Chilton County will soon be home to a new career technical and innovation center thanks to a partnership between the Chilton County School District and Jefferson State Community College. The Chilton County School District received a $10.5 million state grant for construction, and the Alabama Community College Board of Trustees voted unanimously last September to deed 10 acres of land adjacent to the Jefferson State Community College Chilton-Clanton Campus to the school district for the site of the new center.
“Clanton’s growth is being driven by a commitment to investing in our future, and the new Innovation Center by Chilton County Schools is a powerful example of that vision in action,” says Clanton Mayor Jeffrey Price. “By equipping students with the skills, training and exposure to modern industries, we are helping prepare the next generation to meet the workforce demands of tomorrow. Strong schools create strong communities, and this investment strengthens not only our students’ opportunities, but also Clanton’s ability to attract businesses, support economic growth and remain competitive for years to come.”
The two-story, 127,500-square-foot facility will offer 12 in-demand career technical training courses for area high school students and also will house a storm shelter. Its estimated completion date is January 2028.
Chilton County welcomed its first dedicated 24/7 ambulance service in December after securing an agreement with Regional Paramedical Services. The two-year contract will provide three countywide ambulances staffed with advanced EMTs or paramedics, along with a daytime “chase” unit to provide additional backup.
In June, the Chilton County Commission met for the first time in the newly constructed Chilton County Courthouse. The $32 million, 72,000-square-foot facility is located on a seven-acre site along Alabama Highway 145 and consolidates courtrooms, licensing and administrative offices to serve as a central hub for county operations. The city of Clanton is securing land to relocate the police department next to the new courthouse.
In April, the Chilton County Board of Education and the city of Clanton finalized a deal to build a new senior community center at the historic Adair property, the site of the original Chilton County High School, in downtown Clanton. The new facility also will serve as a professional development and conference space for the Board of Education. Plans for the new facility include a glassed-in porch and outdoor seating, a billiard room and an indoor walking track.
The Hampton Inn of Clanton officially opened in March, just in time to welcome summer travelers along I-65. The hotel, located just off Exit 205, is managed by Birmingham-based Mansa Hospitality and is the company’s ninth hotel in Alabama.
In February, Monumental Technologies, an audiovisual and IT infrastructure company, relocated from Thorsby to downtown Clanton where it will expand its services to include residential as well as commercial projects.
After years of renovations, the historic Peach Country Theater, formerly the Wadesonian Theater, welcomed patrons for the first time in decades with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house last fall. The venue hosts movies and concerts.
The Chilton County Strawberry Festival returned to Thorsby for a fifth year this April. The event has become one of the county’s most popular and draws thousands of visitors to celebrate local farmers and producers while they enjoy strawberry-inspired treats, arts and crafts booths, children’s activities, live entertainment and a “Best of Strawberry” competition.
The city of Thorsby received a $400,000 grant in February to upgrade water lines and sewers and resurface city streets. Looking forward, the city also has plans to seek funding to renovate Helen Jenkins Chapel, a historic site, and to turn old city tennis courts into pickleball courts.
In June, the city of Jemison celebrated the opening of a community center that accommodates 60 people. Located in a refurbished rescue building, the new center is run through the Jemison Public Library and is available to rent for $350 a day.
Located near Jemison in north Chilton County, Minooka Park is a popular destination for outdoor recreation, with 25 miles of trails for ATV and dirt-bike riding, horseback riding and hiking. Last fall, the park opened a new general store that provides essential items, snacks and gear for campers and visitors. The park also opened a new archery range in April.
In May, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) began a two-year, $22 million project to replace northbound and southbound I-65 bridges over Walnut Creek in Chilton County.
Last fall, the Chilton County Airport, also known as Gragg-Wade Field, received a $595,000 grant that will support an airfield pavement and maintenance project. The funds are part of more than $2 million awarded by ALDOT to 27 local airports as part of its Alabama Airport Funding Program.
Chilton County Schools (CCS) started the 2025-2026 school year having wrapped up several renovation projects, with more underway.
The auditoriums at Chilton County, Jemison, Maplesville and Thorsby high schools have new flooring and seating. The Chilton County High School auditorium, which hosts several county events including the Miss Peach Pageant, also has a new ceiling, lighting and two new video boards in the lobby.
The Jemison High School baseball and football fields have a new ticket booth, concession stands and restrooms. The baseball field also has new dugouts, canopies over the bleachers, new fencing, brick columns and a covered batting cage.
Maplesville High School’s George Walker Jr. Stadium will kick off the 2026 football season with a new concession stand, press box and goalposts, along with other upgrades.
In November, CCS purchased 15 acres on County Road 15 near Isabella High School in Maplesville to address parking, traffic overflow and pedestrian safety issues.
In Verbena, CCS is adding a new full-service kitchen, lunchroom and four classrooms to the O.J. McGriff Verbena Annex and will build a new gymnasium-anchored sports complex at Verbena High School. Both projects are expected to be complete by the end of this year.
This article appears in the August 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
