Economic Development Department*
Shayla Jones Beaco, B.S., M.C.P.
Director “Working to make Prichard an economically sustainable community.”
Economic Development Mission Statement
The mission of the City’s Economic Development Department is to create job opportunities for the citizens of Prichard and to enhance the community’s overall economic sustainability through industrial, commercial and retail growth.
Department Program Areas: Economic Development
Business Recruitment / Development
Workforce Development
Land Use / Planning
Site Selection
Downtown Revitalization
Special Projects
Business Recruitment / Development:
* Surveying Prichard Businesses to better understand operations.
* Profiling and marketing the Prichard Community’s Economic Development potential to large scale retail and industrial investors.
* Serving as an advocate for small businesses within City government.
* Identifying and informing business prospects of available tax incentives and abatements.
Workforce Development:
* Partnering with Bishop State’s Adult Education Division to develop the Soft Skills Training Program for Prichard residents.
* Collaborating with local companies to ensure that Prichard residents receive the training and skills necessary to obtain and retain employment opportunities at a livable wage.
* Developing workforce recruitment activities for area residents.
Land Use / Planning:
* Inventory of City properties having some economic development potential.
* Enforcing and interpreting State Dev. Codes, Zoning Ord. and Subdivision Regs.
* Facilitate the revision of development codes to better address Prichard’s future land use.
* Serving as a liaison between the City’s regulatory departments and developers to ensure that the necessary development codes and ordinances are adhered to and the process properly expedited.
* Staff Consultant to the Prichard Planning Commission.
Site Selection:
* Marketing the city’s extensive real estate assets to recruit business prospects.
* Identifying property for new commercial and industrial development opportunities.
* Maintaining inventory of available properties listed by local realtors.
Downtown Revitalization:
* Coordinate volunteer activities with downtown merchants.
* Provide small business development tools for entrepreneurs wishing to locate in Downtown Prichard.
* Coordinating business training programs for downtown merchants.
* Marketing real estate investment opportunities in Downtown Prichard.
* Development of Downtown revitalization activities list
Special Projects:
* 2010 Census Bureau Local Address Update
* Prichard Foreign Trade Zone and TIF District Implementation
* Drafting Minority Business Contract Policy to ensure that local contractors receive business opportunities with the Alabama Motorsports Park.
* Facilitating Brownfield Inventory and Assessment with City consultant.
DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
* Expediting the City’s Permitting Process
* Texaco Gas Station / North of I-65
* Texaco Gas Station / South of I-65
* Walgreen’s Pharmacy
* UPS
* Coordinating Operation Career Ready – City’s Workforce Development Initiative
* Drafting the City’s Hold Harmless Agreement
* Collaborating with federal, state, local and private economic development organizations that are able to make resources available for Prichard businesses and industries
DEPARTMENT GOALS & OBJECTIVES
* Coordinating a second Job Fair in conjunction with Operation Career Ready Prichard
* Implementation of the City’s Foreign Trade Zone Incentive and TIF District.
* Revising the City’s Zoning Ordinance
* Drafting a sidewalk and landscape ordinance as an addition to the Zoning Ordinance.
* Assisting with the development of a land disturbance ordinance
* Developing a quarterly newsletter for Prichard’s Downtown Merchants and local businesses keeping the informed of issues impacting their business operations.
* Draft the City’s WBE and MBE contract policy for the Alabama Motorsports Park.
* Profiling City properties for warehousing and distribution facility prospects
* Partnering with local developers to attract commercial and retail opportunities
How to Contact Us:
Prichard Economic Development Department
Physical Address
4103 St. Stephens Road
Eight Mile, Alabama 36613
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