MAYORS ENDORSE GOV. riley's
RURAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
October 12, 2006
Pell City- Dozens of mayors and other elected officials from across the state gathered in Pell City today to officially endorse Gov. Bob Riley’s Rural Development Initiative, which is an important part of his Plan 2010 blueprint for the state’s future.
Gov. Riley used the occasion to discuss his impressive economic development record in rural areas and his plan to create even more jobs outside the I-65 corridor.
"When we came into office, I told my economic development staff to pitch our rural areas to industrial prospects first," Riley said. "Our efforts have worked. Not only have we created 100,000 new jobs, we are creating them where people need them most-in our rural areas. Every single county in the state has seen a drop in unemployment since we came into office."
Mayor Adam Stocks of Pell City was on hand to pledge his support for Gov. Riley. "Unemployment is the lowest it has ever been in St. Clair County thanks to Governor Riley,” Stocks said. "These new jobs in Pell City are only here because Bob Riley had the determination to bring them here."
One of rural Alabama's Cinderella stories is Lincoln, site of Honda Motor Manufacturing’s plant in Talladega County. Mayor Lew Watson also praised Riley for his help in keeping the economic momentum in Lincoln. "We could have a lot more industry and jobs in Alabama if past governors would have pursued them as this governor has," Watson said.
Riley was also intimately involved in bringing both the Walgreen's Call Center and North American Lighting to the Shoals Area. These two projects created 800 new jobs in a region that had fallen on hard economic times.
"The Shoals Area has landed two large industries in the last four years. Without Gov. Riley's personal involvement and attention, these projects never would have happened," Mayor David Bradford of Muscle Shoals, who was unable to attend the event, said in a statement. "Without a doubt, we never could have done it without him."
The governor’s Plan 2010 calls for creating the Rural Alabama Action Commission that will be structured like the successful Black Belt Action Commission, which helped create 1300 new jobs, boost test scores, and decrease dropout rates in an historically impoverished area. The commission will be an all-volunteer force and will operate in rural regions around the state to meet their specific needs.
In order to maintain economic momentum, Riley’s plan calls for additional tax incentives for companies to locate in the rural areas of the state. In addition, it expands incentives for Alabama's existing industries, many of which are located outside of metropolitan areas. These incentives are specifically targeted to ensure that all areas reap the rewards of Alabama's incredible growth.
*The following is a list of mayors who have endorsed Gov. Riley’s Rural Development Initiative:
Mayor Rhett Taylor, Abbeville
Mayor Wess Etheredge, Daleville
Mayor Karen Simmons, Geneva
Mayor Jeff Hardin, Phenix City
Mayor Charles Murphy, Robertsdale
Mayor David Wilson, Summerdale
Mayor Frankie Kucera, Silverhill
Mayor Clark Cathey, Elberta
Mayor Billy Middleton, Loxley
Mayor Dexter McLendon, Greenville
Mayor Sheldon Day, Thomasville
Mayor Howard Shell, Atmore
Mayor Ted Jennings, Brewton
Mayor Terry Clark, East Brewton
Mayor Billy Bush, Satsuma
Mayor Stanley Herring, Citronelle
Mayor Jim Trout, Chickasaw
Mayor Don Nelson, Creola
Mayor Jim Cave, Frisco City
Mayor Anne Farish, Monroeville
Mayor Harold Crouch, Chatom
Mayor Roy Chapman, Millry
Mayor Charlie Fagan, Piedmont
Mayor John Lewis, Bridgeport
Mayor Lew Watson, Lincoln
Mayor Chip Howell, Anniston
Mayor Adam Stocks, Pell City
Mayor Jimmy Carter, Collinsville
Mayor Bob Hembree, Guntersville
Mayor Carl Pruett, Albertville
Mayor Tim Walker, Boaz
Mayor David Bradford, Muscle Shoals
Mayor Kenneth Boswell, Enterprise
Mayor Pat Thomas, Dothan
Mayor Thomas Tart, Livingston
Mayor Anna Berry, Heflin
Mayor Danny Hicks, Oneonta
Mayor Phil Powell, Centre
Mayor Bill Jordan, Ft. Payne
*This list is not exhaustive
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