Jefferson County Commissioners to distribute millions to help develop local cities

Jefferson County commissioners are working out how they'll distribute more than six million dollars to help boost the economies of local cities. And, it may mean saying no to big box businesses.

The County is currently in talks with the City of Warrior to further develop the Hallmark Farms area. The idea is to place retail space and an anchor business. But, there is also a move to help struggling cities like Fairfield, Brighton, Lipscomb, and Midfield.

Many of these towns were once thriving, but found their economies plummeting once corporations like Walmart or Lowe's moved out. These big box businesses take hundreds of jobs and millions of tax money along with them. Jefferson County commissioner, Lashunda Scales, says that could soon happen to Graysville, with last month’s closure of Lowe’s.

They are now looking at abandoned buildings in towns like Fairfield to encourage the development of homegrown businesses that will employ workers who live in Jefferson County and spend their money locally. Commissioner Scales says that will mean drawing a firm line with larger corporations who often accept county tax incentives, only to later pull out of the city that has become economically dependent on them.

“Once these tax abatements end, then you leave,” says Scales. “That's what creates a hole and creates blight. That's what we don't want. That's what's happening.”

Commissioners are also working to strengthen a skilled workforce in the county. Today, they approved an investment of $75-thousand dollars in Lawson State Community College's workforce training program.