News Commerce Department Adds Rural Economic Development Position

Commerce Department Adds Rural Economic Development Position

Commerce Department Adds Rural Economic Development Position

The Alabama Department of Commerce is adding a rural development manager to work with rural communities and counties across the state to enhance their competitiveness in the economic development process and better prepare them for projects.

Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said he hopes to have the newly created position filled with an experienced professional in coming weeks. 

“While we have had success in facilitating rural economic development, we want to continue to improve and do more to help the state’s rural counties and small towns and cities,” Canfield said. “This specialist is going to help communities become better equipped to work on job-creating projects while also providing connectivity to Commerce’s project managers and to any other state resource or agency that is needed as part of a team.”

Rep. David Standridge, chairman of the House Rural Caucus, said the creation of a statewide rural development manager position has been a priority.

“Rural Alabama obviously has its challenges as well as its unique opportunities in economic development,” he said. “One problem is that a lot of rural counties and small towns don’t have the resources for an economic development specialist or a professional. They need a go-to person who can get them answers and help them navigate the economic development process.”

Read the full Department of Commerce release. 

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