at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President and CEO Chip Cherry kicked off the event, noting that Boeing secured its first business license in Huntsville in 1962 and describing the company as “a big part of our heritage.” Boeing Director of Missile Operations and Huntsville Site Leader Ramon Sanchez noted that Boeing began 60 years ago supporting the NASA Saturn V project at Marshall Space Flight Center and continues to perform and be a huge player in the space race. “At Boeing, we work hard to maintain our presence and high wages providing for the highly-skilled jobs our operations require,” Sanchez said. “We’re looking forward and committed to the continued success of our customers, the economic health of the state, and contributing to the overall quality of life in our local communities.” Senior Research Economist and Associate Dean for Economic Development Outreach Dr. Sam Addy of the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration then discussed the findings of a study commissioned by Boeing that outlined its economic and fiscal impacts on the state during 2021. According to Addy, Boeing’s economic output was $2.731 billion
in 2021, $663.2 million of which represents earnings for 9,402 direct and indirect jobs in the state, including 3,000 at Boeing. He stated that Boeing’s payroll last year was $302 million, with average earnings of $103,000 for Boeing workers and $55,000 each for indirect workers. In contrast, Addy said that the average worker in Alabama earned $51,000 in 2020. Addy also stated that the company’s contribution to the GDP of the state is about $1.3 billion, and earnings generated $61.5 million in tax revenue, including $35 million in state and $26.5 million in local taxes. “Boeing is a good corporate citizen—I can’t say it much better than that. But these are numbers and they’re quantitative aspects. The qualitative aspects go far more than one can say…I can say for sure that Boeing having been here for 60 years means they were contributing to the success, the attraction, the bringing of other businesses, the success of other businesses and entities in this region and the state,” Addy concluded. Tina Watts with Boeing Global Engagement emphasized Boeing’s commitment to supporting the community, announcing that in rec-
ognition of the company’s 60th year in Alabama, Boeing is awarding two $60,000 grants. The recipients of these grants are the Boys and Girls Club of North Alabama’s STEM Career Pathway Program and the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program. “We’ve seen some huge impacts on our economy and on our area that have come from Boeing. The City of Huntsville is deeply grateful to Boeing for being our partner for the past 60 years,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “That partnership is a partnership of success—Boeing’s success has been the City of Huntsville’s success and it’s been our whole area’s success. As we’ve grown over the last 60 years they’ve made the Rocket City grow. “What Boeing does today makes us a center of excellence that few people can rival throughout the
country or throughout the world,” Battle continued, crediting the company with helping Huntsville to earn the ranking of best community in the United States by U.S. News and World Reports. Battle also thanked Boeing for the two grants, adding that he hopes some of the boys and girls who go through the Boys and Girls Club’s STEM program will one day work for Boeing. “We’re also hoping that they spread throughout our community and are part of the group that helps us grow into the future. As I tell my department heads on a day-to-day basis, we may have just been named No. 1, but No. 1 was yesterday. Today we’re building on tomorrow…we have to keep continuing to strive to get better, to be a great community, and through awards like this we are becoming a better community.” w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
MANUFACTURING
Warehouse Needs Grow as More Businesses Move Into Huntsville Less than two years ago, as Huntsville’s population began to mushroom, the city didn’t have the structures to handle the business growth that came with it. That’s changed, along with the number of residents that continues to rise, making Huntsville the largest city in the state. Recently, the city was named No. 1 as the best place to live in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. That is sure to increase the city’s profile. And warehouses are sprouting around the community along with the booming business industry. “I would say 18 months ago, our warehouse inventory was non-existent,’’ said Shane Davis, Huntsville’s Director of Urban and Economic Development. “I mean, anything that gets built, we have someone come in and build a hundred thousand square feet, and before the building would get completed it would be leased, and
ing but we’ve got about five projects where we’re working with groups that are going to put about a million square feet of speculative warehouse on the ground this year that will be available around the fourth quarter of 2023, which
we kept thinking , ‘Well, we still have the inventory.’ “We really kind of penciled it in and reached out to private equity investors to do spec warehousing. We had projects coming in because we were an ideal location and they didn’t have time to wait for something to be built. They wanted to get into the market now. “I can say it’s still really a tight market for availability for warehous-
is good.’’ However, as the city expands with continued population and business growth, even more warehousing space will be needed moving forward. “I don’t feel like (recent additional warehousing) is going to be enough,’’ Davis said. “I mean there’s so much opportunity here. There’s so much logistics and demand that I kind of feel what we have coming into the pipeline with our growth –
By Mike Easterling
it’s going to get leased and absorbed. “I think in the next two-tofive years you’re going to see more warehouse demand and hopefully warehouse construction. Huntsville’s becoming that size market. Five years ago we weren’t that type of market.’’ While warehousing is becoming premium real estate in the area, an internet search for locations revealed numerous websites offering space to lease or purchase in Huntsville, Madison and other nearby Tennessee Valley locations. Manufacturing has increased consistently in the city in the last decade and has helped create the need for more warehouses. “We’re still doing what we’ve done since 2014, which is creating opportunities,’’ Davis said. “We’ve created right at just under 14,000 manufacturing jobs since 2014 and a lot of those businesses are are still ramping up their employment numbers.’’ w
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MANUFACTURING
A Look Into the Huntsville’s Ever-Growing Manufacturing Industry Shane Davis, Director of Economic and Urban Development for the city, compares recruiting businesses to college basketball’s Big Dance. The tournament stokes office and online pools and water cooler talk about busted brackets. Davis previously used the analogy to explain his job to his daughter, who played high school sports. “Competing for industry, to me, it’s like NCAA basketball, it’s like March Madness,’’ Davis said. “A lot of these mega-projects you’ll have 23 states (competing). It could range from 10 and we’ve had projects where they looked at 30 states. They’ll start out with anywhere from 50-130 possible sites. So when you start that first initial response to showcase your community your odds are pretty low. “Then it’s like getting to the next round and the next round and your odds start going up. Then when you get to what I call the final group there may be two two sites, there may be four. I tell our team, ‘Look, our site is a good site. Logistics work, utilities work, the site works. Now, what makes the difference between finishing second or finishing first and bringing these jobs to the community.’ ’’ While nothing is likely anytime soon to displace space and defense as the city’s major calling cards, manufacturing is making a push to be a hub in the state and southeast. Huntsville alone has added 14,000 manufacturing jobs since 2014. One of the more celebrated additions to the local business landscape was the large $2.3 billion Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) plant that began operating in 2021 and keeps expanding. The first-ever 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid will be built at the site off Greenbriar Road. It was unveiled during a ceremony in early June. The first-ever Mazda CX-50 that was introduced in January and the gas powered Corolla Cross, which debuted in 2021, will also be assembled in Huntsville. The car maker also announced it’s adding engines to MTM’s lineup.
“A lot of these projects that consider Huntsville and other parts of the U.S., they’re going to hire thousands for new jobs’’ According to Davis, Huntsville officials are in lockstep with new business, but stay in “constant contact’’ to make sure the startup needs are met and is perhaps one reason MTM is putting billions into the facility. “I think you’ve seen that with expansions at Mazda-Toyota,’’ he said. There are other reasons Huntsville is bringing in manufacturing business: • Job growth could mean higher wage opportunities for workers • A method to keep Huntsville job growth on an upward trend • City administrators continually identify key locations for possible expansion • High quality of healthcare • Yearly transportation upgrades with checks to make sure workers have corridors to travel in and out of a city drawing from 16 counties including Tennessee • Short drive to larger cities such as Nashville and Atlanta • Lower cost of living than many metro areas • Quality of life, another focus of city leaders, with a vibrant entertainment scene and outdoor recreation Those are just some of the highlights the city and area offers for a
business to consider when making a large investment. “A lot of these projects that consider Huntsville and other parts of the U.S., they’re going to hire thousands for new jobs,’’ Davis said. “Some will be local and regional with an opportunity to secure those jobs and have a better life for their family. But there’s also a section of that project in most cases where 10 or 15
By Mike Easterling / Photo courtesy of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing
percent of the current workforce is going to get transferred from somewhere else to get that project or facility up and running. “Their most valuable asset is their employees. Quality of life is huge. If they’re told, ‘We’ve made a decision to expand and, by the way, I‘m going to need you to move to Huntsville, Alabama.’ They’ll say let me look at it and want to feel comfortable about coming. That’s a huge decision. It’s got to be somewhere they want to be. That’s critical for industrial development.’’ Huntsville was recently named the top place to live in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. If this were a basketball tournament the city would certainly be considered for a high seed. “This is a good location today,’’ Davis said. “It’ll be a good community tomorrow and 10 years from now, 20 years from now.’’ w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
SMALL BUSINESS
Starting Your Small Business This is the eighth and final part of a multi-part series that will help prospective entrepreneurs to develop the tools they need for a successful business venture. To read the full series, please visit the Huntsville Business Journal website. As your dream business draws ever closer to becoming a reality, it’s time to put the last finishing touches on it and tie up a few loose ends. Only two steps remain in the process: applying for the necessary licenses and permits and opening your business bank account. Licensing can be federal, state, and/or local and the kind of business activity you’ll be conducting and your location will determine the licenses and/or permits your business will need. Federal licenses and permits are necessary for certain products and business activities, such as those dealing with weapons, energy, wildlife, transportation, agriculture,
and broadcasting. Let’s say you’re planning to open a microbrewery in Huntsville. You’ll need a Business Privilege License, which will be issued by the Madison County Probate Office. If you’re also planning to sell items relating to your business, such as T-shirts and glassware, you’ll also need a store license. Since you’ll be producing and selling alcohol, you may have to register with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, depending on which products you produce. You’ll also need to apply for an Alcohol Beverage License with the State of Alabama ABC Office and fill out the City of Huntsville Alcohol Beverage License application, available in the licensing section of the City of Huntsville’s website. If you’re planning to serve food to go with your beer, a permit will be required from the Madison County branch of the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Once you have your permits and licenses, business formation documents, Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number, and your ownership agreements in hand, the next step is to open a business bank account, which comes with significant perks over standard
By Dawn Suiter
personal bank accounts. A dedicated business bank account will include not only checking and savings, but also a credit card account and a merchant services account, which will allow you to accept credit and debit card transactions from your customers.
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SMALL BUSINESS
Business bank accounts are necessary because they help keep your business funds separate from your personal funds. Merchant services also provide purchase protection for your customers and ensure that their personal information is secure. A business bank account will also provide your business with an extra layer of professionalism. Customers can pay with credit and debit and make checks payable to the business instead of directly to you. Also, you can authorize trusted employees to handle banking tasks on behalf of the business. Business banking usually comes with a line of credit, which can be used in the event of an emergency or if large expenses come up. Lastly, business credit card accounts can help establish a credit history for your business, providing it with additional purchasing power. While you may be tempted to use your own personal bank or credit union to open a business account, it’s necessary to do some research be-
fore taking that step. Rates, fees, and options vary from bank to bank, so shop around to ensure that you find the lowest fees and best benefits. Things to consider include introductory offers, interest rates, transaction fees, early termination fees, and minimum account balance fees. Merchant services accounts charge a variety of fees as well, including daily batch fees for
settling credit card transactions for the day and monthly minimum fees charged if your business doesn’t meet the minimum required transactions. Payment processing companies such as Square are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to traditional merchant services accounts and sometimes provide extra features such as accessories that let you use your phone or iPad to
accept credit card payments. The fee categories will be similar to those of merchant services accounts. Once it’s set up and connected to your business checking account, you’re ready to go. There are a few more odds and ends to deal with, such as getting a business insurance policy and adding the last finishing touches, but congratulations are in order—it’s time to cut that ribbon and turn on the OPEN sign! The adventure is just beginning. As always, you don’t have to go it alone as a new business owner either. The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship and the UAH SBDC/PTAC are invaluable local sources of advice and guidance as your small business develops. In addition, the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce provides resources and support to help your business grow and prosper. Best of luck with your new business! w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Businesses Taking Steps to Smooth Transition Back to Physical Workspaces As the pandemic wanes and most people are comfortably venturing out in public again, businesses are increasingly calling for employees to return to the office. While essential workers and those who solely relied on in-person interactions commuted to their jobs throughout the pandemic, many knowledge-based positions, particularly in the tech sector, shifted to strictly virtual work. Despite some initial hiccups, white collar employees and managers quickly adjusted to the “new normal,” adapting and even thriving over time. Virtual meetings via Zoom or Teams, often featuring cameo appearances by house pets and small children, became a routine part of the workday as homes began to double as workplaces. Working from home has been a mixed bag for many, however—while some employees struggled with social isolation and the loss of a healthy worklife balance, others relished the chance to leave the commute behind, as well as the feelings of autonomy and flexibility that came with working from home. Closing the office doors brought significant cost savings to both employers and employees, but at the same time the freedom to work remotely and the realization that one’s physical location no longer mattered led many employees to seek better opportunities elsewhere, leading to the onset of the “Great Resignation.” With the majority of Americans now vaccinated and infections on the decline, workplaces are now encouraging their employees to shift from virtual to in-person work, and in some cases demanding it. A recently leaked memo from Elon Musk demanded that Tesla employees go into the office for a minimum of 40 hours per week and that, “If you don’t show up, we will assume you have resigned.” While Musk is using the stick approach, the majority of organizations are using the more appealing carrot approach to bring employees back into the physical workplace safely, productively, and willingly. One common tactic being used by many companies is the creation of a hybrid workplace, in which employees come in several days a week while working from home the rest of the week. David Salters and Taylor Fox of Warren Averett agree that the creation
of a hybrid workplace is a valuable tool for businesses, not only to keep employees on staff, but also as a recruiting tool. With the cost of living and the price of gas continuing to rise, they noted that flexible work, in itself, is a form of wages when taking into account the cost of fuel, cleaners, childcare, and so on. “Companies who plan to offer it are absolutely using it as a recruiting tool against companies that are not,” Salters said. Big corporations all over the world, including Siemens, Apple, and many others, are embracing this approach. Advantages include decreased cost for office space, increased collaboration between team members, and the ability to expand hiring scope by attracting quality professionals. Small businesses are also making use of the leverage provided by offering flexible scheduling options. A local example can be found with technical services firm Cintel, located at 4100 Market St., Suite 115 in Redstone Gateway. According to Cintel President Will Irby, some team members choose to work on site on a daily basis, with others going into work three days a week and working remotely the other two. Some remain fully remote, only going in occasionally. “Success with this approach centers on our customers and their specific requirements. We know that in the current labor market, flexibility is critical to stay competitive, so that is what we have focused on at Cintel – being as flexible as possible, but also being fully transparent in that not every position can be remote. I think it’s important to be upfront about position requirements with employees and candidates,” Irby explained.
It’s also important for organizations to let employees know why they’re being called back to the office, highlighting the positive benefits of doing so for both them and the company. There will be some hesitant employees, and it’s important to give them a voice as well. Whether it’s a group discussion, a private chat with a manager, or a meeting with HR and leadership, these employees need to feel heard and understood. Not doing so can foster resentment and may lead to multiple resignations. At the same time, supporters of the return-to-work plan need to be able to express their views—in the best case scenario, they will be able to offer resistant employees support and encouragement to return. Businesses can also reduce resistance to return to the office by providing assistance in areas such as transportation costs, child care, and scheduling flexibility. Another big incentive: food. Emily (name changed for privacy), a young engineer who relocated across the country for work just prior to the shutdown, provided some input regarding her resistance to returning. “I struggle to motivate myself to go back to the office since I’d need to pack a lunch in the morning before going. It’s tough when I have meetings starting at 8 a.m. daily that would be virtual anyway,” she said. Her suggestion: “Give us food. That’ll get me back in. I’ll totally come in if they have snacks at the office on a regular basis as well.” “Engineers are food motivated. Like dogs,” Emily added. In March of this year Mazda Toyota Manufacturing took concrete steps to provide child care assistance
By Dawn Suiter
for its employees when it formed a partnership with TOOTRiS, an on-demand child care platform. TOOTRiS provides access to hundreds of licensed childcare options near employees’ homes or workplace. The platform also enables parents to find temporary care and drop-ins, as well as services accommodating nontraditional work schedules. “We understand the struggles our working parents have finding affordable and quality Child Care. We want to help relieve that burden so our valuable team members know their children are well cared for,” Mark Brazeal, Vice President of Administration at MTM said in a statement. “The partnership with TOOTRiS helps us accomplish that goal and aligns with our commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workforce while creating career opportunities at our world-class automotive manufacturing facility.” Cintel also focuses on fostering morale-boosting activities for its team members as a way of restoring a sense of community. Irby cited a successful “Cintel Gives Serving Saturday” event that supported a local charity, as well as other successful morale and networking events. “We believe connected teams deliver the most value and to that end we will always prioritize our teams being connected, both personally and professionally,” Irby stated. Although he recognizes the necessity of scheduling flexibility, Irby places high value in the physical work environment: “Being present is critical for creativity, spontaneous meetings, conversations, and opportunities that arise from physically being around teammates, coworkers, and customers. To an extent, this can be overcome with networking and active connection through technology, but we have seen that when our teams are physically together, they are more active, creative, and happy – so we work hard to create opportunities for this to happen.” “I don’t think we will really understand the impact these changes have had for many years, but the one thing that is certain is that companies must work hard to figure out how to meet the needs of their current employees and how to attract new employees. Continual internal evaluation and response to the labor market is critical going forward,” Irby explained. w
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TECHNOLOGY
Meta Announces Further Expansion of Huntsville Data Center Campus Whether or not you’re a Facebook user, and chances are you are, it’s hard to deny that the company has made a permanent impact on society on not only a personal but also on a global scale. Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has also made a significant physical and economic footprint on Huntsville itself and according to a recent announcement, its investment in the city continues to grow with the announcement of the further expansion of its Huntsville Data Center campus. Located in North Huntsville Industrial Park, the Data Center’s planned addition of two new buildings will bring the total square footage to 3.5 million square feet. This expansion will also increase Meta’s investment in Huntsville to over $1.5 billion and once complete, the data center will support over 300 jobs. Alongside this news, Meta has an-
nounced two grants totaling $300,000 to support local schools and STEM education, providing $225,000 in support of the Raise Your Hand program with the Schools Foundation and $75,000 to the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ACSTE). “We continue to be profoundly grateful to companies like Meta for making critical investments into initiatives that strengthen our community and our state. It’s because of these investments that we are able to execute a high quality program and experience for ASCTE students— and in turn, funnel talent into higher education that will ultimately drive the innovation we so desperately need
in the fields of cyber and engineering,” said ACSTE President Matt Massey. So far, Meta has given over $2.6 million in community support to Huntsville-area schools and organizations, including the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Fantasy Playhouse, the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama, Girls Inc., the CAP & GOWN Project, Huntsville City Schools, Madison City Schools, and Madison County Schools. Meta is also making significant investments in renewable energy through wind and solar projects. Through joint efforts with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the Huntsville data center is fully powered by renewable energy. This
By Dawn Suiter
includes the creation of an innovative renewable energy program (Green Invest) that is available to other customers seeking to meet similar renewable energy commitments. Meta-contracted projects will add 447 MW of new renewable energy to support the Huntsville Data Center, with Meta-supported renewable energy projects in the state representing $75 million in local investment. “The City of Huntsville is thrilled to see Meta continuing to grow in our community. Their latest expansion demonstrates the company’s strong commitment to and desire to make a difference in Huntsville. With new jobs and investment also comes Meta’s gracious support of our educational institutions and focus on sustainability,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “We thank Meta for being great community partners and look forward to many more fruitful years at its Data Center campus.” w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
COVER COVER S
2021 Travel & Tourism Impact Sets
By Gus Wintzell / Photos courtesy of In the Alabama Tourism Industry Economic Impact Report 2021, released by the Alabama Tourism Department, the estimated economic impact of visitors in Madison County exceeded $1.7 billion. This figure represents a 42% increase over 2020, which was severely impacted by the global pandemic. Even when compared to 2019, which was the previous record year, the 2021 economic impact figures are up by more than 6%. There’s a similar trend for the number of visitors to Madison County. The 3.7 million visitors in 2021 far exceeded the 2.8 million who visited in 2020. The previous record for visitors was 3.6 million in 2019. The number of visitors in 2021 increased by 32% over 2020 and bested 2019 by 3%. The number of jobs in travel and tourism Madison County in 2021 jumped to more than 21,000 after falling to less than 15,000 during 2020. As a result of the visitor expenditures, every household in Madison County saved more than $1,000 in taxes in 2021, compared to $700 in 2020. Madison County was the second most visited county in Alabama in 2021, behind only Baldwin County, which includes the beachfront communities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. “We’re thrilled to see new visitor and economic impact records for Madison County,” said Judy Ryals,
President and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The hospitality industry here is both strong and resilient, and we benefit from elected officials who understand the importance of our industry. With the continuing growth of the community as well as the addition of world-class facilities like the Orion Amphitheater, I’m confident that we’ll see the numbers continue to increase,” says Ryals. Madison County’s growth also mirrors a statewide economic recovery for the tourism industry. Travelers to Alabama are estimated to have
spent $19.6 billion in Alabama in 2021, which represents an increase of 47% as compared to 2020 spending. In 2021 alone, it is estimated that more than 28.2 million people visited the State of Alabama, which in turn helped generate around $1.1 billion of state and local tax revenues from travel and tourism related activities. These numbers translate to the tourism industry accounting for around 8.2% of Alabama’s Gross Domestic Product in 2021. Locally, Huntsville’s tourism industry has exploded over recent years, providing new attractions to both “inmarket” and “out-of-market” visitors.
According to Downtown Huntsville Inc. President and CEO Chad Emerson, in-market visitors include participants that reside in Madison County and outof-market visitors refer to patrons that visit from out of town. In terms of Downtown Huntsville, Emerson stated that recent successful growth trends in downtown visitors can be attributed to a healthy balance of focus on both sides of the
tourist market. “Downtown has become a visitors market, both for in-market and out-of-market visitors. Free events develop a habit of visitors downtown. During the pandemic, we had very little issue getting people comfortable with visiting us downtown, whether for traveling out of town for work or driving from South Huntsville on a Sunday afternoon. Increasing visitor comfort level was key to bringing people downtown, and it works the same way right now,” said Emerson. Developing tourism also radiates positively throughout the community, according to Emerson, and can
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STORY STORY
s New Records in Madison County
f CVB/Alabama Tourism Department
lead to overall growth of the city that can benefit many local residents. “Any time you have an out-ofmarket visitor, it generates more revenue for the community as a whole. When people come to our events, whether for work or simply to visit the city, they have to spend money on gas, they have to eat at local restaurants, they have to book hotels and Airbnbs. This translates to state taxes, lodging taxes, and gas and food expenditures. It generates more revenue than most people think, especially for local businesses,” concluded Emerson. To illustrate this, Emerson used one of Downtown Huntsville’s most flavorful events as an example: Huntsville’s food truck rallies. “Take our 12 food truck rallies that we host each year. While this is not a ticketed event, which we certainly host each year, we will still see trends of out of town guests coming
to attend the rallies. It provides visitors something else to do, along with the other locations they are visiting. “While we do not charge for the event, they are still buying into local food, still paying for hotels and places to stay, which means lodging tax, and they are investing into other sectors of the tourist economy. As more guests fill up more hotels, this generates more revenue for the city. These trends correlate,” Emerson said. Ryals agreed, stating that tourist trends also link to other important areas of Huntsville’s economy. One of the most important trends for Huntsville residents is taxes. State numbers reported that, due to travel expenditures, lodging taxes, and money spent on gas, residents saved more than $1000 per household county wide. Lodging taxes alone increased by 44.89% over the last year, with Madison County generating $8,532,810 in 2021 as opposed to $5,889,274 in 2020. Overall, travel related expenditures in Madison County reached an all-time high of $1,768,002,820 in 2021, in contrast with the $1,220,260,858 generated in 2020. Madison County even beat the pre-Pandemic numbers of 2019 at $1,618,731,468. In total, Madison County earnings peaked at $569,278,438 in 2021 as opposed to pre-Pandemic 2019 numbers at 514,298,640. Trends here suggest that there was an increase of around 43.0% in total Travel-Related earning by county, which according to the CVB, translates well for Huntsville and Madison County’s tourism web.
And, according to Ryals, this number does not even include the Government Travel yet, which is set to peak as COVID-19 travel restrictions begin to relax. Ryals also agreed with Emerson’s point that hotels also were greatly affected by increased tourism. Ryals stated that upwards to 7,530 hotel rooms were booked over the past year, which led to a need for more space. Since last year, Huntsville as a whole has seen an increase of 11% in hotel inventory space. “As tourism grows, the hospitality industry will grow with it. This also translates to the recent employment increase in North Alabama, especially within the service sector. Growing demand for hotels and restaurant locations have increased the amount of jobs that Huntsville businesses can offer. All of these sectors, hospitality,
service, tourism, go hand-in-hand,” concluded Ryals. “All of these sectors, institutions, and locations are all inter-related,” agreed Charles Winters, the Executive Vice President of the Huntsville/ Madison County CVB. Notable sectors of Huntsville’s tourism industry include sporting events from the Parks and Recreation Department, visitors to Huntsville’s Downtown Museum System and the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, arts and cultural centers in areas such as Lowe Mill and the Huntsville Art Museum, and outdoor spaces, such as the Huntsville Botanical Gardens and the Land Trust of Monte Sano hiking trails. In terms of numbers, these locations have seen massive growth over the past few years, with trends showing upward mobility.
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COVER COVER STORY STORY According to a representative from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC), almost 17 million people have visited the museum since it opened doors back in 1970. And according to recent polls, the USSRC receives nearly 650,000 school students attending field trips and educational visits to the Center’s various interactive facilities. Another large part of the USSRC’s attraction is a long-time Huntsville token: Space Camp. Since its conception in 1992, more than 900,000 students have graduated from the program, including European Space Agency astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti and NASA astronauts Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, Dr. Kate Rubins, Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor and Christina Koch. Apart from the NASA and spacecentered side of Huntsville, the city is also host to a variety of historical and cultural museums for visitors to visit. The Huntsville Art Museum, named as one of the state’s
“Top 10” destinations by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel, receives around 80,000 visitors annually Recently, The Museum of Art gained a reputation throughout the South for bringing high-caliber touring exhibitions to the region. Nearly 40,000 people visited the Museum
during A Taste for Splendor: Russian Imperial and European Treasures from the Hillwood Museum. Another 23,000 visited the blockbuster exhibition Land of the Winged Horsemen: Art in Poland. Downtown Huntsville’s Museum System, which included the EarlyWorks Museum, the Huntsville
Depot Museum, and Huntsville’s Constitution Park also see more than 300,000 visitors per year, with EarlyWorks Museum reporting a total of 174,000 visitors last year. Huntsville outdoor and green spaces have also received recent national attention, with the Huntsville Botanical Gardens named as
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COVER COVER STORY STORY the No. 4 best botanical gardens in the nation. Besides the beautiful landscaping and the serene atmosphere, the Huntsville Botanical Gardens host a variety of events, from educational to career development, which brings an average of 250,000 total visitors a year. This number includes 22,000 general daytime admission visitors from out-of-market, with an astounding 14,000 of those visitors coming from out of state. “The Huntsville Botanical Garden welcomes visitors from around the state and across the country every year. Due to the unique plants found in this area, there is no other garden quite like ours, and we are therefore able to attract garden lovers and outdoor enthusiasts from near and far. We are proud to be a top attraction for tourists in Huntsville and contribute to the booming tourism industry here.” stated Sue Wagner, Chief Executive Officer of the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
From the sports side, the Trash Pandas have been hitting numbers out of the park. From 2021, the Trash Pandas total paid attendance included 271,340, a number that was lower than expected due to rainouts and COVID-19 shutdowns. However, due to the decrease in COVID-19 restrictions, Trash Pandas officials are expecting to bring in more than 68,952 more than last year’s numbers. Recent reports also indicate that Parks and Recreations events have generated upwards of around
$500,000 in city revenue and, according to CVB numbers, more than 500 hotel rooms were booked during the month of June alone to accommodate out-of-market visitors to these events. Of course, this is only a relatively short list of museums and attractions that Huntsville has to offer. Burritt on the Mountain, the Huntsville Revisited Museum, Concerts in the Park, Stovehouse, the myriad of events at Lowe Mill Arts and Entertainment district, and so much more deserve the attention of both in-market and
out-of-market visitors. “Places like the Orion. When I look at the Amphitheater, it makes me feel like I am looking at the Colosseum in Rome. That is what we have here in Huntsville,” said Ryals. Charles Winters agreed. “We are no longer a drive through town for people heading to the beach. Visitors are stopping and staying.” Editor’s Note: For a more comprehensive look into Alabama tourism’s great recovery, check out the full Alabama Tourism Industry Economic Impact Report 2021. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
HOUSING
Rent or Buy? A Look Into Huntsville’s Housing Market Is it still cheaper to buy a house than it is to rent in Huntsville? A recent study from California based ATTOM Data Solutions found that, while Madison County is included in the 58% of counties where it’s more affordable to buy a home, the gap between owning and renting is smaller than ever and still decreasing. In their 2022 Rental Affordability Report, ATTOM incorporated fair market rent data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and public-record sales-deed data to analyze the cost comparison in 1,154 counties across the United States. With housing prices growing at a faster rate than rent prices in almost 90% of counties analyzed, the difference between average monthly rent and average monthly mortgage payments is only $30, the lowest ever recorded. To give an idea as to how quickly the gap has narrowed, the price difference was $322 in March 2020.
In order to determine the affordability of both options, it’s important to compare the cost of each as a percentage of the average monthly wages for each county. ATTOM determined “rental affordability” by analyzing the average fair market rent for a three-bedroom property as a percentage of the average monthly wage. Similarly, home-buying affordability is the monthly house payment for a median-priced home (based on a 3 percent down payment and including mortgage, property tax, homeowner’s insurance and private mortgage insurance) as a percentage of the average monthly wage. How does Madison County compare to the national averages? For starters, both rent and mortgage prices have increased at a faster pace than the
national median rate. The average rent for a three bedroom apartment in the county increased from $1,172 in 2021 to $1,302 in 2022, an 11.1% jump. However, that is less than half the rate that Madison County home prices have been rising. Calculated from the 6,000 publicly available home sales from January - November 2021, the average housing price jumped to $250,000, which is 25% higher than the same time period in 2020. When comparing these costs
By Noah Logan
to the 2021 average weekly wages, $1288, the monthly costs associated with home ownership made up a slightly less percentage of the average monthly income than the average price of rent. Home affordability was calculated at 21% compared to 23.3% for rental affordability. The 2% gap between the two is similar in other Alabama metros like Birmingham where rental affordability was calculated to be 26% and 21% for home affordability. The similarities end there though. Compared to the 11% increase in rent payments and 25% increase in housing costs in Madison County, Jefferson County actually saw rent payments actually drop by 6% while housing costs only rose by 4%. Madison County was also an outlier when it comes to rent price changes compared to the change in average wages. It was one of the few counties where the average cost of rent is increasing faster than the growth rate for the average wages. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
BANKING / FINANCIAL
Bank Independent Celebrates Groundbreaking of West Madison Location Bank Independent’s North Alabama roots run deep—it began in Leighton with a group of farmers who pooled their resources following the closure of the area’s only bank. Recognizing the needs of the community, they opened the Bank of Leighton in 1947. The new organization was renamed First Colbert Bank in 1965, then in 1967 it advanced from a state-chartered bank to a national bank in 1967, becoming First Colbert National Bank after moving its headquarters to Sheffield. In 1975, Board Chairperson Edward Fennel Mauldin organized a group of investors, including some directors of First Colbert National Bank, to charter The Bank of Florence. The two banks merged on December 1, 1982 to be-
come Bank Independent. The new bank grew steadily over the years, adding additional locations across North Alabama.
In August 2009, the bank welcomed Interstate Billing Service, Inc, (IBS) to the family. IBS, a nationwide corporate billing service
By Dawn Suiter / Photos by Dawn Suiter
based in Decatur, provided new growth opportunities as well as 87 additional employees. Now Bank Independent has another success to celebrate—on Wednesday morning, the bank chain broke ground at the future site of its 30th North Alabama location. The new West Madison Sales Office, to be located at 11254 County Line Road next to Dunkin Donuts, will be the third in the HuntsvilleMadison area. The well-attended, groundbreaking celebration featured a number of dignitaries including Madison Chamber Executive Director Michelle Epling, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Madison County Commissioner Dale Strong, Bank Independent President and CEO Macke Mauldin, and Executive Vice
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BANKING / FINANCIAL
President Preuit Mauldin. In her address to the audience, Epling repeated one of Bank Independent’s core belief statements, ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ “If Bank Independent can help individuals thrive both economically and socially, our entire city wins,” she said. “As they enter their seventh decade in the North Alabama community, we are honored that this bank has chosen the City of Madison to build its next location and to continue to make a difference in people’s lives for years to come.” Area President Tim Singleton then greeted the audience, expressing excitement about breaking ground and recognizing the large number of people involved in the project, which he noted has been two years in the making. He also recognized the four generations of the Mauldin family that have been involved in the bank, thanking them for creating a great place to work. Singleton and Chief People Officer Penny Camp both expressed great faith in Vice President of Sales Kristen Strickland, who will be leading the West Madison location. Camp also acknowledged sales leader and retail team leader Cynthia Webster, who has been with the bank for over twenty years and is currently working out of the Nance Road location. “We firmly believe in the growth of Madison County, Limestone County, and this entire area, and I think we’re putting our money where our mouth is,” said Macke Mauldin.
“We believe in making a positive difference in our community and that’s exactly what we’re going to do.” “What I really appreciate about our entire community is our entire area—we continue to work together to be successful so organizations have the ability to grow,” said Mayor Finley, thanking the bank for its investment in Madison. Finley also praised Strickland, crediting her with the continued growth of the area thanks to her continued investment in the city. “In the end, I’ll say this: we love our community and it continues to get stronger thanks to folks like you. Quality businesses continue to invest here. We thank you for that, we’re very appreciative of that, and we look forward to breaking some ground.” Following the groundbreaking ceremony, CEO Rick Wardlaw provided some final remarks, thanking those in attendance and those who have helped the bank continue to thrive. “You’ve noticed in the last couple of years that there’s been several banks that have been sold, there’s different names on the doors for some of these banks—Bank Independent is not being built to sell. We’re being built to serve, and we’re proud of our ability to serve our community.” “Thank you, and we’re looking forward to serving this community for the next 75 years,” Wardlaw concluded. w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
EMPLOYMENT
Recent Labor Statistics Looking Up For Huntsville At the national level, many key employment indicators in the U.S. look similar to before the COVID-19 pandemic, and robust employment growth plays a part in that. But the impact the coronavirus had on employment can’t be overstated. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that job losses in the spring of 2020 were comparable to those of the Great Depression. The unemployment rate hit almost 15% at that time; however, unlike prior recessions, the rebound was swift. Over 60% of jobs lost returned a year later, and total employment today is just a percentage point lower than the preCOVID peak. According to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, from March 2021 to March 2022 there were reductions in unemployment rates in 386 of America’s 389 metropolitan areas, and 108 of those areas had jobless rates under
3.0%. In March 2022, the national seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 3.6%, down 2.4 percentage points from the year prior. Similarly, data from the Economic Innovation Group shows that over half of all U.S. metros that experienced job losses
during the coronavirus pandemic are on target for full recoveries in the next year. On the state level, Nevada and California added the most jobs last year, with respective 9.1% and 6.4% increases, each showing a significant
By Gus Wintzell / Photos courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics rise over the year prior. From March 2022 to March 2020, Nevada had a 0.1% increase in employment, while California had a 0.6% decrease during that two-year period. This means that when compared to the start of the pandemic, employment numbers in these two states are relatively flat. Hawaii also had a dramatic rebound over the past year, with a 6.3% increase from March 2021 to 2022; however, its total employment numbers are still 8.5% below March 2020 levels. Unlike the three states listed above, which were hit especially hard by declines in travel and tourism, Texas and Florida experienced notable and steady growth over both periods. Employment in each state grew by 5.7–5.9% over the past year, and both are about 2.5% above March 2020 figures. Although to a lesser extent, the same is the case for Georgia, which reported a 5.2% in-
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crease in employment over the past year and a 2.2% increase over the past two years. Similar trends hold at the local level with select cities in Nevada, California, Texas, Florida, and Georgia reporting robust employment growth. On the other hand, many locations in the South and Midwest have experienced little to no employment growth over the past year, and remain well below March 2020 numbers. The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Sta-
tistics Current Employment Statistics dataset. To determine the locations with the most employment growth, researchers at Filterbuy calculated the percentage change in employment between March 2021 and March 2022, considering only metropolitan areas with at least 100,000 residents. In the event of a tie, the location with the greater total change in employment since March of 2021 was ranked higher. The analysis found that employment in the Huntsville metro area has grown 2.2% since last year— a 2.4% increase since the start of the pandemic. Here is a summary of the data for the Huntsville, AL metro area: • Percentage change in employment since 2021: +2.2%
• Total change in employment since 2021: +5,600 • Percentage change in employment since 2020: +2.4% • Total change in employment since 2020: +6,000 • Current unemployment rate: 2.2% For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
• Percentage change in employment since 2021: +4.5% • Total change in employment since 2021: +6,494,000 • Percentage change in employment since 2020: -0.1% • Total change in employment since 2020: -81,000 • Current unemployment rate: 3.6% w
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Huntsville BUSINESS JOURNAL
ADVERTORIAL
Joe Davis Moves Closer to Completion Since 1997 Chapman Sisson Architects has played a part in shaping the look and feel of Huntsville and being a part of the revitalization of a local landmark like Joe Davis Stadium is no different. “The Joe Davis project is especially rewarding and a bucket list project for me. In 1985 my college thesis project was on a new stadium for Huntsville. 37 years later I have the honor of being a part of ‘The Joe’ project, which was built the same year I did my thesis and has brought my career full circle,” said Mike Chapman, Co-Founder and Principal of Chapman Sission Architects. For 30 years “The Joe” was a hub for entertainment in Huntsville. Baseball, Football, Monster Trucks and Concerts all happened there. Big name athletes and entertainers such as Michael Jordan, Mark McGuire, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and The Beach Boys all visited Huntsville and played at “The Joe”. In the 30 plus years since Joe Davis Stadium opened its doors Huntsville has evolved and now it is time for “The Joe” to evolve so it can be a part of Huntsville’s future as well as its storied past. Rob Mercer, Chapman Sisson Architect and Project Manager, is honored to be a part of this exciting project. “When I come on the job site, occasionally I will find an old seat back or a page out of a past baseball program. It makes me think back to a time when this building played a significant role in the growth of this city, and the impact it had on the community (me included) for over 30 years,” said Mercer. “It is really an honor being able to now play a role in this project and making it a place for future generations to enjoy. But it’s not just me. The general contractor, the local suppliers, and City
leaders have all sat in these seats in years past and are now working together to bring Joe Davis Stadium back to life.” As the Stadium prepares for its next act as a multi-use facility, which will host soccer, football, lacrosse and more, a search is underway to possibly bring a professional minor league soccer team to Huntsville. According to a recent Gallup poll Soccer is the 4th largest sport in the U.S. behind mainstreams like football, basketball, and baseball. The recent announcement of a deal between Apple TV and Major League Soccer (MLS) to stream all MLS games starting in 2023 further highlights the sports growing popularity in the U.S., so having a professional presence in Huntsville makes sense. Plans for the stadium extend be-
yond soccer and will provide another venue for area High School Football teams to play home games. Currently, The Joe Davis project is through the demolition phase and construction has started with steel beams being added to the top of the original seating along what was the 1st and 3rd base lines for what will be the new terrace seating. This L-shaped section of seating will become the south and west seating for a synthetic turf playing surface with infill for cooling and player safety. The design and material for the playing surface complies with FIFA’s (Soccer’s World Governing Body) Performance Requirements. Meeting these requirements is an important step to attracting a professional soccer team and hosting tournaments as well as championship games both on the high school and collegiate level. The design for Joe Davis also includes over 5,000 sq ft of locker room area for both home and visiting teams. Along with 1,200 sq ft dedicated for referees and game officials. Tunnel ac-
By guest writer Scott Harbour / Chapman Sisson Business Director
cess for home and away teams will provide professional access to the field. The fan experience includes over 4,600 square feet of concession space including a beer garden and gourmet kitchen facility. There will be seating for over 6,000 people with 7 field level private boxes, terraced turf seating in the north end and over 8,000 sq feet of open space on the upper terrace allowing for table seating. The experience will be enhanced with a 1,600 sq foot zero edge video scoreboard, engineered sound system and a LED field lighting system with full color animation capability. The design also includes the infrastructure needed for broadcast. “The Joe” will contain multiple TV camera platforms with power and video connectivity. Those cameras platforms are supported by dedicated resources for television broadcast teams and trucks. This backbone infrastructure is capped off with a 3,000 sq foot press box space that includes a VIP Room and broadcast capabilities for tv and radio. And, it’s not just Joe Davis that is getting attention. The facilities at John Hunt Park and Merrimack have been improved as well. These sports facilities are near Joe Davis Stadium, creating a central sports zone. “Over the past few years, the city has really put a lot of resources into making John Hunt Park a comprehensive venue for several different sports and in doing so, creating a real asset for our community,” said Rob Mercer. “Revitalizing Joe Davis Stadium makes Huntsville even more attractive to those considering relocating to this area. It is really rewarding to be a part of something that will create memories for so many people.” w
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RECOGNITIONS North Alabama’s Bank Independent Promotes Williams, Kline, Mangum and Sledge
Colony Bank Enters Huntsville Market with Addition of Two Corporate Banking Professionals
Bank Independent, headquartered in Sheffield, Ala, is proud to announce the internal promotions of team members Kelly Williams, Ryan Kline, Kyle Mangum and Deanna Sledge. “We’re proud to promote these team members who exhibit the qualities of a servant leader and help us fulfill our mission to make a positive difference and achieve our vision to be the bank of choice.,” says Rick Wardlaw, CEO of Bank Independent. Kelley Williams has been named Learning & Development Officer. Kelley joined the bank in 2019 as a member of the Marketing Department within Interstate Billing Service. In 2020, she was promoted to Manager of the Learning & Development team. Kelley holds a bachelor’s degree in education from University of North Alabama along with a master’s degree in supervision and education administration from Marymount. Ryan Kline has been named Network Operations Officer with the Information Technology Department. He joined the bank in 2021 as a Senior Network Manager. Ryan holds certification as a Certified Ethical Hacker, PentTest+, Security+ and in ITIL Foundations. Kyle Mangum has been promoted to VP-Sales Officer at the Pine Street office in Florence, Ala. Kyle joined Bank Independent team in 2018. He most recently served as Sales Officer and in the Bank Independent Credit Administration department on the SBA Paycheck Protection Program blitz team. Kyle is a graduate of UNA with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, a graduate of Leadership Shoals and anticipates completing Alabama Banking School in August of 2022. Deanna Sledge has been promoted to VP-Sales officer at Florence Square in Florence, Ala. Deanna joined the bank in 2008 as part of the Loan Operations team. She moved into the sales office as a Personal Banker in 2009 and promoted to Sales Specialist/Senior Relationship banker in 2018 followed by Sales Officer in 2019. Deanna is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a concentration in banking and financial services. She is a graduate of Leadership Shoals and the Alabama Banking School.
Colony Bank today announced that it has entered the Huntsville market with the addition of Barry Bryan as North Alabama Market Executive and Elizabeth Yanhko as Corporate Banking Administrative Assistant. Commenting on the announcement, Mike Washburn, President of Corporate Banking, said, “We are excited to continue our growth strategy with the opening of our Huntsville office with two well-respected banking professionals of Barry’s and Elizabeth’s caliber. As the North Alabama Market Executive, Barry will be charged with leading our corporate group’s expansion in this vibrant community. He brings a wealth of banking experience and market knowledge that will be invaluable as we put down roots and build long-term relationships.” Barry has been in the banking industry for over 25 years, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Bank Independent. He earned his Bachelor of Business degree in Commerce and Business Administration from the University of Alabama, his Master of Business Administration from Troy University, and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. \ Elizabeth most recently held the position of Commercial Lending Assistant with Bank Independent. She has also served as Commercial Real Estate and Corporate Law Legal Assistant at Harrison & Gammons, PC. She has resided in the Huntsville community for over thirty years and is an active member of the community through her involvement with Village of Promise. Elizabeth attends Willowbrook Baptist Church and enjoys hiking, traveling, and CrossFit. “This expansion represents a major step in our effort to grow our Alabama footprint. As part of our strategic philosophy, we prefer to compete against larger regional and national banks. We believe our business model, resources, and unique community banking approach are key differentiating factors that set us apart and give us an opportunity to deliver greater value to businesses and commercial real estate investors in and around the Huntsville market,” said Heath Fountain, President and Chief Executive Officer.
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