"Alabama is making tremendous progress and we want to make sure our rural communities participate in our state's success," said Governor Riley. "The Black Belt Action Commission has successfully brought progress to that region. Now the Alabama Rural Action Commission will work to make sure all rural areas of the state see great progress - and it starts right here in North Alabama."
The Black Belt Action Commission has worked with local and state officials to expand economic growth, improve access to health care and boost education in the region. Members of that commission helped recruit new and expanding industries to the Black Belt, bring free computers to school systems in the Black Belt, and offer free health care fairs and vision screenings in every Black Belt county.
The North Alabama Action Commission will bring similar programs to an area that includes Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Marion, Morgan, and Winston Counties. While a changing economy has brought challenges to North Alabama, Governor Riley said economic progress is already visible with the announcement last week that National Alabama Corp. will build a $350 million rail-car manufacturing facility in Colbert County and bring 1,800 new jobs to the area.
"Alabama is going through a transformation, and this part of the state is no different," Governor Riley said. "We just announced that one of the largest economic development projects that will be awarded anywhere in the United States this year is coming to North Alabama. You are already starting to see tremendous progress and, with the North Alabama Action Commission now in place, I believe we can improve the quality of life in this area for generations to come."
