Tuscaloosa Press Release

TUSCALOOSA NAMED 2009 ENTREPRENEURIAL AMERICAN COMMUNITY

MEDIA NOTICE

FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 8, 2009

Partners for Livable Communities, based in Washington, D.C., has selected Tuscaloosa, Alabama as the recipient of the 2009 Entrepreneurial American Community Award. The award was presented during a gala ceremony in Washington on Monday night, December 7th.

Partners is a non-profit leadership organization working to improve the livability of communities, nationally and internationally, by promoting quality of life, economic development and social equity.

The Entrepreneurial American Community Award acknowledges civic capacity building, commitment, vision and entrepreneurial spirit of a community. Those communities honored with this award are true innovators and have found success in providing unique solutions to local opportunities and challenges.

Tuscaloosa was honored for the strides the community has made in developing their quality of life through leveraging their cultural assets for economic development. In addition, the community was cited for their coordinated and collaborative efforts to advance quality of life initiatives in Tuscaloosa County and the West Alabama region.

According to Robert McNulty, CEO of Partners, “by focusing their energy and resources on livability, economic vitality, enrichment of human, natural and cultural resources, creating a positive climate for business and investing in the future, Tuscaloosa is well on its way to becoming one of the most livable communities in America.”

Since, 1977, Partners has helped communities set a common vision for the future, discover and use new resources for community and economic development, and build public-private partnerships that further their goals and aspirations. Partners served as the lead consultant group for the “Culture Builds” initiative in Tuscaloosa County.

As part of an annual honors program, Partners acknowledges and recognizes people, organizations and communities for their commitment to civic capacity building, vision, and public-private partnerships that have significant impact on livability. For over thirty years, the Partner’s awards programs have helped identify and define excellence.

In accepting the award on behalf of the City of Tuscaloosa, Council member Cynthia Almond said, “We are delighted to be the recipient of the 2009 Entrepreneurial American Community award. Through the partnership of the City of Tuscaloosa, The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, The University of Alabama, the City of Northport, Tuscaloosa County and the Alabama State Council of the Arts, we are seeing the results of our collaborative efforts.”

“Because of our cooperation, vision and determination, our community is becoming an exciting cultural destination that translates into a sustainable, competitive economy and an even more livable community,” said Almond. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox emphasized the encouragement from the recognition by pointing out that “with our determined, resilient and optimistic spirit, Tuscaloosa embraces the promise of tomorrow. “

“This promise is being largely realized”, Maddox said, “by our commitment to create venues and opportunities that allow our citizens to experience music, theater and arts in a moving and meaningful way. Our investment into the cultural arts is and will continue to provide Tuscaloosa a significant return as it relates to improving our quality of life. This recent honor provides a meaningful incentive to stay the course in building an even greater community.”

Johnnie Aycock, President and CEO of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama enthusiastically acknowledge the importance of this national recognition of Tuscaloosa by pointing out that “our community is entering an exciting new era of economic competitiveness, regional cooperation, cultural awareness and livability. Our diversity, cultural infrastructure and public-private partnerships are helping translate the vision of one of the nation’s most livable communities into reality. The Partners for Livable Communities has played an integral role in helping us shape our vision for the future and this recognition reinforces our determination to take the community to even higher levels of quality.”

The Crimson Tide Takes Its 22nd SEC Championship Title

The Alabama Crimson Tide won its 22nd Southeastern Conference Championship by beating No. 1 Florida, 32-13 this past Saturday in Atlanta, Ga. Alabama is now 13-0 on the season.

The No. 1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will face the No. 2 Texas Longhorns in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game on Thursday, January 7, 2010, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The game will be televised by ABC Sports and will kick off at 7 p.m.

ROLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL!!!

Mercedes-Benz Announces Next-Generation C-Class Will Come to Tuscaloosa

Governor Bob Riley said the announcement that 1,000 jobs will be added to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama shows the company’s commitment to the long-term success of the plant is stronger than ever.

“This puts our Alabama plant in the best possible position to remain a strong economic force and job-creator for the long-term. It means the plant will be at its full capacity of almost 4,000 workers. I went to Germany in September to meet with Dr. Zetsche about how we could work together to enhance the plant in Tuscaloosa County and this move to share production of the C-Class was at the top of our list. This decision by Daimler shows the company has great respect for the quality of work done by MBUSI team members and that it has confidence in Alabama’s future. So do I, and I thank the team members at MBUSI for their outstanding work ethic.
They are the reason this effort to bring new jobs to Alabama is a success,” said Governor Riley.

In addition to the production work MBUSI will do for the C-Class, the Alabama plant will continue to produce the R-Class, the M-Class and the GL-Class models.

City Seeks Input From Business Community

The City of Tuscaloosa is studying the possibility of restructuring the current Department of Planning and Economic Development.

The concept includes the creation of a new Development Services Center which will focus on a "one stop" permitting approach. The plan also calls for the centralization of City departments to help with key business development issues and opportunities.

Mayor Maddox and City staff are asking for your comments and suggestions. Please CLICK HERE to view the presentation on the proposed changes and email your suggestions to the address indicated on the last slide.

PRESENTATION NARRATIVE – 2009 ENTREPRENEURIAL AMERCIAN COMMUNITY AWARD

                                    Tuscaloosa, Alabama is a community that fully understands that cultural assets and activities can be a major economic force and can have a profound effect on the lives of area citizens.  Through the area’s “Culture Builds” initiative, citizens from all walks of life have come together to confirm that cultural strategies have a significant and sustainable impact on education, cultural identity, community pride, livability, neighborhood development, and the social fabric of the community.

                   Culture and the arts have always been a treasured resource in Tuscaloosa, but have now taken a more prominent role and become a centerpiece of the community’s economic and social agendas and livability.   A strong cultural infrastructure is being built that will generate income, employment, and civic pride; spur economic growth; create regional and national branding and identity; encourage multicultural understanding; and provide much-needed gathering places.

                   Through a partnership of The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the City of Tuscaloosa,
the City of Northport, Tuscaloosa County, The University of Alabama and the Alabama State Council of
the Arts, the “Culture Builds” initiative was launched and completed, resulting in a long-term strategic
plan for the future development of the region.

                   Today, significant aspects of the plan are being realized and implemented to transform Tuscaloosa into a “cultural destination” resulting in enhanced economic development. Even during
a challenging economy, Tuscaloosa is moving forward and positioning to expand our competitive advantages and entrepreneurial environment.

                   Among the progressive examples currently underway adjacent to the Tuscaloosa River Walk are:  construction of a world-class, state-of-the-art, 7,500 seat amphitheatre on the Black Warrior River that will open in August, 2010 – construction of the Tuscaloosa River Market which will open in Fall, 2010, and will include an open-air farmers’ market, a new community gathering space for events, and home of the Tuscaloosa Convention & Visitors Bureau - and construction of the final section of the River Walk along the beautiful Black Warrior River.

                   In addition, as part of a $100 million revitalization in Downtown Tuscaloosa, the new Federal Courthouse will include original 9’ X 13’ art murals in the main rotunda by re-known artist Caleb O’Connor – and the downtown area continues to grow as a entertainment and cultural destination.

                   Creative Campus, students and staff from The University of Alabama learn to fuse arts, sciences, cultures, and talents. Within the walls of Creative Campus, people from all backgrounds come together to combine concepts, learn process, and enhance skills that impact UA's campus, community, culture, and creativity.  Within Creative Campus, you will find innovative initiatives such as the Arts Ambassadors, Crimson Art Archives, and a host of other ‘town-gown’ cultural initiatives.

                   Efforts are also currently underway among the public and private sectors, including the key economic development agencies, to define Tuscaloosa’s image and brand for the future and expand the regional marketplace; to enhance cultural diversity through the new “Culture Fest” initiative that is designed to carry arts and culture to all sectors and neighborhoods in the City; and to expand on the rich cultural assets of the community to create new venues, festivals and cultural opportunities for all ages and all citizens.

                   These entrepreneurial and creative initiatives are part of multi-faceted cultural scene already in place, which include: the world-class Westervelt – Warner Museum, which houses one of the largest collections of American art in the country; the Paul Jones Collection, a comprehensive collection of 1,700 pieces of 20^th century African-American art; the nationally-known, award-winning Kentuck Festival in Northport; and the Tuscaloosa Symphony, theatre, dance and a myriad of other cultural treasures.

                   Tuscaloosa’s entrepreneurial spirit is combining with a deep sense of tradition and diverse cultural assets to create and build one of America’s most livable communities.  The vision is becoming reality!


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