Mobile has been named by Forbes magazine as one of the "Best Cities in America for Recession Recovery."
The rankings take into account the projected gross domestic product, unemployment figures, incomes and affordability.
"We've been saying that all along," said Don Epley, director of the University of South Alabama's Center for Real Estate Studies, which has been tracking the local economy for two years.
He said that he has published reports indicating that the recession would be slow to hit Mobile, and "we will be fast to recover."
Huntsville was also included on the Forbes list.
"This is a great mention for our city," Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said in a written statement. "Though it's good to be mentioned as one of the best cities to rebound from the recession, we do so with caution, realizing that we must continue to be very conservative with our spending."
City Council President Reggie Copeland said the ranking by the business magazine is a testament to the cooperative working relationship of local and state leaders.
"How proud we are," Copeland said Friday afternoon. "Anytime we get an honor like that, it's awesome. I'm proud for the mayor."
Last year, Forbes magazine named Mobile as the fastest-growing mid-size city in America. Mobile has also been recognized as a "Top 50 Place to Live and Play" by National Geographic.
Forbes examined GDP data from Moody's Economy.com; unemployment and employment figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics; affordability information from the National Association of Homebuilders; and population statistics from the Census Bureau.
Forbes reported, however, that it did not factor home prices into the ranking, since economically healthy cities were typically spared severe harm from the U.S. housing market collapse.
The Forbes story said that Seattle and Boulder, Colo., with their high-tech capabilities, could experience rapid recovery in coming months.
The other cities and metropolitan areas named by Forbes that are poised to bounce back quickly from the recession are: the Austin-Round Rock area in Texas; Fayetteville, Ark.; San Antonio, Texas; the Dallas-Forth Worth-Arlington area in Texas; the Washington DC- Arlington-Alexandria, Va. area; and the McAllen-Edinburg area in Texas.
Leigh Perry Herndon, vice president of communications for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, said rankings like these are important. "It reinforces to our community that the work the chamber is doing in partnership with others is having an impact nationally and internationally," she said.
For the past decade, Herndon said, local leaders and agencies have sought to diversify the Mobile area's economic base "so we are not dependent on one industry for the success or failure of the region."
That focus, she said, includes shipbuilding, aerospace, oil and gas exploration, transportation distribution, health care and manufacturing.
From the Mobile Press Register
Dan Murtaugh, Staff Reporter
June 22, 2009
In Alina Ostrow's Massachusetts, a violent gang of mermaids known as the Seashells drown children and wage war against beavers.
That's where Ostrow, who is representing the Bay State in the America's Junior Miss competition, said she got her idea for the mermaid that she and her host family were building Sunday at a sand sculpture competition on Dauphin Island's west end.
But unlike the wicked mermaids of her home state, Ostrow said her sand model was a kinder, gentler Alabama mermaid.
"The mermaids in Massachusetts aren't this modest," she said, pointing to her mermaid's seashell swimsuit.The sand sculpture contest was part of a beach outing for 50 contestants who are in Mobile to vie for a $50,000 scholarship and the title of America's Junior Miss. The final competition will be held Saturday night.
After a miserably hot first week filled with physically demanding rehearsals, Junior Misses said they were enjoying every second of the cool breeze, temperate water and laid-back atmosphere on the beach.
It also didn't hurt that this was the first day the girls didn't have to practice their routines, giving them a chance to sleep in and take naps. "All week long when I've tried to get out of bed I've fallen because my legs are so sore," Texas' Madison Greer said. "Now I'll be ready for another four-hour fitness practice." For North Dakota's Ashley Berg, Sunday marked the first time she'd been to a beach since she was 3 years old. She took to it like a cat to catnip. "This is amazing," Berg yelled in a gravelly voice as she pulled Illinois Junior Miss Betsy Kuckuk into the water. "I want to go to school here." Junior Miss organizers let the girls play in the water for about an hour before starting the sand sculpture competition. The theme was technology, which was perhaps cruel since the girls have been deprived of their cell phones and iPods since they arrived in Mobile last week. The winning sculpture -- of a giant hand holding an iPod -- belonged to Maryland's Hannah Stone and Indiana's Whitney Johnson. Stone said if it were her iPod, it would probably be playing the Beyonce hit "Single Ladies." Kansas' Mallory Gillilard and Colorado's Lauren Detwiler built a very sharp digital camera. "We're the unlikely contestants," Gillilard said. "We're both from very landlocked states." "They told me: 'Lauren, pretend it's snow,'" Detwiler said. After the sculptures were built, Michigan's Jojo Bierlein and Idaho's Kayla Hoover walked along the beach, letting the warm water lap up against their ankles. "Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, they're all cold," Bierlein said. "This is different. I love it here. I could stay all day." A loud buzzer sounded from the parking lot. "I think it's dinner time," Hoover said. "I think I'd rather go swim again than eat," Bierlein said.
Hello everyone... I'm sure you will read this letter from Bill Harper with great interest as it contains much information to digest. Don't hesitate to email or call if you have any questions.
_________________________________________________________________
Dear friends,
Summer is here with a vengeance. Hot weather, plenty of visitors, the Island is a busy place. If you are local business person, you love it, if you are an island curmudgeon like me, you complain about the traffic, but we have to remember we live in a wonderful place and many people want to share in our good fortune.
As most of you know, we have added three new members to the Board of Directors of the DIPOA as a result of our elections in May; Glen Coffee, Jack Gaines and Jay Minus. Our Officers for this year are: Bruce Jones, Vice-President, Glen Coffee, Secretary, Bruce Thompson, Treasurer, and me, Bill Harper, President. Every year, we add new energy and perspectives with the addition of new members to our board. I want to thank all that stood for election, the field was excellent, and the membership spoke.
During May we re-opened our DIPOA office in the old annex, north and west of the Club. It had become a huge storage area over the last 4 or 5 years. We boxed up thousands of files taking them to a secure storage area off the Island. A good cleaning and a bit of paint has created a place for small meetings, 10-12, and an office area for new part-time Administrative Assistant, Katherine Algie. Over the past year it has become apparent that our merging the golf operation and the DIPOA business operation several years ago had become awkward with the increase in play at the course. Katherine's main functions will be membership support, which includes dues and membership records; as well as staff person for the Architectural Committee. If you need any help or information, contact Katherine at 251-861-2343 or by e-mail at dipoaoffice@skyynett.com
Our June board meeting was interesting. We barely had a board quorum, one member attended, and we sat around a table facing each other, which changed the meeting's dynamics considerably. We are thinking of doing this set-up again, with members seated around us.
At the June meeting we presented and passed the Operating budget and the Capital budget for 2009/10. Modest this year being aware of the overall economic situation in our country and area. We project an income of $471,000; $431,200 in expenses, and Capital budget of $38,175 for maintenance and projects to our various properties. The Capital budget involves some much needed bulkhead work at Jeffries Park which has created a hand launch site for small craft like kayaks, sailboats, and such. In the weeks ahead we will improve access and a small parking area there too. Also in the Capital budget are repairs to the roofs on equipment barn, pump house and rain shed at the course. We also want to build a kayak launch at our Salt Creek property. In this same budget we have created funding for sharing the cost with our members for sand fencing, plants and trees. Details to be worked out.
Our finances are pretty good. The 2009/10 membership drive has started and dues are rolling in. Our goal this year is to surpass all yearly collections of
year's past. I urge everyone to participate in paying your dues this year. There are so many things can do with additional funding to make this Island a better place. May and June play on the golf course have been good, higher than past years.
On the legal front only the Corps Lawsuit/Settlement is still open. We expect a final end game in about 80 days.
This summer our beach at the Club will have some additions. Island Style, Inc., a local business will be renting beach chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, sailboats and paddle boats. Come and enjoy these additions to the best family beach on the island.
We continue to discuss our membership e-mail list, and letting individual members access to it. In 2007, we had a legal opinion that it was probably a part of Alabama's law on access to association's records and books. One of our board members is researching this further.
As soon as the membership drive has slowed down, we will start to update and modernize our website as well as update it regularly from the new office. I will keep you informed on the progress.
Now for the important stuff! The Town of Dauphin Island, along with the help of all segments of Dauphin Island's community, including us, has been working hard on coastal restoration. It is a multi-pronged effort.
Consultants have been hired in Washington and Montgomery to work the legislative halls in both locations. The Town received funding for a feasibility study of the far East End from NOAA for $400,000 this year, and the Town has applied for funding of the same location in NOAA's stimulus funding package. At the same time, a $1.5 M inclusion for a similar study of all of Dauphin Island has worked it's way out of the House committee for the Department of Commerce/NOAA.
On the State level, our consultant is busy preparing for the next round of CIAP/GoMesa funding that comes from taxes and royalties from off-shore oil and gas activities.
Locally, one of our board members, Glen Coffee, has taken the lead in getting Dauphin Island included in the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program. Below is a message from Glen and me asking our membership's assistance in getting this accomplished:
"On June 18, the Senate passed the War Supplemental appropriations bill, sending it to President Obama for signature. The House passed a similar funding bill earlier in the week and the differences in language between the two chambers of Congress have been reconciled by conference committee. The President should sign the bill into law within the next 10 days. The Mobile Press-Register and the Biloxi Sun Herald carried stories on this bill in their June 19 editions.The funding bill contains a provision making available $439,000,000 to strengthen Mississippi's barrier islands (i.e., Petit Bois, Horn, and Ship Islands). That work will be done at 100% federal expense. What is significant is that Dauphin Island is not included in the restoration work even though our Island suffers from the same coastal erosion problems. Less than 5 miles separate Dauphin Island from Petit Bois Island, and sand is proposed to be taken from Alabama to repair Petit Bois Island.Congress decided to fund the Mississippi barrier island restoration work in advance of the Corps finalizing the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program (MsCIP) Report. Despite passage of the funding bill, the Corps will continue work on their report, making the Final Report and EIS available for a 30-day public review sometime this summer. When that happens, everyone having an interest in a stable Dauphin Island should provide comments to the Corps and we should request that a public hearing be held to address our Island's coastal erosion issues.What each of us needs to know and should remember is that to date, our Alabama Congressional delegation (i.e., Congressman Jo Bonner and Senators Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby) has disappointed everyone who has an interest in finding a solution to Dauphin Island's erosion problems - be they Island landowners, oystermen, recreational fishermen, residents of the Mobile County mainland, etc. Apparently, our elected representatives in Washington have not taken seriously the numerous requests they have received to have Dauphin Island added to the barrier island restoration work.Despite this apparent setback, there is still a "silver lining" in all of this. For the first time, Congress has actually appropriated a substantial sum of money to be used in repairing the Mississippi barrier islands. After the President signs the bill into law, the $439,000,000 will begin to be funneled in increments to the Corps to conduct additional studies of the Mississippi islands before construction actually begins. There is no way the Corps can expend all of this funds immediately or in a single year. The task before us now is to hit our Congressional representatives even harder with additional letters, petitions, meetings, letters to the editor, news stories, etc. to convince them of the need to have a portion of that money re-directed to address Dauphin Island's erosion problems. If we are committed and do not give up, we should be able to ultimately influence our representatives to make that happen. However, if our representatives continue to ignore Dauphin Island's erosion problems, then we need to let them know we will remember their lack of support the next time they come up for election.The Town of Dauphin Island will lead a diverse delegation of interests to meet with the Corps on this issue on July 8. Hopefully, the Town will also hold similar meetings with our Congressional representatives. In addition to those efforts, each of us must make these individuals know that we expect them to begin fighting for us on this issue. If anyone is interested in working on this issue, please call Glen Coffee at 861-7475. Please forward this information to anyone you think would be interested in helping to solve Dauphin Island's erosion problems".
The next DIPOA Board of Directors will be held Thursday, July 9 at 6 pm in the lower level of the Isle Dauphine Club.
All the best,
William (Bill) Harper
President
Town of Dauphin Island
THE TOWN OF DAUPHIN ISLAND WILL BE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR ADVERTISEMENT ON THE NEW SHUTTLE BUSES. ONLY 24 SPACES AVAILABLE – APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AS A 1ST COME 1ST SERVE BASIS. SPACES WILL BE 12” X 24” AND RENT WILL BE FOR 12 MONTHS AT $500.00 (NO EXCEPTIONS). THE TOWN WILL BE ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS STARTING JUNE 9TH AT TOWN HALL.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT TOWN HALL 251-861-5525.
GIVE DAUPHIN Island residents credit for abandoning the dubious, costly and temporary protection of government-funded sand berms.
The Dauphin Island Town Council recently voted down a proposal to ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fund yet another sand berm on the island's rapidly eroding west end. Since 2002, the pounding waves of the Gulf of Mexico have destroyed two berms. Tropical Storm Isidore wiped out the first and Hurricane Gustav flattened the second one.
Clearly, it's time for island residents to pursue a better answer to the erosive force of the Gulf. The sand berms cost taxpayers about $4.5 million, but the protection they provided was limited and temporary. Homeowners on the fragile west end have watched that part of the island gradually disappear under the waves' assault. They understand better than government bureaucrats that, as a town council member put it, a berm is only "a Band-Aid."
At a meeting last month, property owners voiced unanimous opposition to a plan to build a berm along the south edge of Bienville Boulevard. Many residents were concerned that the berm would limit access to their beachfront homes.
The larger issue, however, is the costly futility of constructing berms that can't survive Gulf storms.
Town officials understand that the only long-term solution to the west end's woes is a beach renourishment project designed to preserve the entire barrier island. Renourishment projects have restored beaches in Baldwin County and helped fortify threatened beaches on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
In an effort to save Mississippi's barrier islands, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to dredge 22 million cubic yards of sand — some of it from sources in Alabama. Dauphin Island officials understandably wonder: Why isn't our island included in that project?
One of the reasons that Dauphin Island is shrinking is that the Corps of Engineers has dredged 20 million cubic yards of sand from the Mobile Ship Channel. In an op-ed column published by the Press-Register, Scott L. Douglass, a professor of civil engineering at the University of South Alabama, wrote that the dredging created a "sand deficit" for Dauphin Island's beaches.
In our view, Congress and the Corps of Engineers should do their part to help restore Dauphin Island. The island is an economic asset for Alabama and a national ecological treasure.
So let's stop building berms — and start replenishing the island's dwindling supply of sand.
ACP Real Estate, Inc.
www.acpinfo.com
REAL ESTATE SALES – VACATION RENTALS – PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
251-861-3311 Local • 866-861-3311 Toll Free • 251-861-3366 Fax
900 Bienville Blvd. – P.O. Box 1177 – Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528
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