Development meeting set

Russellville will host a visioning meeting of the Alabama Economic Development Alliance on Monday and community residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to give state officials their input on what kind of economic development should take place in this area.

The meeting will be Monday from 10 a.m. until noon at the A.W. Todd Center in downtown Russellville and Franklin County Development Authority Executive Director Mitch Mays said it was important for those interested in the economic development in the area to attend.

The Alliance was formed in July by Gov. Robert Bentley so different individuals and agencies across the state could help officials and representatives from Boyette Stategic Advisors come up with a strategic economic development plan for the state of Alabama that will be called “Accelerate Alabama.”

Officials said this plan will ensure a well-balanced, comprehensive, aggressive and progressive economic development program for the state over the next five years in order to make Alabama the most competitive it can be from an economic development perspective.

The plan will include identification of targeted business sectors, along with strategic recommendations designed to position Alabama for economic development success based on its key assets.

“This Alliance was a good idea so people from different areas could come together to give their input on the statewide strategic plan,” Mays said. “This meeting is open to anyone, not just officials, and we hope there is a good turnout so we can send some good ideas back to the governor.”