While land is difficult to come by for new industries in Cullman, economic development opportunities remain on a strong track through expansions and retail and restaurant growth.

As one of the nation’s top micropolitans, Cullman has enjoyed re-investments in the community by existing industries for years, which have brought jobs and employment security to thousands of people, said Dale Greer, director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency, during a brief talk at Cullman Rotary recently.

The result is an unemployment rate among the best in the state at 2.8 percent. And more is afoot as the Toyota-Mazda $1.6 billion investment in Limestone County gets underway.

“They likely will draw some employees from here,” Greer said. “But there’s opportunities here that the suppliers in the automobile industry will have new demands and that’s good for our community. That 4,000 jobs at Toyota-Mazda is probably just the tip of the iceberg.”

While micropolitan ratings haven’t been released, yet, those scores are indicators of solid economic activity in the industrial sector, Greer said. The rating examines measurable investments and job growth, among other factors, which in last year’s release had Cullman second in the nation. Cullman has scored in the top tier consistently through the years.

Investments for industrial growth in Cullman in 2017 measure in the millions of dollars and produced several hundred new jobs, and that trend in 10 years has been consistent, he added.

“Cullman shows really well for investors,” Greer said. “We rank very high in Alabama for expansions. And just what is going on with retail and the restaurants has been incredible in recent years.”

With unemployment at a record low and new jobs coming in Limestone County, Greer said workforce availability will be the community’s biggest challenge.

“We just don’t have the land for something like Toyota-Mazda, but looking at the new opportunities from that project will be important for us,” Greer said.”The new Technology Village will also connect some dots for us. If you help people get started in your community, they will likely stay, and that means more growth.”

“I’ve been involved in economic development for 30 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” he added.