HBJ June 2024 Issue

GOVERNMENT

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey Visits Huntsville, Discusses Unionization Question and Education Reform

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey addressed a crowd of over 1,000 at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Alabama Update on May 13. The sold-out event was held at the Von Braun Center.

By Sarah Zupko - Page 7

EDUCATION

Alabama A&M University Offers $52 Million to Purchase Birmingham-Southern College, Plans for Expansion

Alabama A&M University (AAMU) has made a landmark $52 million offer to purchase Birmingham-Southern College (BSC), with the intention of retaining the college’s faculty and staff and operating it as a standalone campus under AAMU’s umbrella.

By Gus Wintzell - Page 20

ADDITIONAL STORIES

• Alabama Native Natalie Chanin’s Journey from World Traveler to Sustainable Fashion Trailblazer

By Sarah Zupko • Page 5

• HAAR April Monthly Report Indicated Strong Demand By Marie Johnson • Page 17

• Hospital and Healthcare Expansion Major Focus at Inaugural Heartbeat of Healthcare Summit

By Heather Alfonso • Page 19

Photo courtesy of City of Huntsville

Sit Down With Success: A Conversation With Teresa Holland

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.

Teresa Holland’s journey as a business owner began in 1999 when she founded DanTera Salon & Spa. As a hairstylist, Teresa was encouraged by one of her mentors to embrace the salonspa model and incorporate spa services to differentiate her business.

This approach has been very successful for Holland and the growth of her business. She expanded DanTera Salon & Spa into Madison in 2007 and introduced a new brand, Terrabacio Salon Spa, in Huntsville in 2011 and Madison in 2017. Dantera, which means “the earth,” and Terrabacio, which means “earth’s kiss,” align with the beauty and wellness brand Aveda, which emphasizes

vegan, plant-derived products and environmental consciousness.

Holland recently shared with the Huntsville Business Journal some of the challenges and joys of growing her businesses.

What do you enjoy most about being a business owner?

What I enjoy most about being a business owner is creating a culture of growth where our team and clients can come and relax, re-invigorate and reignite their body, mind and soul and feel beautiful. I feel so blessed. I have enjoyed my vision becoming a success.

How do you balance your personal and professional life?

This can be challenging but I have learned to wake up with intention and prioritize my day. I am a huge family person, so I encourage the same balance for the teams. We also love to celebrate the wins both

large and small, this may be in our personal or business lives to encourage balance.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering starting their own business?

I would say know your “why.” This will be different for everyone but in challenging times this will be what you reflect back on and push through with. Spending the money for an attorney and an accountant to properly structure your business is a must for me.

Did you encounter any significant obstacles starting out and how did you overcome those?

It took a minute to learn to just breathe, take a moment and I utilized my resources, which were my attorney and accountant, my family and my team’s support. I feel fortunate that I built both personal friendships and business relationships through

By: Heather

these obstacles.

What would you say is the secret to your success?

I would say the secret to my success is consistency. I started my business knowing my “why.” Setting goals, short and long term, building relationships, and enjoying the confidence and successes you gain by accomplishing these goals. w

Price / Photo courtesy of Teresa Holland

President /Publisher Todd Stephenson

Editor

Writers

Gus Wintzell

Heather Alfonso

Laura Boehringer

Marie Johnson

Noah Logan

Heather Price

Sarah Zupko

Contributing Writers Matt Curtis

Alexander Duck, II Carl Holden

Graphic Design ……………………………………………… Justina Simon

Amy Pearson

Website Jim Gharib

Photographers Steve Babin

Justina Simon

Director of Sales Carolyn Stephenson

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 ©2024. 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.

Alabama Native Natalie Chanin’s Journey from World Traveler to Sustainable Fashion Trailblazer

Renowned fashion designer Natalie Chanin says that as a child growing up in Florence, Alabama, she always planned to make it out of town and see the world.

Chanin’s girlhood dreams came true when she finished school and took to the road. She spent many years living between New York City and Europe, and picked up four additional languages along the way.

No matter how far she roamed, the American South remained a part of Chanin on a deep level.

“I took so much of the culture [of the South] with me,” Chanin told the Business Journal. “I’ve always loved to cook so I would make big dinners and lunches, in the tradition of our community.”

While Chanin thrived in her world travels, there was also just a twinge of sadness at being away from home. She spent many summers back home in Lauderdale County, enjoying the company of her grandparents, who lived close to the land.

2000

Fast forward to the winter of 2000 and Chanin found herself back in New York City, wrestling with questions both personal and professional. Invited to a fashion industry party one night and with nothing suitable to wear, Chanin took scissors to an old T-shirt and then stitched it together again with a needle and thread. The seams of the garment faced outward and seemed to mirror her inner state -- which felt “inside out.”

Chanin was blown away by the response to her creation. Guests at the party approached her to get a closer look at the top.

Propelled by the positive reception, Chanin recreated the look several times before deciding that she wanted to make 200 T-shirts in a similar style. Knowing that this job was more than a one woman gig, Chanin pitched the idea around the city -- but found no takers.

Standing on the corner of 8th and 38th, Chanin experienced a moment of clarity when it dawned on her that the stitch she had used on the T-shirts was a quilting stitch, the kind beloved by the folks from her hometown.

Chanin pointed her car south with the notion that she would enlist quilters from Florence to help her complete her project, named Project Alabama, and then be outward bound once again.

But as the lyrics go, “Life is what happens when you are busy making plans.” Chanin has been in Florence since that fateful December.

A culture of sustainability Florence, the county seat of Lauderdale County, has a rich history in cotton and textile production. During Chanin’s formative years, Lauderdale County was known as the “T-shirt capital of the world.”

Lauderdale County. This time, with an emphasis on sustainability and respect for the land, the artisans, and the consumers.

In establishing her women’s apparel and lifestyle brand, Alabama Chanin, in her hometown of Florence, Chanin brought textile manufacturing back to

Since 2005, Alabama Chanin’s pieces have been created in the US from “seed to shelf.” The cotton that is used by the company is organically grown in Texas, converted to fabric in North Carolina, and then transported to North Alabama to be cut and sewn. Patterns are hand-stenciled or hand-painted, and each garment is made to order.

While conversations around sustainability have become more mainstream in recent years, some consumers feel as though they are priced out of accessing this movement. Chanin explained that there are multiple ways to incorporate sustainable pieces into your wardrobe.

“You could pause for a season, save some money, and then make more robust purchases which are higher quality. Studies have proven that it is much less expensive to buy investment clothing. Over the long haul, you spend a lot less money

By: Sarah Zupko

and, of course, you wear better,” said Chanin.

Chanin is also a proponent of consumers turning towards thrifting and making their own clothing on their way to a more sustainable closet.

Alabama Chanin gave rise to The School of Making as a way to democratize education on the creative skills that are at the heart of the company. The School of Making began with the production of five books on various stitches and design techniques in order to create a kind of “open source” model of sharing this knowledge. Select Alabama Chanin patterns are available so that shoppers can reproduce these looks at home.

Creating a legacy that will last Alabama Chanin has been woven into the community in Florence for over 23 years now, and Natalie Chanin wants to ensure that the company outlasts her tenure at the helm.

On January 1, 2024, Chanin combined Alabama Chanin, The School of Making, and Project Threadways under the cover of the nonprofit Project Threadways. Chanin wants to be sure that the vision that she and her team have been working on for these years will endure.

Part of this future vision includes the renovation of a 9,100 square foot space in the heart of historic downtown Florence. The renovation is expected to be complete in about a year’s time. Chanin is excited about what the increased visibility will mean for the community.

“Our united vision is really for this work of sustainable design and craft preservation to carry on into the future as an agent of change,” said Chanin. “We obviously have a very deep history of cotton and textile manufacturing in the state of Alabama. We believe it’s important to look at the past, work in the present, and plan a better future.”

The Project Runways Symposium, which was held in April, was recorded. Recordings of that event are available for purchase by contacting think@projectthreadways.org.

Explore Alabama Chanin and The School of Making’s upcoming events at www.alabamachanin.com/events.

/

Photos courtsty of Natalie Chanin

The Cost of Living Crunch

All of the standard metrics, including job numbers, unemployment, GDP, the stock market, and cooling inflation, indicate that our economy is moving in the right direction and at a much faster clip than any experts had previously predicted. In fact, a few short years ago, economists were almost unanimously predicting a severe economic crash as both impending and unavoidable.

Thankfully, they were wrong. However, most Americans are still experiencing a tightness in their wallets and bank accounts that has not been common since the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009. A steep rise in the cost of living, which has far outpaced wage growth, is to blame, but what exactly is the cost of living? Many have heard the term thrown around in the media or conversation, but it is a topic that deserves deeper exploration.

What Determines Cost of Living

Cost of living (COL) is the amount of money necessary to cover basic expenses such as housing, taxes, food, transportation, and healthcare within a particular area and time frame. COL can then be used to summarize how expensive it might be to live in a specific state or city.

Two of the biggest contributors to the present spike in COL are rent and food costs. Rent, across the nation, has increased by over 6% in the past 18 months. In 2023, in some cities, rent increased by over 30% in a single year!

Food costs saw a massive jump of about 11% from 2021 to 2022 and continue to rise even now. Inflation, supply chain disruptions, and increased business costs have all contributed to this spike. At present, the average annual

By: Alexander Duck II

cost for food ranges from around $3600 to $6000.

The Counterweight of Wages Wages also play a huge role in understanding the squeeze many Americans currently feel when it comes to paying bills. Wages and salaries saw a 4.3% increase from March 2023 to March 2024. However, this increase in income has to be compared against the rising cost of living.

One way this is conceptualized is by subtracting the annual COL from the average annual salary of a given area. What is left over would be the typical disposable income of the average resident living there. Of course, every person’s situation is unique and this approach represents only an approximation of a hypothetical experience.

For reference, at the time of writing, the average income in Alabama is $50,620 annually. The Bureau of Economic Analysis currently lists the average cost of living in Alabama to be around $39,657 per year per in-

dividual. This would mean the “average” Alabamian has about $10,963 in disposable income each year to spend on entertainment, gifts, savings, and other discretionary purchases. For perspective, that is equivalent to $210.82 per week.

Comparing Apples to Apples

While it may be factually true that Hawaii has the highest cost of living and Mississippi has the lowest, the latter also has the lowest average income of all states, at just $45,180 annually. This means that residents in both states are likely to have very little disposable income after covering their essentials.

No two states and no two cities are exactly alike. The cost of living in Huntsville, Alabama is 5.25% less than the cost of living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for example.

If you are planning to relocate, Bankrate offers a very useful tool online that allows you to calculate the annual income you will need to earn in your new hometown in

order to enjoy a similar lifestyle to your current salary and location.

Conclusion

While the economy is rebounding in a fantastic way, many Americans are still feeling an economic strain due to sharp increases in living costs. Wage growth has been solid, but has not been able to keep up with inflation, particularly when considering the massive jump in food and rent costs.

Understanding how COL varies from place to place can be helpful when considering relocating for a new job. A modest pay cut when moving to a more affordable area may ultimately be worthwhile, but a significant pay increase may be necessary if relocating to a more expensive state or city.

Americans have every reason to feel optimistic about the current economy and where it’s heading, but understanding what is driving inflation helps to explain the crunch many of us are feeling in our pocketbooks. w

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey Visits Huntsville, Discusses Unionization Question and Education Reform

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey addressed a crowd of over 1,000 at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Alabama Update on May 13. The sold-out event was held at the Von Braun Center.

Members of the Huntsville/ Madison business community gathered alongside regional elected officials to hear Gov. Ivey deliver updates on the legislative session, which concluded last week.

In her remarks, Gov. Ivey discussed the state’s automotive manufacturing industry, the CHOOSE (Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education) Act, and workforce development.

Gov. Ivey opened by announcing that she has signed Senate Bill 231, sponsored by Senator Arthur Orr and Representative Scott Stadthagen, into law. The stated purpose of this bill is to create secret ballot elections for employees who vote on the issue of unionization. The bill is specifically meant to apply to businesses that receive incentives.

“When we think about what drives our success as a state, an industry that comes to mind is one of our crown jewel industries, automotive manufacturing,” said Gov. Ivey. “Let me make something real clear, Alabama is not Michigan. Huntsville and Tuscaloosa, they’re not Detroit. While other automakers have closed plants and had layoffs, the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) here in Alabama have continued to grow and thrive.”

Gov. Ivey was alluding to efforts by the UAW (United Auto Workers) to unionize employees at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Alabama. The plant’s 5,200 workers will vote this week, May 13-17, on whether or not they will unionize.

Gov. Ivey expressed her desire that every worker in the Vance plant vote in this week’s election.

“It’s crucial that every voice is heard,” she said. “We want to ensure that Alabama values, not Detroit values, continue to define the future of our great state. My message is clear: I am standing up for Alabamians and protecting our jobs. We will not let this threat from Detroit deter our progress, deter our hope, and deter our folks’ prosperity.”

Governor Ivey moved on to discuss education, which she named the single most significant issue facing the state of Alabama.

Gov. Ivey praised the state legislators for increasing the base pay of the state’s public school teachers.

“Since I have been governor, we have seen a 24% base pay increase for teachers,” she said.

The governor’s greatest legislative success of the session was the passage of The CHOOSE Act, which will provide refundable income tax credits for families whose children attend private schools, or who are homeschooled.

On May 14, the governor will travel to Demopolis, AL to “make official” the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences (ASHS). The mission of ASHS will be to pair a growing demand for healthcare workers with a need for workplace

By:

development and education in rural west Alabama.

“While our [state] unemployment rate remains historically low, our labor force participation rate stands only at 57.4%, one of the lowest in the nation. And that’s not low in a good way,” said Governor Ivey. Nearly half of Alabama’s workingage population is either unemployed or not looking for work.

The governor explained that she, alongside a bipartisan group of legislators, passed the “Working for Alabama” bill package to address challenges that keep workers out of the workforce. Affordable childcare is one of the issues addressed by the bill package.

The governor concluded her remarks by noting several more of the state’s recent successes — an increase in small business creation, broadened high-speed internet accessibility, and the completion of I-565.

“I’m proud to report that at the end of this month, we are laying the last five mile section of I-565. This runs from County Line Road to the Wall Triana Interchange. When it’s all said and done, all of I-565 will be at least six lanes across,” said Gov. Ivey to applause.

Gov. Ivey did not address gaming laws in her public remarks, but was questioned by the media on the topic after the event. Ivey said she felt disappointed that Alabamians were not given the opportunity to vote on gaming.

“My interest in that bill was to give the people the chance to vote in Alabama and I’m sorry that they didn’t get that chance,” said Gov. Ivey, in response to questions on House Bills 151 and 152.

The bills stalled in the state’s Senate and were not passed along to the governor. The issue of gaming may be revisited in next year’s legislative session. w

Sarah Zupko / Photos by Sarah Zupko

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey

Fifteen Local Companies Chosen as Huntsville’s 2024 Best Places to Work

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2024 Best Places to Work® awards luncheon in the VBC Saturn Ballroom on May 14.

The awards were based on employee survey data collected by a third-party certification system.

Companies are ranked based on team effectiveness, retention probability, job satisfaction and employee benefits. Companies also use the data to improve their work culture.

The survey results remain confidential until the event.

Employee culture was an important theme for many of the award winning businesses.

“As business owners and leaders there are a lot of decisions we can make every day that could be counter to a great culture, but we’ve all chosen to make decisions for a great culture,” said the representative from KODA Technologies Inc.

A total of ninety-eight businesses were nominated based on their employees’ survey responses.

Three winners were chosen from each of five categories that are based on company size, from micro businesses with 10-24 employees to extra-large businesses with over 251 employees.

The following is a list of the gold, silver, and bronze winners in each of those five categories.

Micro Category: 10-24 employees

• Gold winner Cahaba Federal Solutions is a small business dedicated

to providing exceptional systems engineering, technology and product development, integration, and test support to the Department of Defense.

• Silver winner New Hope Children’s Clinic is a non-profit, schoolbased pediatrician’s office created to increase access to and provide comprehensive medical care for children in Madison County, Alabama, and surrounding communities.

• Bronze winner Ampersand Solutions Group, Inc., provides differentiated engineering and technical services to public sector and commercial clients by truly understanding partners’ and customers’ requirements with a focus on outcomes, time-to-value, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Small Category: 25-50 employees

• Gold winner Focus Physiotherapy Huntsville uses the best physical therapy practices to help people get healthy without pills or surgery.

• Silver winner Pinnacle Financial Partners, a Tennessee Bank provides distinctive financial services and effective advice to clients, enriches associates, makes a positive impact on the community, and creates long-term value for shareholders.

• Bronze winner Kids to Love Foundation impacts the lives of thousands of foster children. Their ultimate goal is to find “forever families” for children who are waiting to be adopted.

Medium Category: 51-100 employees

• Gold winner Mission Driven Research, Inc., is a growing company providing technical services to the U.S. federal government. Their three core missions are service to customers, employees, and the community.

• Silver winner QTEC Aerospace provides aerospace and defense solutions supporting government and industry missions. Their services span engineering, testing, research, and development across areas such as systems engineering, logistics, and data analytics.

• Bronze winner KODA Technologies Inc., works with customers that face complex challenges on national priority projects in the areas of system modernization, rapid prototyping and testing, and cross-cutting technology development. They provide hands-on

By: Heather Alfonso

analytical products and high-end engineering services.

Large Category: 101-250 employees

• Gold winner NMR Consulting is a critical infrastructure and system lifecycle solutions company with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and technical requirements of the government market.

• Silver winner Intrepid, LLC is a small business provider of services and technologies in the federal marketplace. They support the Department of Defense, including the U.S. Army, the Air Force, and the Missile Defense Agency.

• Bronze winner Thompson Gray, Inc., has extensive experience with Department of Defense budget and financial management and business processes. They provide programmatic, financial, and information technology support with expertise in General Fund Enterprise Business System implementation and training.

X-Large Category: 251+ employees

• Gold winner IronMountain Solutions is a technology solutions company with extensive expertise in systems engineering, software and hardware engineering, airworthiness, engine diagnostics, test, project management, programmatic support, cybersecurity, information assurance, acquisitions, logistics, and foreign military sales.

• Silver winner Booz Allen Hamilton is the largest provider of AI to the federal government. They combine leading AI, cybersecurity, and engineering with emerging tech to deliver results.

• Bronze winner Integration Innovation Inc., (i3), is a team member owned company that provides software engineering services to customers in the U.S. They specialize in system design, system development, system integration, system testing, fielding, maintenance, and computer operations. The complete list of this year’s Best Places to Work® contenders can be found on the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber website. Several of the nominated companies are currently hiring. w

/ Photos courtesy of Neville Simpson, Headshot HSV

U.S. Army Awards Lockheed Martin $756 Million Contract for Hypersonic Weapon System Enhancement

The U.S. Army has awarded Lockheed Martin a $756 million contract to enhance the nation’s ground-based hypersonic weapon system, the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW).

This contract will provide the Army with additional LRHW battery equipment, systems and software engineering support, and comprehensive logistics solutions.

The LRHW represents a new class of ultrafast and maneuverable long-range hypersonic missiles capable of launching from ground mobile platforms.

The system is designed to deploy the common hypersonic All Up Round (AUR), managed by the U.S. Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program.

A common hypersonic All Up Round (AUR) is an integrated missile system designed for hypersonic speeds, meaning it travels at speeds greater than Mach 5. The term “All Up Round” refers to a missile system that is fully assembled and ready for deployment, encompassing all necessary components, including the missile body, warhead, propulsion system, and guidance systems.

For the U.S. military, the common hypersonic AUR is part of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program managed by the U.S. Navy. It is intended to be used across different branches of the military, providing a standardized hypersonic missile that can be launched from various platforms, including ground-based systems, ships, and submarines.

The AUR concept aims to streamline the development and deployment process by using a common missile design for multiple services, thereby enhancing interoperability and reducing costs. In the context of the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) sys-

By: Gus Wintzell /

tem mentioned in the contract with Lockheed Martin, the AUR would be the missile that these systems launch, providing the Army with a powerful and versatile hypersonic strike capability.

Key components of the LRHW include the Army canister, a battery operations center, and transporter erector launchers.

The missile is designed to be highly maneuverable, making it difficult to detect and intercept. The hypersonic glide vehicle is launched to high altitudes, where it then glides at hypersonic speeds towards its target. The LRHW is launched from ground mobile platforms, which makes it highly versatile and deployable from various locations. It includes a battery operations center, transporter erector launchers (TELs), and supporting command

and control systems.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to continue our strong partnership with the U.S. government for hypersonic strike capability,” said Steve Layne, vice president of Hypersonic Strike Weapon Systems at Lockheed Martin. “With this contract, we will support the U.S. Army in sustaining the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon System currently in use, produce additional batteries for future deployments, and support ongoing flight testing.”

Lockheed Martin initially delivered equipment for the first LRHW battery, known as Dark Eagle, to U.S. soldiers in 2021.

This news comes hot off the heels of Lockheed Martin’s recent $17 billion Missile Defense Agency (MDA) contract to lead the

development and deployment of the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI).

As the prime contractor for the NGI project, Lockheed Martin will deliver the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. The NGI, equipped with multiple-kill vehicle technology, aims to safeguard the homeland against long-range ballistic missile threats posed by rogue nations.

A new $16.5 million Missile System Integration Lab in Huntsville (MSIL) is where Lockheed Martin plans to conduct development, testing, and system integration for the nation’s next long range ballistic missile defense interceptor – the Next Generation Interceptor.

Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company that drives innovation and scientific discovery. Its mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision aim to accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies, ensuring their customers stay ahead of emerging threats. For more information, visit lockheedmartin.com. w

Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin DEFENSE

Lockheed Martin Leads Collaboration in NASA’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle

Returning to the moon isn’t enough for ARTEMIS Program, it’s about establishing permanent residence

In humanity’s quest to explore beyond the boundaries of space, every step, every vehicle, and every partnership counts. NASA’s Artemis program stands to return humans to the Moon’s surface, not just for brief visits but for extended stays and sustainable exploration.

In recent press statements, NASA announced the selection of three teams tasked with developing new Lunar Terrain Vehicles (LTV) under the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) contract. NASA’s investment in the LTV will total up to $4.6 billion.

One team, the Lunar Dawn consortium, is led by Lunar Outpost and features a unique lineup of partners led by Lockheed Martin. This contract, a cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis campaign, underscores Huntsville’s ongoing role in shaping the future of space exploration.

What makes this partnership so special and unique in a new era of lunar exploration is the blending of space expertise with automotive innovation to create a vehicle tailored for the harsh lunar environment. Even though some critics may think of lunar exploration as a “Been there, Done that’’ field of science, only 5% of the moon’s surface has been explored by humans.

The Lunar Dawn consortium is being designed to change that.

For the Artemis 3 and 4 missions, astronauts will be limited to terrain accessible only on foot. That also means they will be limited in the equipment they can carry, and the samples they can gather, to what they can hold in their hands. For the later Artemis missions scheduled for the early 2030s, they will have their choice of vehicles for traversing the lunar terrain which could prove game changing in terms of data and specimen collection.

The heart of the Lunar Dawn ini-

By: Noah Logan /

Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin

TECHNOLOGY

tiative is to empower astronauts with unparalleled mobility, enabling them to traverse the lunar landscape with ease and safety. This next-generation Lunar Terrain Vehicle, which shares the project name Lunar Dawn, aims to be a cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis campaign, offering astronauts unprecedented freedom to explore harsh terrains and conduct high-priority scientific investigations.

“Surface mobility is a critical capability for humanity’s future in space,” remarked Lunar Outpost CEO Justin Cyrus. Crafted with precision and innovation, the Lunar Dawn LTV embodies the pinnacle of lunar rover design.

Uncovering the moon’s unchartered territory is vital for making the Artemis program successful in the long term. This will ultimately help NASA understand the potential resources of the Moon’s South Pole, where they hope to establish the Artemis Base Camp concept by the end of the decade.

By achieving the ultimate goal of utilizing the resources on the Moon to sustain a human presence, our generation isn’t simply returning to the moon, it’s establishing a permanent residence.

Leveraging Lockheed Martin’s extensive experience in human and advanced space systems, the vehicle boasts a flight deck-forward layout, providing astronauts with expansive views essential for navigating the lunar terrain.

“These unique technologies will enable the future of critical infrastructure required for a sustainable presence in space where humans can live, work far from Earth,” said Kirk Shireman, vice president of Lunar Exploration Campaigns at Lockheed Martin. “Lockheed Martin is thrilled to be combining expertise with a diverse set of companies to embark on this next generation rover that will expand exploration and our understanding of the lunar surface.”

According to Lockheed Martin’s press release, Lunar Dawn offers a suite of advanced capabilities, including:

• Advanced Autonomous Navi-

gation: Equipped with state-of-the-art autonomy features, Lunar Dawn can operate with or without astronauts onboard, ensuring seamless mobility and adaptability in dynamic lunar conditions.

• Commercial Versatility: With its reconfigurable cargo bed and robotic arm, Lunar Dawn will accommodate diverse payloads and support a large variety of commercial ventures, from resource extraction to infrastructure development.

• Extreme Environment Resilience: Engineered to withstand the moon’s harsh environment, Lunar Dawn can operate throughout the two-weeklong lunar nights and endure temperatures as low as -280 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fueling the promise of Lunar Dawn is the combined experience and expertise provided by each of its partners. Working alongside Lockheed Martin are companies that include General Motors, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and MDA Space.

While Lockheed Martin lends its expertise in spacecraft design and robotics, General Motors brings forth cutting-edge battery technologies essential for powering the rover’s operations. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company’s contributions ensure Lunar Dawn’s stability and traction on the lunar surface, while MDA Space provides critical interfaces and robotics solutions vital for mission success.

Lunar Dawn, along with the other two teams in consideration, will spend the next year refining their concepts before presenting to NASA. The agency is adamant to have the LTV on the Moon before the Artemis 5 team gets there in 2030.

The new LTV serves as a reminder that every rocket booster, tire track, scientific sample, and every technological breakthrough brings our generation one step closer to realizing our cosmic aspirations and achieving our own giant leap for mankind. w

A ribbon-cutting and grand opening for the new Huntsville City Hall was held on the morning of May 21.

Huntsville residents were invited to celebrate this momentous occasion alongside Mayor Tommy Battle and other city leaders.

The grand opening of the new municipal building marked the culmination of a two-year construction project that formally began with a groundbreaking ceremony on April 11, 2022.

“Today, we are turning a page in municipal government,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “We are proud to present the citizens of Huntsville a municipal building that will last us for the next 100 years. This is a building that is worthy of this community and our reputation as a modern, forward-thinking smart city.”

Huntsville City Council President David Little spoke with the Huntsville Business Journal about the ways in which the new municipal building will improve functionality and facilitate closer working relationships.

“Our new City Hall is a beautiful addition to downtown Huntsville,

City of Huntsville Celebrates of New Downtown

By: Sarah Zupko / Photos

but various departments, that were in separate buildings, are now under one roof, and in many cases on the same floors. Citizens will have easier access to departments, especially on the 1st floor,” said Little.

Little went on to explain that seating capacity in the Council Chambers

of the new building will be twice what it was in the former City Hall.

“Our new Council Chambers is a fresh, well-lit space with 184 seats and easy-to-see monitors for viewing presentations,” continued Little.

Architects at Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) designed the new City Hall and Turner Construction Company served as the general contractor.

Mayor Tommy Battle, Arts Huntsville Executive Director Allison Dillon-Juken, Turner Construction Vice President Brendan McCormick, and Goodwyn Mills Cawood CEO Jeffrey Brewer spoke to the gathered crowd -- which covered the southwest corner of the Courthouse Square and continued down Fountain Circle.

Mayor Tommy Battle, flanked by City leaders, did the hon-

ors of cutting the ribbon on the new City Hall.

Guests were then welcomed to explore the new building. Goodwyn Mills Cawood and Turner Construction hosted a reception, with refreshments, in the conference room on the 6th floor.

Live music was provided by a harpist and a stringed quartet.

Visitors had the opportunity to view nine new public art installations, a result of a collaboration between Arts Huntsville and the City of Huntsville, and to meet the artists who created them. The pieces were created by local, regional, and national artists. Each piece shares its creators’ interpretation of Huntsville’s story; a number of the installations contain materials that were sourced directly from the site of the building.

John “Jahni” Moore, Huntsville native and beloved public artist, stood next to the mixed media tryptic that he created for the new municipal building. Huntsville’s past, present, and future are explored in the painting, into which Moore incorporated red dirt clay that was collected from the building site.

Celebrates Historic Opening Downtown City Hall

Photos by Sarah Zupko

Moore explained the process of repeatedly sifting, filtering, and grinding the red clay until it resembled a powder, at which point it was fine enough to incorporate into his paint.

The middle panel of the tryptic contains a three-dimensional centerpiece which includes a jar of red clay, a compass, a key, and a nail. Each component of the focal point was sourced locally from antique materials.

“One of my professors told me that my success was inevitable because the Alabama red clay is rich with the blood of our ancestors. And Joyce Carol Oates makes the statement that our blood is memory without language,” said Moore to the Business Journal. “It’s much deeper than we

think it is.”

Ben Butler, a public artist and sculptor based in Memphis, spoke with guests about his striking installation on the first floor. Butler’s work was selected after he responded to a national open call for art for the new City Hall.

“When we did a site visit, I really responded to the topography of the area,” Butler explained to the Business Journal. “There were a number of trees that had to be taken down when they built this building. They were poplar trees, which I work with a lot. So I knew I wanted to work with that poplar. And the piece grew out of that.”

Butler used those poplar trees to

create a topographical map of Monte Sano Mountain. The impressive piece is 5 feet tall, 20 feet wide, and roughly 8 inches deep.

Butler’s piece can be viewed by entering the building on its western, street level entrance, located at the curve of Fountain Circle.

Arts Huntsville will continue celebrating City Hall’s public art with “Second Saturday” summer art tours on June 8, July 13, and August 10.

These docent-led tours will feature local artists and include lunch for those

in attendance.

The new Huntsville City Hall is located at 305 Fountain Circle, across from the former City Hall. The former City Hall will be razed, and the land that it sat on will be added to Big Spring Park.

The first City Council meeting to take place in the new Council Chambers is scheduled for this Thursday, May 23, at 5:30 p.m.

For more information on the new City Hall, from groundbreaking to completion, click here. w

The Implications of AI in an Election Year - Both Local and National

AI is an exciting but disruptive technology. It’s newest disruption might be the information published during our upcoming elections.

If you didn’t know, there is a Municipal Election this year. That includes a few districts and the office of Mayor. Expect to see a bunch of signs popping up in your neighborhoods. Add on top of that the buzz of a contested and dramatic national election, we have a busy year ahead of us.

The topic of technology interrupting elections is not new. “Fake news” is something that we’ve been dealing with since the internet gained initial momentum and as social media rocketed to the mainstream. The issue with AI is the speed and believability at which it can create and disseminate believable content.

Not long ago, the internet was flooded with NSFW photos of a famous county/pop star that I bet you could “swiftly” guess. Many people thought they were real and just that small snafu caused a lot of news and havoc.

Our entire democracy is based on the human right to evaluate, judge, and vote on our elected officials. Many people vote along partisan lines, but elections are often won by undecided swing voters. However, fake news can also create another issue- voter suppression. If you can stop a voter, that’s basically the same as swinging them. Voter suppression isn’t just about physically preventing people from voting like we had 50 years ago. A quick read on the Wikipedia page will show a multitude of modern suppression tactics: disenfranchisement, day-of experience, subversion, and intimidation.

This is not a subject that I know is fun or happy, but let me remind a true and simple fact: your greatest responsibility as a citizen is to be a well-informed and participatory

voter. If you have citizenship, no amount of posts or pushes can stop any person in 2024 from a right we established in 1776.

However, it would be naive to say that attempts at suppression are entirely ineffective. What are the risks that AI poses to our democratic responsibilities? Let me share a couple of examples.

Eloquent Arguments

We cannot make the assumption that any side of a political argument is incapable of persuasion. The power of large language models like ChatGPT is that bad writers can become good, and good writers can become great. The ability to write and argue a statement or point of view is easier than ever before so intelligent argument alone cannot be a factor of truth.

Image Generation

No matter if it is a mayor or a president, there are hundreds of unregulated, unchecked image generators on the internet. Someone could post a photo of a road and add in potholes. “The city doesn’t care about our streets!” Or you could have our president in a dark alleyway speaking to an enemy of the state.

Audio Generation

Currently, it takes less than

4 minutes to replicate someone’s voice. If you have a voice-over on a video, you can’t assume that it is a quote or even real at all. OpenAI said they have a technology that can copy a voice with as little as 15 seconds. That is not available to the public, on purpose.

Video Generation

Even more nefarious is a future in which we will need to question if video is real. If you have not seen the highlight reel of OpenAI’s new video technology, you need to watch Sora on YouTube. It is not released to the public. From the discussion I’ve seen in the AI circles, it’s being assumed that they don’t want to be blamed for election issues.

This all begs the reiteration of the need to fact-check. If you only see it on one site or post, that’s not enough proof. Check the site of the politician. It is also good to check sites like Snopes. It’s important to your own personal online reputation that you don’t post false information. I personally don’t repost things anymore unless I have checked multiple sources first.

So how will we know fact from fiction?

This is definitely a fear that many people are beginning to harbor.

By: Carl Holden

Should I share anything anymore? Is my identity safe? How will I know what is true?

Luckily, there is definitely conversation on this subject, though not as much as one would hope. The problem is that the same people making the tech are also offering solutions. Is it a coincidence that Sam Altman, head of OpenAI, also owns a company called World Coin that uses blockchain technology to prove your humanness? Probably not.

Funny enough, I do think blockchain technology (you may have heard of one of them called Bitcoin) is the answer to this issue. In the future, we may need to release articles, video, audio and more on a blockchain ledger that only we can access and write to via a private network and password. This would then have a code associated with that piece of content that others could verify came from you.

The natural evolution of this technology would be that politicians would need to publish to this blockchain to show what they have or have not said or done. However, this kind of tech does not yet exist.

So whether you are voting for the next municipal officials of Huntsville or the next president of the United States, check the facts and make your informed decision. Democracy still works, but only if WE put in the work. w

“AI Talks” is a series from the Huntsville Business Journal on Artificial Intelligence and its applicability to the world of business. Each month, HBJ plans on bringing you interesting topics led by our contributing expert writer, Carl Holden. This series also introduced another new “writer” to our journal: Artificial Intelligence itself. Using Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT), we plan on bringing our readers an “article” written directly by AI. While AI cannot currently write a news article with fully original sources, this series hopefully will introduce our readers to the nuances of Artificial Intelligence in the modern age of business.

Carl Holden, Creative Director of Zellus Marketing

The Dual-Edged Sword of AI in Modern Elections

AI is undeniably one of the most groundbreaking technologies of our time. Its rapid advancement brings both excitement and disruption to numerous sectors, including the democratic process. As we approach the upcoming municipal elections, the impact of AI on information dissemination during elections is a topic of growing concern.

Municipal elections, including several district positions and the office of Mayor, will soon be upon us. These local races, combined with a highly charged national election, promise to make this a bustling year for voters. Campaign signs will dot neighborhoods, and the air will be thick with political discourse. However, underlying this democratic exercise is the looming threat posed by AI-driven misinformation.

The challenge of technology interfering with elections isn’t new. We’ve been grappling with “fake news” since the internet became a dominant force, and social media amplified its reach. The distinct issue with AI is its ability to generate content rapidly and convincingly, blurring the lines between reality and fabrication.

Recent incidents highlight the potential for AI to mislead. For instance, the internet was recently awash with fake NSFW photos of a popular celebrity. Despite their falsity, these images were widely believed, demonstrating how AI can manufacture chaos and confusion with minimal effort.

The core of our democratic system rests on informed citizens making reasoned choices. While many voters align strictly along party lines, the outcomes of elections often hinge on undecided swing voters. Misinformation not only sways these voters but can also suppress participation. Modern voter suppression goes beyond physical barriers; it now encompasses tactics like disenfranchisement, subversion, and intimidation, all of which can be amplified by AI-generated content.

As responsible citizens, our duty is to remain informed and engaged voters. No amount of online disinformation should deter us from

exercising the right to vote—a right established in 1776. However, we must be vigilant about the new forms of suppression that AI can facilitate.

Here are some specific risks AI poses to our democratic responsibilities:

Eloquent Arguments:

AI can enhance the persuasiveness of political arguments, making it easier for anyone to produce compelling content. This means we can no longer rely solely on the quality of writing as an indicator of truth.

Image Generation:

AI tools can create realistic images that misrepresent reality, such as altering photos to falsely claim neglect by local authorities or fabricating incriminating images of political figures.

Audio Generation:

AI can replicate voices convincingly with minimal input. This technology can produce fake audio recordings of politicians, misleading voters about their statements or actions.

Video Generation:

AI-generated videos, or deepfakes, present a severe threat by creating realistic yet false video content. These can depict politicians in compromising situations or making statements they never made.

Given these challenges, the need for rigorous fact-checking becomes paramount. Always verify information through multiple reputable sources before accepting it as truth or sharing it. Websites like Snopes and official political sites are valuable re-

The proliferation of AI-generated content raises critical questions about trust and authenticity. How can we distinguish fact from fiction in this new era? Solutions are being discussed, though not always comprehensively. One promising approach

By: ChatGPT

is leveraging blockchain technology to authenticate content. Blockchain could provide a verifiable record of statements, videos, and other media, ensuring their authenticity.

In the future, politicians might need to use blockchain to certify their communications, helping voters discern genuine information from fabrications. While this technology isn’t yet widely available, it represents a potential path forward in maintaining the integrity of our democratic processes.

As we head into the election season, whether for local officials or national leaders, it is crucial to stay informed and critically evaluate the information we encounter. Democracy thrives on our active participation and vigilance. By putting in the work to verify facts, we can uphold the democratic principles that have guided us since the founding of our nation. w

sources for verification.

National Association of Realtors Updates Multiple Listing Service Rules

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has announced that rule changes to Realtor-affiliated Multiple Listing Service (MLS) are to be implemented by August 17.

These rule changes are a part of a $418 million settlement, the final hearing of which is slated for November.

The NAR also updated its extensive FAQ page, in order to clarify policy changes that will come about due to the settlement. For instance, MLSs will no longer have fields for listing agents to offer or specify compensation to buyers’ agents.

Listing agents and sellers would still be able to offer compensation to buyers’ agents, but not with the MLS system; those would have to be separate negotiations.

In addition, the NAR does not

impose a particular model of compensation for buyers’ agents, beyond that agreements must be “objectively ascertainable,” and compliant with all relevant state laws. This means that a buyer and their agent could decide whether the agent will be paid a lump sum, a percentage, or even on an hourly basis.

Brokerages and MLSs will need to ensure that they are compliant with these rules by August 17. For a more comprehensive listing of changes, the NAR maintains an extensive FAQ site with more details.

Here in the Huntsville/Madison County market, the real estate market continues to show high activity. According to a report from the Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR), new listings of single-family homes picked up by 20% in the week ending April 20th,

By: Marie Johnson /

while townhouse/condo units saw a 27.8% increase that same week. Inventory continued to come online, with a 32.6% increase in single-family homes and a 114.5% increase in townhouse units. However, actual pending sales were sluggish, with a mere 5% increase

in single-family homes sold, and townhouse units actually seeing a 41.7% decrease in pending sales.

As always, the Huntsville Business Journal will continue to monitor the real estate market and report on developments as they occur. w

Photo courtesy of National Association of Realtors

HAAR April Monthly Report Indicates Strong Demand

The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors (HAAR) has released their monthly report for the month of April.

This report shows heightened market activity across the ValleyMLS region, which covers the North Alabama counties of Madison, Morgan, Lawrence, Limestone, DeKalb, Etowah, Cherokee, Jackson, and Marshall.

The most dramatic figures from the report centered around new listings, with a 30.9% increase in single-family units listed, and a staggering 92.5% increase for townhouse/condo units.

Inventory continued to be added to the market, with an increase of 32.2% for single-family homes, and 143.6% for townhouse/condo units. Here in Huntsville/Madison County specifically, the month’s supply of inventory figure rose by 39.1% for single-family units and 170% for townhouse units. This brought the total number of homes on the market for Huntsville/Madison County up to 1973 units.

There were 1211 pending sales in Huntsville/Madison County for the month of April. This is up from 1069 in April of 2023, and indicates that the market may have adjusted to the effects of the interest rate shock of 2023.

This activity has caused the average price to resume creeping upwards once more. The average sales price for a home in Huntsville/Madison

County reached $375K, up from $360K the previous year.

The median sales price, across the state of Alabama, reached $275K, which is well below the national median figure of $430K for the month of April 2024, as reported by Realtor.com.

“The spring market has brought a welcome surge in new listings, giving buyers more choices. However, with demand still outpacing supply, the market remains highly competitive,” said Kurtis Krueger, CEO of Huntsville Area Association of Realtors and ValleyMLS.

On the national scale, the market continues to struggle with the stubborn persistence of elevated inflation rates. This caused mortgage rates to resume climbing in the month of April. While experts expect the Federal Reserve to slash mortgage rates, it is likely that the first cut, instead of taking place in June as originally expected, could be delayed as the Fed continues to wrangle with the vexing issue of inflation.

The continuing crisis of housing affordability has sparked the creation of a bipartisan Congressional Housing Caucus to investigate and advocate for potential solutions to this issue. The move was lauded by eleven of the largest and most influential industry groups, including the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Mortgage Banking Association

By: Marie Johnson Infographics courtesy of HAAR

(MBA), and many others.

A press release statement from the NAR, on the formation of this caucus, reads:

“Lawmakers from across the political spectrum are in overwhelming agreement that this nation is facing a housing affordability crisis. Homeownership is a bipartisan issue, and we applaud these members of Congress for forming a caucus to work

across the aisle to make housing more accessible. We look forward to working closely with this group to further advance our advocacy efforts to increase the housing supply and help individuals from all backgrounds find a path to homeownership.”

The Huntsville Business Journal will continue to report developments in the real estate market, both locally and on the national scale. w

How Large Investors are Ruining the Housing Market

The housing market is the least affordable it’s been in decades and politicians are looking for someone to blame. The latest target is large investors.

While some large investors are negatively impacting our local Huntsville market, the problems go way beyond this. Lack of housing supply from tightening lending standards from the great recession, deficit spending spurring massive inflation, and the Fed keeping interest rates too low for too long have been the primary drivers of our current housing crisis.

The last item, the Fed keeping interest rates low for too long has helped large investors make some bad decisions that we’re all now having to live with in Huntsville. With cheap money available, apart-

ment syndications and build to rent communities have exploded in our market. On the last 3 miles of my commute, I passed over a dozen of these projects.

The other thing that has happened is Wall Street getting involved on main street in buying up single family homes. There’s always been a percentage of homes that investors have purchased. Recently that number has increased from 18% to 25% and that extra 7% affected first time home buyers during the covid years.

We’ve got to slow this trend down to help protect the middle class and the American Dream. Homeowners on average have a 40X networth vs renters - $396,200 vs $10,400. We’ve got to stop the homeownership decline and

#RenterNation.

Real Estate Investing can be a positive thing. Investors helped stablize the market during the great recession, rehab homes and help fund a lot of the growth in our area.

So how do we solve this? In my opinion, a great place to start would be to offer a tax incentive to real estate investors to sell their inventory to first time home buyers. The majority of homes are still owned by small investors, so the biggest short term impact would be to target these homeowners.

Long term, we’re going to need to keep an eye on wall street’s single family home buying and potentially limit their purchases and also out of state purchasers, so that we don’t all end up renting from a hedge fund someday. w

Matt Curtis of Matt Curtis Real Estate

By: Matt Curtis

MEDICAL

Hospital and Healthcare Expansion Major Focus at Inaugural Heartbeat of Healthcare Summit

On May 15, the Madison Chamber of Commerce hosted its inaugural Heartbeat of Healthcare event.

The event featured a panel of government officials and healthcare experts.

Mary Lynne Wright, the president of Madison Hospital, talked about the hospital’s tremendous growth.

When the hospital opened on February 28, 2012, Wright projected it would take five to ten years to reach its 90-bed capacity.

Thanks to major growth events for the City of Madison, that point was reached in less than half the time.

Wright said the hospital is currently running behind the growth curve of the city.

The hospital runs at about 80 percent capacity.

“When you’re at 80 percent occupancy of your licensed beds, you’re beyond the time that you need to be growing,” said Wright.

Expansion is badly needed for the ER, labor and delivery suites, imaging, pharmacy, and operating rooms.

The patient tower will eventually be expanded to 200 beds. Since its opening, the hospital has seen over 55,000 patient admissions, 40,000 surgeries, and 10,000 births. Over 900,000 patients have passed through the front doors. The hospital currently employs about 800 people.

Madison Hospital provides around $61 million annually in uncompensated care. Uncompensated care is medical care

provided to people who have no insurance and cannot afford to pay.

Wright is proud of the fact the hospital can provide care to the entire community. No one is turned away.

“As a not-for-profit health care provider, all revenue is reinvested to provide advanced medical services and equipment,” said Wright.

Madison Hospital is part of the Huntsville Hospital (HH) Health System.

The HH Health System is the third largest publicly owned hospital system in the United States and currently consists of fifteen hospitals in North Alabama and Tennessee.

Wright talked about why the HH Health System has expanded to so many areas.

“It’s so we can make sure that health care stays in those communities. Small hospitals are closing in the state of Alabama. Our mission is to keep those small hospitals open,” said Wright.

The HH Health System is the second largest employer in Madison County. Huntsville Hospital and Madison Hospital together have over 7000 employees and a payroll of nearly $718 million.

Wright is proud of those numbers because it means patients are getting the care they need.

Jeremy Blair, CEO of WellStone, Inc., was a panelist at the Heartbeat of Healthcare event.

“Five years ago, a mental health provider would not be on this stage, but we’ve come a long way in recognizing that mental health care is health care,” said Blair.

Blair said WellStone has been laserfocused on increasing access to mental healthcare services.

According to Blair, around 500 WellStone employees provide service to 12,000 clients a year.

In addition to its adult services, WellStone currently provides a children’s crisis team and will soon open a pediatric inpatient center. They also have a children’s behavior clinic in Madison.

Workforce recruitment and funding are current issues his company faces, acknowledged Blair.

Blair said WellStone spends about a tenth of its budget on uncompensated care.

Wright acknowledged that workforce shortages are an issue to be overcome by the hospital system as well.

“The future of healthcare is going into our schools right now. We need to work with our high schools and middle schools to get children interested in being in health care,” said Wright.

Madison Hospital currently partners with Madison City Schools on a workplace training program and a student ambassador program that starts in the fall.

“One of the great things about being in healthcare is that you get to train the future, you get to train those people who want to be in healthcare,” said Wright.

On a sobering note, Wright talked about some of the issues facing healthcare

By: Heather Alfonso /

workers today.

“What concerns me is we are losing people in healthcare because they are just done. They are tired of being kicked and spit at and hit and cursed at and underappreciated,” said Wright.

Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon referenced the exciting growth experienced in Madison and the surrounding area and the jobs, amenities, and services now available to people.

“Every single community needs to have good health care. From an economic standpoint, the number one thing that is so important is people have got to be healthy for all those things to happen,” said McCutcheon.

McCutcheon hopes that caring and competent healthcare professionals continue to want to work in healthcare.

“If we don’t have good healthcare workers, the future of healthcare is concerning to me,” said Wright.

“We’ve got to continue to do everything we can to recruit the best we possibly can to come into our hospitals and to come into our health care entities to continue to take care of our population,” said Wright.

At the close of the summit, Wright was surprised with a commendation award signed by Governor Kay Ivey. w

Photos by Steve Babin

Madison mayor, Paul Finley, speaking at the Heartbeat of Healthcare Summit

Madison Chamber of Commerce president, Michelle Epling

President - Madison Hospital, Mary Lynne Wright

Alabama A&M University Offers $52 Million to Purchase BirminghamSouthern College, Plans for Expansion

Alabama A&M University (AAMU) has made a landmark $52 million offer to purchase Birmingham-Southern College (BSC), with the intention of retaining the college’s faculty and staff and operating it as a standalone campus under AAMU’s umbrella.

The offer, confirmed by AAMU President Dr. Daniel K. Wims, marks a historic potential acquisition as no historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have ever bought a predominantly white institution before.

“If the purchase agreement is accepted by BSC, AAMU makes a commitment that the campus would not be subdivided for private industries or any other for-profit use,” stated Shannon Reeves, AAMU’s vice president of government relations and external affairs.

“AAMU is committed to using the entire campus to provide a quality higher education experience for each and every student.”

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, who represents the area where BSC is situated, has championed the university’s efforts and highlighted the historic significance of the potential purchase.

By: Gus Wintzell /

“If they should get it, this would be a historic moment, not only for the state of Alabama but for the country,” Givan said in an online interview. “We want someone to bring in life and vitality to the 192-acre BSC campus and the surrounding communities. Alabama A&M is one of the strongest HBCUs in the country.”

Birmingham-Southern College, a private liberal arts institution with a history spanning 168 years, an-

nounced its closure set for May 31 after failing to secure a state loan. The assessed value of the college stands at $55 million, with a liquidated value of $25 million.

Alabama A&M University President, Dr. Daniel K. Wims

AAMU aims to have about 1,000 students on the BSC campus by the fall semester of 2025, with a longterm goal of reaching 3,500 students by 2029. This expansion is part of AAMU’s response to its growing enrollment, which recently hit an all-time high of 6,600 students, including its largest ever freshman class of more than 2,100 students.

“Our numbers are up. Our concern is trying to house these students,” Reeves said. “We’re projected to go over 7,000 in the fall. So the demand for our academic offerings and what we’re doing at Alabama A&M is there.”

The university also plans to partner with neighborhood associations and community-based organizations in West Birmingham, promot-

ing a vision of “one campus, one culture, and one community.”

The potential acquisition has garnered positive reactions from local leaders, with Givan noting that an AAMU purchase would enhance the visibility of the annual Magic City Classic football game between AAMU and Alabama State University.

“This city will be lit. The city will be so lit it will probably be even bigger than ever before,” she said.

Virginia Gilbert Loftin, BSC’s vice president for advancement and communications, stated that while BSC is in discussions with several interested parties, no definitive agreements have been made.

“BSC continues to have conversations with several interested parties, but we have no definitive agreements with any entity at this time,” Loftin said in an online interview.

AAMU’s commitment to retaining BSC’s credentialed faculty and staff and maintaining the integrity of the campus underscores the university’s dedication to expanding its educational impact while preserving the rich history of BirminghamSouthern College. w

Photos courtesy of Alabama A&M University

National Builder Group Company Launches into Huntsville Market Offering Affordable Luxury Homes

HUNTSVILLE, AL – Maplewood Homes, a National Builder Group company, is making waves in the greater Huntsville area with its introduction of high-quality, affordable homes.

According to Jeff Hinojosa, who spearheads Maplewood Homes, the main goal is to brings a fresh perspective to homebuilding.

“Whether it’s a growing family, a career change, or simply a desire for a new beginning, we’re committed to guiding our customers through a seamless and enriching homebuying journey,” says Hinojosa.

For Hinojosa, partnering with the National Builder Group allows him to focus on his passion for helping people achieve their homeownership dreams while prioritizing customer satisfaction and delivering homes of exceptional quality and lasting value.

“Maplewood Homes is dedicated to making high-quality homes more accessible to a wider range of home-

buyers. Leveraging expert builders, innovative processes, and national buying power, Maplewood Homes ensures that customers receive top-notch homes at prices that are down to earth,” said Hinojosa.

Maplewood Homes feature a sturdy full brick first floor, ensuring durability and timeless charm. Inside, you’ll find carefully selected designer trim and color packages that enhance the home’s cozy appeal. The kitchen features custom wood cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, perfect for the home chef. Each bathroom is adorned with stylish granite and solid surface countertops, combining both style and functionality. Plus, take advantage of our creative lending solutions and closing cost assistance with use of a preferred lender, making your dream home a reality. With quick move-in opportunities available, your new home is ready to welcome you.

To bring these homes to the market,

Homes has

This collaboration merges Maplewood Homes’ dedication to quality with Matt Curtis Real Estate’s expertise in real estate sales.

“Jeff and I have been looking for a way to work together over the last couple

of years, and I’m excited to now be working with him to help grow Maplewood Homes. Jeff is a very smart builder and has a great heart for his home buyers,” said Matt Curtis.

To discover more about Maplewood Homes and explore available properties, visit buildwithmaplewood.com. w

Photo by Maplewood Homes

Maplewood

teamed up with the Matt Curtis Real Estate.

Huntsville’s Hyatt Investment Has a Chance to Shake Up the Hotel Industry Like Few Predicted

An estimated 30-50 people gathered on Thursday, May 10, to see what the future holds in store for just the second ever Hyatt Studios. After unveiling the branding in November 2023, there was “strong interest” in the brand according to hospitality.net.

Located at 200 West Park Loop NW, the Huntsville location shares many similarities with the first one in Mobile, Ala in some regards. Both locations are taking advantage of what is referred to in the industry as the extended-stay hotel segment in which the rooms try to recreate a feeling of home and familiarity no matter how far the guest is from home and without breaking the bank most importantly.

It’s apparent more than ever that Hyatt Studios is Hyatt Hotels Corp.’s best chance to set themself a market in this segment.It’s equally apparent that the Chattanooga developer 3H Group Inc. will be Hyatt’s partner to establish many of the first locations.

Just as he did in Mobile, 3H President and CEO Hiren Desai was on hand to deliver opening remarks and express his excitement. He is relentless when it comes to driving home the venture’s hopeful spot in the public perception. “At Hyatt Studios hotels, rooms will emulate studio apartments. We’re thrilled to embark on this journey with Hyatt Studios hotel and expand our extended-stay presence in this community,” Desai said in a statement after the event. For anyone wondering, that would be 122-125 rooms or “studio apartments.

For Hyatt fans particularly fond of The Hyatt’s brand of luxury,

BRIEFCASE

Hyatt Studios certainly shouldn’t cause any fear of scaling back. In fact, Hyatt Studios is reportedly joining Hyatt Place, Hyatt House and Caption by Hyatt brands in Hyatt’s select service category to more effectively broaden the guest experiences offered by the widely recognized leading loyalty program in the industry. Some reports have even quadrupled in size in number of members over the past five years.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (HHC) will do everything possible to ensure Hyatt Studios guests can anticipate the high quality and contemporary style that is characteristic of the Hyatt brand, and rooms that emulate studio apartments offering dedicated space to work, relax or dine.

For what Huntsville citizens can expect of the hotel’s capacities, each Hilton Studios is more streamlined as opposed to other venues designed to be one of one.

Aiming to cater to extended-stay and transient demand, each Hyatt Studios hotel will feature:

- Self-service amenities.

- A 24-hour market with a range of options — from health-conscious snacks and ready-made meals to sweet and savory staples to fulfill travel cravings.

- In-room kitchens with a fullsized refrigerator with freezer, dishwasher, and a combination convection oven/microwave. w

Huntsville Retains Top Ten Ranking for Best Places to Live

Huntsville has been ranked as

the 7th best place to live in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2024-2025.

The annual rankings, which serve as a guide for individuals and families looking for the ideal place to call home, consider factors such as affordability, quality of life, job opportunities, and overall desirability.

Huntsville has managed to retain its position in the top 10, though it has dropped from its No. 2 ranking last year. Despite this slight decline, Huntsville continues to be recognized as one of the most desirable places to live. Additionally, three other Alabama cities have made it to the Top 150 list: Montgomery at #54, Mobile at #102, and Birmingham at #129.

The top 10 places to live in 2024, according to U.S. News & World Report, are:

1. Naples, FL

2. Boise, ID

3. Colorado Springs, CO

4. Greenville, SC

5. Charlotte, NC

6. Raleigh, NC

7. Huntsville, AL

8. Virginia Beach, VA

9. Austin, TX

10. Boulder, CO

For the complete list and more information on the selection criteria, visit U.S. News & World Report’s website. w

Madison Mayor Finley Welcomes Substance Recovery Expansion With Longleaf Ribbon Cutting

Longleaf Recovery, a substance

use recovery center, held a ribboncutting ceremony and open house on the morning of May 14. The new facility, which is located near Toyota Field, will provide outpatient treatment for up to 60 clients at a time.

Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Longleaf Chief Executive Officer Colin Harris, and Longleaf Chief Operations Officer Ian Henyon spoke at the event.

Mayor Finley explained that quality of life is at the top of the pyramid as he considers priorities for the city of Madison. The safety and health of local residents are part of maintaining a high quality of life, and Longleaf will contribute to both of those aims.

Mayor Finley stated that each person gathered at the ribbon-cutting has known someone who was in need of a facility like Longleaf.

Three distinct levels of care will be offered at the Huntsville/Madison Longleaf Recovery Center.

The most time-intensive level of care will be a partial-hospitalization program (PHP) that clients will attend from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Five-day and three-day intensive outpatient programs (IOP) will also be available. These programs will run from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

An evening program will be held for clients who need a treatment plan that accommodates typical business hours. This program will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

In addition to these three specific programs, Longleaf will also provide medication management, treatment consultations, and family support groups.

John Giannetto, Chief Development Officer at Longleaf, told the Huntsville Business Journal that Longleaf will begin accepting patients almost immediately.

“We are waiting on the Alabama Department of Mental

Health to come and do their walkthrough, which is actually today at noon,” said Giannetto. “We are hoping to start accepting clients at the end of this week, beginning of next week. And we already have ten to fifteen clients waiting.”

Dr. Tim Carpenter, Medical Director at Longleaf, spoke about removing the stigma attached to seeking treatment for addiction.

“I would like to see addiction just seen as a chronic disease, a medical illness that you receive treatment for just as you would diabetes or heart problems,” Carpenter said in an interview with the Business Journal. “And we’d be successful here [in Huntsville] if we are able to seamlessly work with psychiatrists, therapists, and hospitals to get patients in to get their treatment and then get them back to their lives — even better than they were before.”

Carpenter is optimistic that Longleaf will expand accessibility to North Alabamians who are in need of addiction treatment services.

He explained that a representative from Longleaf has been visiting the offices of area therapists, psychologists, and family practice doctors to let them know about Longleaf’s upcoming expansion into the Huntsville/ Madison area. w

traffic congestion on two busy roadways in the downtown area following City Council approval.

One grant would help pay for construction improvements on a 3.35-mile stretch of Holmes Avenue while the other would help fund a study for improvements on an 8.85-mile stretch of Governors Drive that includes the Medical District. Both projects work toward the City’s goal of zero roadway fatalities or serious injuries by 2055 through Vision Zero.

“These grants emphasize safety and improving traffic flow on two roads that see high volumes of automobile and pedestrian traffic while passing through several residential areas,” said Dennis Madsen, Manager of Long-Range and Urban Planning. “With plans to enhance Holmes Avenue from downtown to Cummings Research Park as well as working closely with Huntsville Hospital on making Governors Drive as safe as possible, we believe the City is an excellent candidate to receive these grants.”

The study area starts at 14th St. SW on the western end and continue east to Caldwell Lane. The City is seeking $640,000 in the federal grant with a 20% City match of $160,000.

The Council also voted to settle three lawsuits including one resulting from the death at a construction site in John Hunt Park in 2021, totaling at $149K.

• Workers’ Compensation Claim paid to spouse of deceased – $121K

• Personal injury and property damage – $20K

• Unspecified Workers’ Compensation Claim – $8K

For more information or to tune into the next HSV Council session, please visit www.huntsvilleal.gov/ government/city-council. w

The Council Member said the area residents he has talked to are excited about the new store.

“A lot of people are going to be signing up for Food City’s loyalty program,” said Keith.

Mayor Tommy Battle emphasized the growth in North Huntsville. “There are more things happening in the area than ever before,” said Mayor Battle.

The North Huntsville store will be located at 10210 North Memorial Parkway and will employ nearly 200 people.

According to Food City President and CEO Steven C. Smith, the grocery chain’s six Huntsville stores will employ over 1000 team members.

The 56,000-square-foot store on North Memorial Parkway will include a pharmacy, a café, a full-service meat department, an in-store sushi chef, and a Starbucks.

City of Huntsville Settles

Six-figure Lawsuit, Moves Forward with Two Major Roadway Projects

During a recent edition of Huntsville City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting, the docket was packed with approvals, plans, and budget discussions.

The City decided to move forward with applications for two U.S. Department of Transportation grants focusing on safety and

The construction on the Holmes Avenue Medical Access Corridor Project would transform the downtown link to the University of Alabama in Huntsville with new sidewalks, bike lanes and street lamps that would encourage all modes of transportation through the corridor through better functionality and greater safety. It would also upgrade access to the Medical District for residents living in neighborhoods along Holmes Avenue.

The City is seeking $21 million in grant money that would fund 70% of the cost while spending $9 million that would cover the remaining 30%.

The Governors Drive Corridor Study & Medical District Safety Action Plan will present recommendations to better facilitate the increasing traffic flow as well as further accommodate pedestrians in the Medical District.

Community Celebrates as Latest Development Breaks Ground in North

Food City is a privately held company under the corporate banner K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. Twelve percent of the company is employee-owned through profit sharing.

Huntsville

Food City representatives and City of Huntsville officials broke ground for a new grocery store in North Huntsville on Wednesday, May 8.

The groundbreaking marked the third of six planned grocery stores the chain committed to building in Huntsville.

Food City will be “creating growth, success, and opportunity for this community,” said Crystal Baker of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

North Huntsville has recently seen a lot of growth, and the grocery chain’s investment in the community is timely.

According to District 1 Council Member Devyn Keith, that area has needed a grocery store for a long time.

It was the second groundbreaking of the day for Food City representatives visiting Huntsville. In the morning, they broke ground for a Food City on Governors Drive. w