Fayette County
Fayette County has a beautiful historic courthouse and the city of Fayette has a picturesque downtown, with city officials investing in sidewalk improvements to walking trails, says Mayor Rod Northam. The city recently opened Bill’s Trail, a path that connects downtown Fayette at the Historic Depot Museum to Martin Luther King Drive. The city also opened an 18-hole disc golf course at Guthrie Smith Park.
Fayette is expected to complete its $3 million wastewater treatment facility in March and the Richard Arthur Field, the city’s airport, received an apron expansion and a new hangar installation is expected to be complete by April, Northam says.
Future projects include more sidewalks and a beautification project at the intersection of Alabama 18 and Alabama 171 that adds a mural, public art and improved parking, along with a roundabout on Highway 171 South, Northam says.
There also will be a new rural health clinic near Fayette Medical Center through an appropriation by U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, Northam says.
Two other projects hold a great deal of possibility, says Tom Wisemiller, president and CEO of the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance. One is the expected impact of the ongoing four-lane West Central Alabama Highway project that includes a connector from Fayette to Interstate 22.
“We have high hopes for this highway and not only will it help with access to industrial parks, but also the potential for growth,” Wisemiller says.
Another project that should positively impact the area is Warrior Met Coal’s huge investment in opening a third mine, Blue Creek, in Fayette County near the town of Berry, Wisemiller says. The company has a conveyor system between Blue Creek and longwall mines in Tuscaloosa County. The company produces metallurgical coal for steelmaking.
“We think this will have a positive impact on the county, both in high-paying jobs and the potential for more residential, retail and business growth,” he says.
The town of Berry has a new mayor, Mary Lollar. Berry recently secured a grant from the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils to address flooding issues. Lollar says installation of a new culvert, construction of a drainage ditch and reworking of the adjacent road and lot to improve water flow are nearing completion. In addition, several street resurfacing projects are completed or underway to improve safety and accessibility.
The Berry Water Department has been awarded the Eight-Year Optimized Plant Award from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
Some new small businesses also have located in Berry, including JJ and Nona’s and Anthony Hardware & Auto Parts. In addition, Lollar says the Berry Industrial Development Authority is securing funding for and planning a Berry Community Pavilion for town events, private gatherings and community activities.
She also says that Berry is developing an ecopark for school and public use, designed to include areas focused on environmental education, conservation and recreation. And the Berry Women’s Club has provided 10 cement planters around town as a beautification project.
Lamar County
In Lamar County, architects will be presenting plans and estimates for the county’s courthouse, says Suzanne Otts, county administrator. The courthouse stands empty at this point because of several needed repairs and overhauls. Employees and departments are being housed in an annex building.
“We will get recommendations to either build a new courthouse or renovate the existing courthouse,” Otts says. “The courthouse is very old, and we just want to be sure we do what truly needs to be done.” One thing is for sure — the county courthouse will stay in the same location, Otts says.
Lamar County recently reopened its airport after repairs and improvements.
The city of Vernon, the county seat, has experienced growth over the past four years. The city has invested $1.5 million on several projects and new businesses have increased, says Mayor Glenn Crawford.
Several small retail storefronts have been attracted to the area that is also home to the city pool, splash pad and other amenities, resulting in an increase in sales tax, says Crawford.
“Traffic counts are up and the city is growing,” Crawford says. “New homes and new families are coming also. We are a small city with big city plans and ways, while keeping life simple.”
The city of Sulligent has a new mayor, Randy Otts.
Marion County
In September 2025, the city of Hamilton, Hamilton Parks & Recreation and Marion County Schools cut the ribbon for the Buttahatchee River Sportsplex, a multi-purpose sports facility available for use by all Marion County schools and more. The $8.775Â million facility has a high-tech competition level running track, a jumbotron, fiber and advanced lighting, officials say. There also are covered areas for various community events and offices.
Local schools are holding events there now, and officials also hope that the sportsplex will become a destination attraction for larger sports events and activities around the state and region, generating more tourism dollars and growing the area.
Marion County schools also are busy working with Bevill State Community College to develop the Marion County College and Career Technical Academy, hoping to be open by this fall on the BSCC Hamilton campus. While the system already offers several career technical programs, this center will enhance those opportunities and offer more dual enrollment.
Also in 2025, the new Marion County Detention Center opened, primarily housing individuals awaiting trial or sentencing. It also will help relieve overcrowding. The $17 million facility can house more than 200 individuals. The building also houses the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and the EMA, officials say. It is in Bedford Industrial Park in Hamilton.
In the city of Winfield, police and court facilities are now out of city hall, moving into a former National Guard armory that is now city owned. And a new Pilot Travel Center on the I-22 Winfield exit has resulted in ALDOT grants to beef up the interchange, with hopes of attracting more hotels and other businesses, officials say.
The city of Winfield’s highly ranked city schools have a new home for career technical offerings as well as new offices for the board of education. The system purchased the 85,000-square-foot former SITEL call center building, and it has been converted into two floors of training classrooms and more, says Stefanie Weeks, career technical school principal. “We are fully into the building, and we are offering seven programs so far.” About 90% of Winfield city schools students participate, and the center is open to Marion County High School and Brilliant High School students as well. The other half of the building houses the board offices.
Tami Williams is the new mayor of Hamilton, and Bobby Bellew is the new mayor of Guin.
This article appears in the February 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
