Specialist Will Assist State’s Rural Projects
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, Alabama Department of Commerce secretary, said he hopes to have the 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, House Rural Caucus chair, said the statewide position has been a caucus priority.
“Rural Alabama obviously has its challenges as well as its unique opportunities in economic development,” he said. “One problem is a lot of rural counties and small towns don’t have resources for an economic development specialist or a professional.
The rural development manager will provide technical assistance to rural communities under consideration for economic development projects. They will provide assistance and training for rural communities seeking to become more competitive for economic development projects.