Monroeville Mayor Charles Andrews may have summarized the five counties’ attitude best. He said, “If you cease to grow, you cease to exist.” Monroe, Escambia, Choctaw, Conecuh and Clarke counties share that sentiment. They are working to grow and seeing success in attracting new opportunities.
Monroe County
Take Monroe County, for example. Bad Boy Mowers did, with plans to invest $10.5 million in a tractor assembly plant at the former Vanity Fair distribution center. “These 50 new jobs will benefit local families and continue momentum for this community,” said Gov. Kay Ivey.
Clarke County
In a May 2024 news release, Clark Gas Co. announced the purchase of a 50,000-square-foot building formerly owned by the city of Thomasville’s Industrial Board. The $10 million distribution hub will create 40 new jobs and serve approximately eight regional warehouses in Alabama and beyond.
Medical expansion also is on Clarke County’s map with a $1 million allocation from U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures. “We have a major hospital expansion coming up,” notes Jackson Mayor Audra Raybon about the Jackson Medical Center, with a new clinic and plans for a new ER.
In addition, the city of Jackson recently formed a hospital authority and purchased Jackson Medical Center, making it a publicly owned medical facility.
Also in Thomasville, South Alabama Machine LLC is expanding with a 15,000-square-foot machine shop and plans to hire five to eight more employees.
Grove Hill plans to bring another fresh-water well online in early 2026, in hopes of enticing new business and industry.
“This new well will open a lot of doors for us without putting a strain on our water system,” Grove Hill Mayor Ross Wood says. “That has been one of the biggest hurdles we have faced.”
Escambia County
Brewton has become a significant contributor to Alabama’s high-technology sector, particularly with IT company Provalus providing client cloud, infrastructure, data analytics and automation services. The company also recruits locally, training workers for jobs in the company.
Brewton also is repurposing a city golf course into a modern driving range experience.
Escambia County’s western region is as an agricultural powerhouse, with expansive farms producing peanuts, cotton, corn and soybeans, alongside thriving cattle and livestock operations.
Choctaw County
McCarty’s Ferry Public Boat Ramp, south of Butler on Alabama’s Tombigbee River, completed major renovations in 2025. The project was a collaborative effort between the Alabama Department of Conversation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and the Choctaw County Commission.
“The much-needed improvements have significantly enhanced the facility’s functionality and accessibility,” says Dee Ann Campbell, executive director of the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce. “The move unites public and private entities to promote, expand and support local businesses and industry.”
Conecuh County
Evergreen is touting the advantages of small-town business locations, plus interstate and waterway access and two airstrips.
Conecuh County also is charting a new course for economic growth through a Maritime Development Partnership with Reid State Community College. This strategic alliance is designed to bolster Alabama’s shipbuilding capabilities and advance maritime technology.
Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Creek Indian Enterprises Development Authority (CIEDA) is the economic development arm of the Poarch Creek Indians and a strategic driver of business growth, as well as the fostering of valuable partnerships.
“Our diversification allows us to create more job opportunities across the state and beyond,” notes Cody Williamson, president and CEO of CIEDA. “With Wind Creek Hospitality properties stretching from Chicago to Curaçao, we have reinvested in more than 40 businesses across a range of industries.”
The CIEDA also oversees a diverse portfolio of non-gaming enterprises and investments, with a focus on creating business opportunities.
Emmett Burnett is a Satsuma-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
For more on Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe counties, see the links below:
This section appears in the March 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
