News
Find all our Ozark-Dale County news posts below. Stories are listed with most recent posts first.
News Articles
What started as a proud moment for one Alabama family has turned into a wave of statewide pride — and some unexpected national buzz.Last week, Lauren Rowland of the Alabama Department of Commerce visited “The Today Show” set in New York City with her family, proudly wearing the department’s signature...
2025 Workforce Guide
May 19 2025Workforce has been cited in Site Selection Magazine’s annual survey of corporate consultants as a top factor in site selection decisions for several years in a row. The 2025 Workforce Guide by Conway Data Inc. is a special report that offers insight and analysis into best workforce development practices and...
Culture vs. BrandCulture refers to the shared values, beliefs, behaviors, practices, traditions, and norms that define a group of people or an organization. It encompasses how people interact, make decisions, and approach work or life. In an organizational context, culture is often described as the "way we do things around...
Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed into law comprehensive legislation designed to solidify accelerate economic development and address potential critical energy infrastructure supply chain vulnerabilities across Alabama.The “Powering Growth” plan includes the establishment of the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank, a strategic plan to mitigate long lead times for crucial energy...
The Last Word: Federal Opportunity Zones
May 9 2025For nearly a decade, the federal Opportunity Zone (OZ) program has been a transformative tool for real estate developers, particularly in the multi-family housing sector. With rental demand surging in high-cost metropolitan areas, developers have leveraged the OZ program to increase housing inventory in underserved communities, benefiting from the substantial...
In an exciting new chapter of Dale Medical Center’s history, Chief Executive Officer Vernon Johnson, alongside a team of dedicated staff members, officially cut the ribbon on Claybank Family Medicine during a ceremony held on April 29. The new clinic, located in the former StatMed building on Andrews Avenue, marks...
Staffing is one of the biggest challenges facing American companies right now and is directly affecting business expansion plans. It’s no longer enough to find a strategically-located site with existing utility infrastructure; companies are increasingly looking for communities with skilled workers and a high quality of life.The economic development experts...
Last month, the Ozark-Dale County Economic Development Corporation (ODEDC) asked residents to share their favorite small businesses in the region. We wanted to see what companies, service providers, and cooks made you proud to live in Dale County. The results are in, and residents have nominated three small businesses for...
Leadership trust is the new metric to watch when it comes to broader organizational health, reveals a new report from Aura Intelligence. Sentiment toward senior leadership emerged as the most sensitive early indicator of broader organizational health, declining significantly in sectors facing layoffs, compliance controversies, or sudden return-to-office (RTO) mandates,...
Systemic intelligence is the leadership skill you’re missing. Here are 4 ways to start honing it
May 1 2025Organizations look structured and logical from the outside—boxes and lines, reporting relationships, KPIs, and performance frameworks.But walk into any real meeting, and you’ll sense it: side glances, shifting energy, people going silent when one voice enters the room, unexplained resistance to change, and power dynamics no slide deck could predict.That’s...
Economic developers often focus on new business recruitment, but the companies currently operating in your area are just as valuable. These businesses provide stability to the workforce and improve residents' quality of life if they offer customer-facing products or services.You can’t always tell when a business is struggling or preparing...
What Is a Shovel-Ready Site?
Apr 14 2025While there is no formal definition of what constitutes a “shovel-ready” site, here is a working description that our site selection firm relies on. A shovel-ready industrial site is a parcel of land or an existing facility prepped and available for immediate or at least near term use. Here are...
Resilience is no longer just about grit or recovering from setbacks. It’s about anticipating change, staying agile in uncertainty, and continuously evolving. The most future-ready organizations build resilience not just at the leadership level, but across their entire workforce—equipping employees with the skills, mindsets, and support systems they need to...
Ozark-Dale County is Growing Because of Its Small Businesses – Tell Us Which Ones You Love!
Apr 3 2025Small businesses (organizations with fewer than 500 employees) account for 99.9% of companies in the United States. There are 33 million companies that count as small businesses in the country, of which six million have more than one employee. “Dale County is stronger because of its small businesses,” says Holle...
Top Metro and Micropolitan Areas for Corporate Facility Investment, Top Mississippi River Regions Also NamedAtlanta, March 1, 2024: Texas and South Dakota have won the 2023 Site Selection Governor’s Cups. This is the 10th year Site Selection recognizes the state with the most qualifying new and expanded facilities per capita,...
A company with a healthy culture will attract and retain good employees, but a company with an exceptional culture will retain multiple generations of talent. The Ozark Striping employee roster is filled with parents, grandparents, adult children, cousins, nephews, and various other family members who all work together.“We’re just like...
Understanding your customers' needs, frustrations and praise for your brand is a critical element for entrepreneurs who want to improve their products and generate more revenue. What used to be a simple task through customer conversations and basic surveys is now more complex than ever. Today, audiences with rapidly changing...
The City of Ozark has been recognized as a 2024 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its dedication to planting, growing, and maintaining trees for the benefit of the community, marking another year of dedication to preserving and enhancing its green spaces. This honor highlights...
Here, I am looking at innovation through the lens of process improvement. The value of most organizations is defined by their intellectual capital rather than their physical assets. The intellectual capital of your organization can be traced through the process maps that enable your business operations.Process innovation is not achievable...
Ozark Parks and Recreation earns top state honor
Feb 13 2025The Ozark Parks and Recreation Department has been named the 2024 Alabama Parks and Recreation Agency of the Year for communities with a population of 15,000 and greater, an honor presented by the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA).Ozark Parks and Recreation Director Ozzie Maianeto said the recognition speaks to...
Workers who move to Alabama could receive up to $30,000 in tax credit under proposed law: How it works
Feb 12 2025State Rep. Ben Robbins, R-Sylacauga, has filed a bill that would establish a state income tax credit for recruited workers and remote workers that move to certain counties in Alabama.Under HB259, remote workers and teachers, nurses, or law enforcement officers who have lived in a county with a population of...
Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair today announced that the Alabama Growth Alliance, a public-private partnership dedicated to advancing the state’s economic priorities, has endorsed the creation of the Alabama Development Fund to provide a source of sustainable funding for economic development without increasing taxes or cutting existing programs.Secretary McNair said the...
Arichem Forms Partnership With SetaTech to Develop Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Common Chemicals
Jan 15 2025Dale County has turned into a hub for sustainable chemical production as two local companies – Arichem and SetaTech become partners. Arichem has been a staple of Dale County for decades, even when it was still owned by Sloss Industries. SetaTech is a much newer company that was supported by...
Ozark is proud to be recognized as an Alabama Community of Excellence (ACE), which is part of a program coordinated by the Alabama League of Municipalities. Completing the ACE designation is a multi-year process that involves countless community members, business leaders, and Ozark residents.The ACE recognition is focused on communities...
