Promoting growth

Members of the new Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership are pictured from left. Buddy Bedwell, Nancy Gibson (Vice-Chairman), Tom Mucks of Funding Solutions Inc., Chip Harrigan (Chairman) and Paul Parham. Not Pictured are members Diana Fendley (Secretary/Treasurer) and Earlrae Nealey. See the adjacent story for more on the cooperative effort between Choctaw and Clarke counties.

Clarke and Choctaw county leaders have formed a new non-profit organization, named Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership (TREDP), an alliance to leverage the combined resources and assets of Clarke and Choctaw counties and create a regional approach to economic development. This new organization will be the primary driver for industry recruitment and other key initiatives to promote business investment and creation of new higher paying jobs in Clarke and Choctaw counties.

In August 2006, the Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership board agreed to undergo a regional assessment to better position the Clarke and Choctaw county region for success. Funding Solutions, Inc., an economic development consulting firm based in Austin, Texas with a successful track record of assisting many other communities in Alabama, was hired to conduct the assessment.

The purpose of the assessment is to gather input from leaders throughout the Clarke and Choctaw county area and to help shape a plan for the future. Public and private sector leaders will be interviewed to help determine the feasibility of a private/public campaign funding of at least $1.5 million over a five-year period (2007-2011).

Citing a need to create jobs and investment, Chairman Chip Harrigan said, "The regional approach to economic development is working in other areas...the go it alone theory will not work to compete against larger communities. This $300,000 a year budget for economic development will put our two-county area on the map."

The six member board for the Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership includes:

From Clarke County: Buddy Bedwell of Thomasville; Chip Harrigan of Grove Hill; and Paul Parham of Jackson.

From Choctaw County: Diana Fendley of Pennington; Nancy Gibson of Butler; and Earlrae Nealey of Gilbertown.

Local chambers and economic development organizations will be important strategic partners in the execution of the new regional plan. These organizations will have access to a new resource that will coordinate industrial and economic development efforts for the two counties. A new executive will be recruited for the Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership in mid-2007.

"Our hope is that the Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership will bring our two counties together to create new jobs and capital investment that will create success for each community in the future," Gibson said.

The Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership (TREDP) was formed to leverage the assets and resources of Clarke and Choctaw counties. The overall goal of TREDP is to seek new industry for the region and improve the quality of life for all residents in Clarke and Choctaw counties. The main office location for the Twin Rivers Economic Development Partnership is One Independence Square in Butler, in the office of the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce.

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