Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
With a fond look back at 2023 and an exciting look towards 2024, Prattville has a lot in store for what’s ahead this year. From new sidewalks, a few elections ahead to yet another new and beloved chicken restaurant opening soon, Prattville’s economic developer Bryant Whaley has high hopes in the new year. He praises Prattville and Autauga County for its industry and love for community as well as the organizations available to get out of living on low-income.
Whaley shared with Elmore Autauga News that new entertainment concepts and restaurants are coming to Prattville in 2024 and alluded to fun happenings in the near future. While it may not be a TopGolf facility where Guardian Credit Union is currently being built, Whaley assured EAN that big things are happening for 2024, some of which he just can’t share yet.
His view of potential in Prattville is why Whaley decided to come to Autauga county over 10 months ago. He said it is because Prattville is growing and people are staying in the area.
“I was the economic developer in Randolph County and was there for five years. I had success over there. I was from that area, and I had the opportunity to come over here. You don’t know until you try,” Whaley said.
A big part of Prattville’s most recent influx of population growth can be attributed to a few of the recent projects that have landed or have been completed in Prattville, such as James Hardie. But growth for the future will also utilize the location of where Prattville resides in central Alabama.
“A wide array of projects are going on right now. We’ve had great success in the wood and forestry industry, James Hardie and the success they’ve had. But with rail access and logistics being such an issue that it is now, having property near rail has helped a lot,” Whaley said.
Whaley confirmed that a lot of the draw for companies and industry to come to Prattville is the location, being close to two major interstates and the heart of Alabama.
“I think a lot of times people forget that economic development is not always a smoke stack. It’s a lot more of trying to build a workforce, quality of life, health care, and education. It’s a combination of it all and making sure people are supported,” Whaley said.
Whaley confirmed that the Alabama Department of Health and Guardian Credit Union
will be finishing up their facilities, James Hardie will be finishing their expansion in 2024.
“The location where we are has a great deal to do with the success. We’re at the center of industry, not that we’re doing as much as Huntsville or Mobile, but the fact that we’re the center of the state. From right here almost 75% of the us can be reached on a delivery truck within two days, and we’re near 11 major city ports within 400 miles. Eighty percent of the U.S. can be reached within two flight hours from here, over 3,600 miles of rail. We’re two and a half hours to Atlanta, and two and a half hours from Mobile. When I say we’re part of the center of industry, that’s what I mean by that. We’re near so many different things and we’re able to use that to say ‘hey come to Prattville,’” Whaley said.
While a lot of sites are being used across the state, industrial or commercial, location is a huge part of it. Whaley broke down a timeline of getting business and industry here. Opening a restaurant is much quicker than opening an industrial site. Many years quicker.
A restaurant can be open within six months to a year whereas an industrial project could be six months of talking, another three for a decision, ground break a year later and the facility being done a year or more after that, Whaley said.
“We’re in the middle of a decision now where they decide in January. I think they won’t break ground until the end of 2024 to 2025. Because they have to purchase the land, and then 2025 they’d have to build it. So, by 2026, it would be three years before even the first person started work, where Huey Magoo’s is selling product now in less than a year,” Whaley said.
But with Prattville’s prime location, Whaley stated we’re competing with the big dogs now, and as for 2024, Whaley stated there’s a lot of groundwork with a lot of different projects coming.
“A lot of projects just take time, and I know that’s so cliché but hopefully after the new year we can finally put a stamp on something. I want us to be the bride, not the bridesmaid. I hate seeing an empty building more than anything else. I want our buildings to be full. Just because someone may not see something going on, there’s stuff behind the scenes. There’s only one of me, and 40,000 in Prattville,” Whaley said.
With industry comes more jobs. Whaley stated that Alabama is one of the poorest states in the country and a lot of that has to do with companies looking for a niche or a specific skill set that not everyone may have. A lot of issues can be attributed to unskilled labor.
“I grew up in poverty, I know what that’s like, and I know how tough that can be going from paycheck to paycheck. I’ve learned people need to be informed of what’s out there, you don’t know what you don’t know,” Whaley said.
Whaley alluded to being so manufacturer heavy and job specific that companies have to train their workforce. This costs money, and a large part of the demographic without that specialized skill set that companies are looking for.
“Some are just at a certain skill and that certain skill is only giving them the opportunity to reach a certain level. That certain level (of skill) allows them to make a certain level (in the workforce),” Whaley said.
“We have to upscale our labor to train people to fit the needs of what companies are looking for. Then upscaled labor gets more money, but companies have to be willing to be flexible to meet the needs of the people.” Whaley said.
Whaley stated there’s a lot of programs out there that do offer free training and other services to upscale labor and skill sets for companies and individuals alike such as AIDT, Central Alabama Works, Alabama Office of Apprenticeships, and for current students the Autauga County Technology Center to name just a few.
“There’s a whole alphabet soup out there of organizations that help train and fit the needs of companies. They can train their people so it’s a win-win. That’s how we can work our way out of the poverty line, just inch by inch,” Whaley said.
But in regard to Prattville, Whaley stated that Prattville is the kind of city that is looking to help everyone and give them a chance to better themselves.
“My goal as an economic developer is that I want people to know about Prattville and to help everybody from all levels. And that’s from good quality of life, good industries, good leadership and safety. Also just being aware so we can get our piece of the pie too,” Whaley said.
