Economic Development

The Huntsville Committee of 100’s primary focus is economic development. The founding members established the organization with a laser focus on economic development, and many of the Committee of 100’s major accomplishments are a testament to this focus.

Major accomplishments related to economic development:

• BRAC — Formed and funded first BRAC Committee; Funded additional defense business recruitment data development; Formed a committee to build generals’ homes; Funded a research study by the University of Alabama on state economic impact of BRAC.
• Retail Development Incentives – Worked with City of Huntsville administration to develop a retail incentives package (TIFs); Funded a retail marketing booth for Chamber staff; Funded retail development training for city staff; Lobbied for support of six TIFs; Worked on site database and marketing strategies.
• Downtown Development – Sponsored community leaders trip to Chattanooga in 2000 and funded the development of Big Spring Partners, a public/private downtown development entity; Provided $60,000 in funding for operations the first two years; Funded a followup trip to Chattanooga in 2009; Funded the first gateway to downtown Madison.
• Young Professional Workforce Plan – Spearheaded the development and implementation of a strategic plan to recruit and retain young professionals–jointly funded with the Arts Council and Chamber of Commerce; Provided additional funding to Leadership Huntsville to develop national marketing plan.
• Sponsored a series of forums and charrettes on metro Land Use Planning.
• Funded a Green Cities Summit on sustainability in 2009.
• Sponsored a series of events on countywide land use planning.
• Formed Madison Task Force to focus on Madison issues.
• Brought in speakers of interest on economic development and public education topics and invited community and elected leaders.

Economic Development Issues and Current Projects:

Retail growth

More than half of our city governments’ tax base is supported by local sales taxes, making it critical that the Huntsville area maintain and grow its position as the regional retail center for North Alabama. To compete, our community must develop incentives to stimulate retail development. The six Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plans enacted in the past few years are excellent examples. Strategic planning for retail growth and national marketing initiatives should also be expanded.

Downtown development

While the Committee of 100 works on economic development issues throughout Huntsville, Madison, Madison County, and the incorporated areas of Limestone County, our members believe that healthy economic regions include a vibrant and active downtown. The Committee of 100 worked for four years to form and get non-profit IRS status for Big Spring Partners, a privately funded organization to stimulate downtown development. It was modeled after a successful organization in Chattanooga and launched in October 2004. The Committee of 100 continues to financially and politically support this organization in its mission to bring new retail, residential, and commercial activity to stimulate the downtown economy and attract and retain the young professional workforce. The Committee of 100 also funded the first gateway to downtown Madison and continues to offer support to revitalization efforts.

Recruitment and retention of young professional workforce

To replace the expected high number of retirees and fill the anticipated growth in new jobs, the Huntsville-Madison County community must strategically recruit and work to retain young professional workers. The Committee of 100 has worked and continues to help strengthen young professional networking organizations, such as Huntsville Young Professionals and the Emyrge Council, and helps stimulate new groups within large employers. The Committee is also encouraging elected leaders to invest more in downtown development and the development of public parks, hiking trails, the riverfront and greenways, quality of life features that are especially attractive to young professionals. We are also working with other organizations to involve college students and young professionals in the community and provide additional co-op and intern opportunities. For more information, please review the Huntsville Talent Magnet Report Summary. The Committee of 100 is partnered with the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville-Madison County and The Arts Council on a research effort to evaluate the success of this plan and develop new strategies.

Regional cooperation

The Committee of 100 works to encourage teamwork and cooperation among local governments, including the City of Huntsville, City of Madison and Madison County, believing we can accomplish greater success in economic development by working together. The Committee of 100 also works with other organizations and business leaders to encourage cooperative economic development efforts in the North Alabama region.

Additionally, the Committee of 100 is working to:

• Continue to support strategic retail development efforts, including TIFs that also provide capital funds to public school systems.
• Develop strategies to position BRAC as the state’s major new economic development initiative with key state elected leaders and major candidates, including an incentive plan for roads, schools, and workforce.
• Continue to support Big Spring Partners, a non-profit private downtown development organization founded by the Committee of 100 in 2004, in its early years of operation.
• Conduct research to evaluate the success of the 2005 Huntsville Talent Magnet strategic plan to better attract and retain the young professional workforce.
• Support for downtown development efforts in the City of Madison.
• Improve diversity within membership and expand membership.