Daleville hires economic development company to recruit businesses, jobs

DALEVILLE, Ala. (WSFA) - The city of Daleville has entered a new contract to hire an economic development recruitment team for the city.

City leaders recently approved a new contract with Wiregrass Economic Development Corporation. The city will work with the group to map out the economic needs of the area and work to bring matching industry.

Daleville had worked with the group before, but under the last mayor’s leadership the city decided to cut ties. Instead, the city worked with Ozark-Dale County Economic Corporation.

Daleville Mayor Jayme Stayton says when he took office he felt like he wasn’t seeing enough growth. The city decided to end that contract. Stayton says he took over recruiting himself until he could find a better fit for the city and he feels like working with WEDC again is the right move.

“With everything I saw going on over there, I knew Daleville needed to be a part of it again,” said Stayton.

He says he actively worked to recruit industry for the area, but having someone who is solely dedicated to bringing industry is what the city needs.

“They ask, ‘What are you looking for?’ And we say, for instance, a grocery story and they start working on a grocery store,” said Stayton. “Or they may say, ‘These people contacted us and they’re looking for some place to go. Does Daleville have this land available?’”

The group recently worked closely with Coffee County leaders to help the town of New Brockton secure a new food distribution center - a $100 million investment.

“The proof is in the pudding - you can see what they’ve done and what they’ve brought here,” said Stayton.

Daleville’s Chamber of Commerce hopes the partnership will fill needs in terms on industry and jobs in the area.

“We really need industry, we need factories, we really need big corporations that can employ a lot of people with benefits,” said Daleville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kecia Ham. “Everybody here loves and appreciates Fort Rucker, but not everybody is affiliated or can get a job on Fort Rucker. Bringing industry would give them a better opportunity.”

The new contract costs the city about $11,000 annually. The new partnership officially starts in October.

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