New position will assist rural areas across state

Published 4:12 pm Monday, April 1, 2019

Alabama Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma, is celebrating the creation of a new position that will work hand-in-hand with rural communities to boost their abilities to attract new businesses and projects to their area.

The Alabama Department of Commerce recently created the Rural Development Manager position to enhance rural communities’ competitiveness and assist them in attracting new projects and opportunities.

“As Ranking Minority Member on the House Urban and Rural Development Committee and a member of the Rural Caucus, I am glad to know the State is focusing more attention on the needs of rural Alabama,” Chestnut said. “I have maintained from my opening speech on the House floor that we must lift up rural Alabama, in particular the Black Belt Region, if we are to lift up our entire State.”

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Chestnut noted that his committee was “instrumental” is seeing the position come to life.

“Our local leadership must get out front on this so we are foremost in their minds when projects to which are a good fit for our area arise.,” Chestnut said.

Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said in a press release that he hopes to have the position filled within the coming weeks.

“While we have had success in facilitating rural economic development, we want to continue to improve and do more to help the state’s rural counties and small towns and cities,” Canfield said. “This specialist is going to help communities become better equipped to work on job-creating projects while also providing connectivity to Commerce’s project managers and to any other state resource or agency that is needed as part of a team.”

The job description for the position states that the Rural Development Manager will provide technical assistance to rural communities being considered for economic development projects and will provide ongoing training and assistance to communities looking to become more competitive.

“…Our longer-term commitment has always been to focus more attention and provide additional resources to stimulate rural development,” Canfield said. “The creation of the rural development manager position will move that effort forward.”