COLBERT COUNTY
Colbert County’s manufacturing and industrial base has seen some significant growth in recent months with developments that will bring thousands of jobs to the area.
Advanced automated manufacturing company Hadrian opened a $2.4 billion, 2.2-million-square-foot Factory 4 facility near Cherokee, where it will produce components for Virginia-class attack submarines and Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. Virginia Transformer, a power transformer manufacturer, announced plans in May to establish a 600,000-square-foot facility in the Shoals Research Airpark.
In April, Colbert County began construction on a $35 million jail and justice center that will replace the current facility in downtown Tuscumbia. The new complex will house more inmates and also will include a new administration building for the sheriff’s office.
Also in April, Spring Valley Solar, a subsidiary of Urban Grid, secured Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) backing for a planned 178-megawatt solar facility that will occupy roughly 740 acres along Highway 43 just south of Tuscumbia. Spring Valley Solar will construct, operate and maintain the facility under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
In Tuscumbia, the county seat, a major renovation has been underway in Spring Park, which suffered severe tornado damage last year. Plans include fixing the miniature train tracks, reassembling the carousel and repairing buildings and barbecue pits. The park also recently added two new playgrounds, a new ice cream stand, a bridge and upgraded restrooms. Looking forward, the park will add walking trails and lights for the nighttime water shows.
Bank Independent completed construction in November 2025 on a new Team Campus in Muscle Shoals that consolidates 234 team members from five locations across Lauderdale and Colbert counties. The development, which is not a customer-facing sales office and does not replace any existing Bank Independent sales offices, is located on 50 acres and includes a 97,419-square-foot, four-story main building and a 12,000-square-foot warehouse.
Newly elected Sheffield Mayor Bryan Van Devender launched the Sheffield 365 Initiative last December, a yearlong city improvement and compliance program that focuses on raising baseline city maintenance standards and fixing infrastructure like sidewalks to revitalize the community. The plan also includes a one-year compliance timeline that started in March for property owners to bring neglected structures and overgrown lots up to standard.
Sheffield City Schools has secured a $10 million bond and is in phase one of improvements including stadium renovations, parking upgrades and facility upgrades; the mayor tied school investment to broader city improvement and paving projects scheduled for 2027.
LAUDERDALE COUNTY
A massive multi-use community facility is in the works on Highway 72 in Lauderdale County. The master plan for the Lauderdale County Agricultural Events Center, a 167-acre complex that will accommodate concerts, rodeos, athletic competitions and other events, includes a main events center, a multipurpose exposition hall, a covered livestock arena, a stall barn, an open show ring, RV hookups and an equipment/storage building. The mixed-use development also will integrate the Lauderdale County Schools innovation center, a workforce career training facility, green spaces, restaurants, retail shops and a hotel. It is expected to be complete by September 2027.
In April, the Lauderdale County Board of Education approved plans to reconfigure Brooks Elementary, Central Elementary and Lauderdale County Elementary from Pre-K through 6th grade schools into two separate grade-level schools — Pre-K through 2nd grade primary schools and 3rd through 6th grade elementary schools — on each campus.
In Florence, the county seat, plans are underway for a new city hall located downtown at Tennessee and Pine streets. The $42 million facility is expected to be approximately 60,000 square feet and will represent one of the city’s largest public investments. In addition to providing a new space for city government officials, the project demonstrates the city’s continued commitment to redevelopment efforts in the downtown area.
Two major hotel projects also are in progress downtown and will significantly expand the city’s hospitality offerings.
Hotel Wilson, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property, is a 110-key hotel planned for East Tennessee Street and within walking distance of restaurants, shopping, the University of North Alabama (UNA) and other attractions. Plans for the hotel property also include a restaurant, cafe, bar and public parking. The hotel is projected to be completed at the end of next year.
The Reverb by Hard Rock hotel will replace the former Days Inn on South Court Street. The music-themed, 155-room property overlooks the Tennessee River and will include dining, entertainment, meeting and event spaces. It is expected to open by the end of 2028.
The UNA Lions played their first home football game at the new Bank Independent Stadium in September. The $65 million multipurpose stadium accommodates up to 10,000 spectators and features suites, premium seating, club areas, concessions and event space. Events held at the stadium, which is within walking distance of downtown Florence, are expected to bring thousands of additional visitors to the area.
To accommodate the increased activity, Pine Street is undergoing improvements that will help with traffic flow, pedestrian access and connectivity between the university and downtown. Work includes resurfacing, new striping, a center turn lane, bicycle lanes and pedestrian improvements. Additional grant-funded work will add sidewalks, ADA-accessible ramps, lighting and landscaping along portions of Pine Street.
Another major development taking shape is West Village, located on the former Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital property. Plans for the neighborhood-style mixed-use development include roughly 181 residential units, with a mix of apartments and single-family courtyard homes, along with retail and commercial spaces, a grocery store and workforce housing. Portions of the project received a major boost this year through a $9 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation.
Last year, the city opened a new tennis and pickleball complex at Veterans Park. The $12 million facility includes 12 hard tennis courts, six clay tennis courts, 14 covered pickleball courts and six outdoor pickleball courts. The complex gives residents a major new recreational amenity and expands the city’s ability to attract tennis and pickleball tournaments, another benefit to local hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
Renovations are underway at McFarland Park, including improvements to the RV park with upgraded camping sites, utilities and roadways as well as improvements at McFarland Point Pier. The RV park and pier projects represent a nearly $6.5 million investment and support an area that already is heavily used for camping, boating, fishing, festivals and other outdoor recreation.
“The vision for Florence can’t be short-term,” says Mayor Ron Tyler, who took office last November. “We have to look at where we want this city to be 10, 20 and 30 years from now and make decisions today that help us get there. We don’t need growth just to say we’re growing. We need smart growth — projects that create jobs, bring people here, improve quality of life and make Florence stronger for the next generation.”
This article appears in the October 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
