Shelby County
Shelby County is home to a mix of diverse communities that offer a variety of living experiences and business opportunities, helping it maintain its status as one of the state’s fastest-growing counties.
Destinations like Oak Mountain State Park and Cahaba River Park are part of what makes Shelby County a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
The county’s dining, retail and entertainment scene is growing and infrastructure projects are in progress, particularly around I-65 and U.S. Highway 31. The Alabama Department of Transportation announced a plan to widen I-65 to improve traffic flow, which is regarded as essential for accommodating the county’s growing population and increased commercial activity along the corridor. Upgrades to the intersection of U.S. 31 and U.S. 280 to alleviate congestion also are ongoing.
And public schools here earn high marks for quality.
Alabaster
Alabaster is the largest city in Shelby County. The community has completed a number of projects in the past year and half and has many new developments on the horizon.
In 2024, the city announced the start of construction on the District 31 project, a $240 million investment that will bring approximately 600,000 square feet of new retail, restaurant and hotel space to the northwest quadrant of U.S. 31 and I-65. Once complete, the project is expected to generate $2.8 million annually in new city sales taxes and an estimated $1.4 million in new school sales tax.
Also in the works is a new recreation center and library near the intersection of Thompson Road and Highway 119 with an adjacent retail development. The project will also include road improvements and new turn lanes at the intersection. Utility relocation is underway, and demolition of the old school buildings on the site is scheduled for early 2025.
Renovation of the Larry Simmons Stadium, the former Thompson High School football stadium, and the Jim “Peanut” Davenport baseball field, the former Thompson High School baseball stadium, wrapped up in early 2024. The stadium upgrades included new entrances, restrooms, ticket booths, concession stands and additional parking, while the baseball field got new turf, restrooms, locker rooms, concession stands and additional parking. These facilities will also tie into the new recreation center.
The first phase of a project to widen Highway 119 is complete and the city is working with the Alabama Department of Transportation to begin a second phase from Smokey Road to just south of Veterans Park as soon as possible.The city has also partnered with the county and Calera to fund widening of I-65 from Alabaster south to the county line.
The city celebrated the completion of its amphitheater and senior center expansion project in December 2024. The amphitheater will host mid-sized concerts and city events, and the senior center now has more space for its programs and events.
Patriots Park opened in the summer of 2023 and its playground, basketball court, pickleball courts and other amenities have been a big hit in the community. In response to public demand, the city is working with Shelby County to add more pickleball courts.
Veterans Park, the largest park in Alabaster, also saw some improvements in 2024, including the addition of eight new pickleball courts and an upgraded playground.
For the fourth year in a row, Alabaster City Schools received an overall A on its state report card for the 2023-2024 school year. Awarded by the Alabama State Department of Education, the grade is based on student achievement, academic growth, graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, college and career readiness and progress in English language proficiency among other factors. The district serves 6,353 students at its five schools.
Calera
Located south of Alabaster, Calera is one of the fastest growing cities in Alabama. With three exits along the I-65 corridor, access to Norfolk Southern and CSX Rail, numerous industrial sites and being home to the Shelby County Airport, Calera is well positioned to serve as a hub for manufacturing and distribution.
The nonprofit organization Calera Main Street, along with the City of Calera, the Shelby County Chamber and other public and private partners, has been working to revitalize the downtown area. Since being designated as a Main Street Alabama community in 2019, the project has helped attract 12 new businesses, reduced downtown vacancy from 84% to 24% and has had an overall $5 million impact on the Main Street district. In September 2024, Calera Main Street celebrated the installation of a new sensory-friendly playground.
In August 2024, the city’s Rolling Hills Conference Center and RV Park opened three pickleball courts to the public. The courts and a new parking lot were made possible by a grant provided by the Shelby County Commission’s Parks and Recreation Program. The city plans to construct additional pickleball courts at the Eagle Sports Complex.
Chelsea
Chelsea’s population is also booming; the city grew by more than 3% in 2023 and ranks among Alabama’s top-10 fastest growing cities.
The community welcomed its first hotel, an 87-room La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham, in November 2024.
The city also started adding tenants to the new Foothills Business Park in October 2023. The 13-acre development is located off Old Highway 280.
Other recent additions to the Chelsea business community include a Scooter’s Coffee and an American Family Care urgent care facility. An ABC wholesale distribution center opened in 2024.
Chelsea completed a $3.5 million expansion of its community center in October 2023 that included adding a second gym, new bathroom and locker rooms and two racquetball courts that will double as recreation rooms for homeschooled children.
Chelsea Park Elementary kicked off the 2024-2025 school year with some upgrades, including a new wing of eight classrooms and a new gymnasium.
Construction of a new football stadium for Chelsea High School wrapped up in June 2024. The stadium is equipped with a 2,892-seat grandstand, VIP seating and a press box.
Columbiana
Columbiana, the county seat, is located a short distance from I-65 and Highway 280 and is an Alabama Main Street Community.
In the center of downtown, Old Mill Square houses the Shelby County Arts Council as well as several event spaces and a four-acre park that can accommodate festivals with up to 10,000 attendees. Columbiana is also home to the Shelby County Historical Society Museum and archives and the Karl C. Harrison Museum of George Washington.
In July 2024, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced plans for a new shooting range just outside of town with rifle, pistol and other facilities.
Helena
The city of Helena broke ground on its future city hall building in May 2024. The $82 million project is part of the Helena Forward comprehensive plan, and construction is a collaboration between the city and U.S. Steel. The building will house the building inspection department, Helena’s utility departments and office spaces for the city’s department heads, as well as a senior citizen’s center.
Another part of the Helena Forward initiative is the Hillsboro Sports Complex, a 90-acre sports and leisure facility that will be located near Helena high and middle schools. The city unveiled the master plan for the complex in February 2024; Amenities include 16 tennis courts, six baseball fields, two multipurpose fields, a disc golf course, playground, splash pad and nature trail.
Hoover (Shelby County Portion)
While Hoover is primarily located in Jefferson County, a portion of the suburban community lies in northern Shelby County and includes the areas of Riverchase, Valleydale and Greystone. In 2024, the city made livability.com’s list of the top 100 places to live in the country based on criteria such as economy, housing, cost of living, amenities, transportation, environment, safety, education and health. It was the only city in Alabama to make the 2024 list.
Several major biotechnology companies have operations in Riverchase Corporate Park in Hoover. BioHorizons, one of the largest dental implant companies in the world, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. BioCryst Pharmaceuticals announced plans in 2023 for a $22 million project that will add approximately 20,000 square feet of lab space to its Discovery Center of Excellence located in Riverchase. The expansion will bring the company’s total footprint to about 49,000 square feet and is expected to add 70 Ph.D.-level jobs. Avanti Research, formerly Avanti Polar Lipids, which is headquartered in Alabaster, leased an additional 15,418 square feet of office space in Riverchase Corporate Park.
In June 2023, the city, along with Regions Bank and Healthcare Resources, announced plans to develop Riverwalk Village, a mixed-use community located in Riverchase Corporate Park that will focus on health and wellness. The 90-acre campus will include medical offices, walking trails and green spaces as well as residential units, retail spaces and 450,000 square feet of corporate office space.
In May 2024, the Hoover City Council approved a 15-acre mixed-use development off Inverness Parkway. The development will complement the property’s existing 450,000 square feet of class A office space with the additions of a blend of predominantly single-unit dwellings and 16,000 square feet of retail space, including a restaurant, boutiques, cafes and other high-end retail establishments.
Hoover is popular for outdoor activities and is home to a number of parks, golf courses, playgrounds and hiking trails. The Hoover Metropolitan Complex offers a variety of sports facilities and event venues, including the Finley Center, Hoover Met Stadium, outdoor fields, tennis courts and an RV park. Veterans Park on Valleydale added eight pickleball courts in July 2024, and the city hopes to add 24 more outdoor courts at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex.
Four Hoover City Schools are in Shelby County: Greystone Elementary School, Riverchase Elementary School, Berry Middle School and Spain Park High School. Hoover City Schools earned an A ranking on the 2024 state report card.
Montevallo
The quaint town of Montevallo is home to Alabama’s only public liberal arts college, the University of Montevallo. Not only is the university the city’s biggest economic driver, but the institution is also a part of the Montevallo Development Cooperative District (MDCD), a collaboration with the City of Montevallo and Shelby County to facilitate capital improvements throughout the city.
One project on the horizon for MDCD is improvements to the intersection of Highway 119 and County Road 22 in the Moores Crossroads area. According to Mayor Rusty Nix, Montevallo received close to $2 million in funds from the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II (ATRIP-II) for the project, and the city will contribute an additional $125,000 of MDCD funds. “This opens the door for transportation improvements and the future economic growth of Montevallo,” says Nix.
Montevallo has been a designated Main Street community since 2016 and received the 2024 Main Street America Accreditation for its commitment to public-private partnerships, revitalization, nurturing of small business and preserving historic areas.
The walkable downtown district has one-of-a-kind local shops, art galleries, restaurants and cafes and hosts festivals and events throughout the year.
In 2025, construction will begin on a new hotel development, Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, which will be designed to complement the downtown’s aesthetics.
“This will be a huge asset to our Main Street District for visitors coming in for festivals, a variety of unique events and regional travel ball sports,” says Nix.
Montevallo offers several outdoor recreational activities. Popular destinations include Orr Park, which borders Shoal Creek and features more than 50 fantastical tree carvings by local artist Tim Tingle, and Shoal Creek Park, which is a designated Alabama Birding site.
Pelham
There’s a lot to do in Pelham, Shelby County’s second-largest city. Pelham is home to Oak Mountain State Park, Alabama’s largest state park; Ballantrae Golf Club; and the Pelham Recreation Center.
In 2023, the city officially launched the Pelham Arts & Entertainment District, which includes Pelham Civic Complex; Campus 124, that features restaurant and entertainment options with open container privileges; and The Canopy at Oak Mountain, a mixed-use development with retail, restaurants and 234 housing units. In 2024, a new three-acre park adjacent to Campus 124 opened; it connects the six-and-a-half-mile Pelham Greenway trail system between Bearden Road and Oak Mountain State Park.
On the business front, in February 2024, Alabaster-based Specification Rubber Products announced plans to expand its operations with the purchase of a 120,000-square-foot warehouse in Pelham.
Philadelphia-based Bartlett Bearing Co. Inc. announced a 5,000-square-foot expansion for its Pelham warehouse in September 2023.
The city’s school system consists of two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. In August 2023, Pelham City Schools completed a $9 million purchase of 69 acres north of Highway 52 for a future school site.
This article appears in the February 2025 issue of Business Alabama.
