Business and Industry
Much growth in the past few years has created a wealth of jobs in Baldwin County, which can be seen in the low unemployment rates. Baldwin County unemployment totaled 4.3 percent in July 2008, which is significantly below the national average of 5.7 percent.
Comparatively, the unemployment rate of the state of Alabama was 5.1 percent. Other planned future developments in the area will bring about additional revenue and create new jobs.
Tourism is a major industry in Baldwin County. About 4.7 million travelers visited in 2007, producing $2.3 billion of income. According to the State of Alabama Department of Labor in the combined counties of Baldwin, Escambia, Monroe, Clarke, Choctaw, Washington, Mobile and Conecuh, service-related industries are the top performers. Second in line for top service-oriented industry is retail trade. The retail industry will continue to grow with the recent construction of millions of square feet of retail space and future plans to build more space.
The top producer in the goods producing industry is manufacturing. The items fabricated can easily be distributed via the area’s rail systems, airports, interstates, inland waterways and deep-water ports. This system of production not only creates jobs in the manufacturing plants, but also in the transportation and trade sectors.
These trends are mirrored in Baldwin County alone. Retailer Wal-Mart holds the number two spot for the top 10 non-manufacturers in the county. However, it is the Baldwin County Board of Education who has the highest employment rate in the county. Manufacturing is also a front-runner with Standard Furniture in Bay Minette employing 1,400 workers.
A bevy of resources exist for companies to start, boost or relocate their business through financing options and supplemental education and training. In addition to bank loans, grants, tax incentives, bonds and other non-traditional loans are available to supplement funding. The Adult Training Program, CISCO Networking Training Academy, the Alabama Works Program and several more programs and courses provide training and education. Currently, over 540,000 square feet of space is available in already existing buildings and over 10,000 acres are open for development.
Top 10 Manufacturers in Baldwin County
Company — City — Employees
Standard Furniture — Bay Minette — 1,400
Goodrich Aerospace and Aerostructures Group — Foley — 791
Mobile Lumber — Bay Minette — 311
Ace Hardware Support Center — Loxley — 310
Vulcan, Inc. — Foley — 250
Solutia — Foley — 185
Bon Secour Fisheries — Bon Secour — 180
PrintXcel — Fairhope — 165
Quincy Compressors — Bay Minette — 147
International Paper — Bay Minette — 130
As reported by the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance - Updated 2007
Top 10 Non-Manufacturers in Baldwin County
Baldwin County Board of Education — Baldwin Cty. — 3,044
Wal-Mart Super Centers — Bay Minette, Daphne, Foley, Gulf Shores — 1,290
Thomas Hospital — Fairhope — 1,110
Grand Hotel (Marriot Corp.) — Fairhope — 590
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center — Foley — 550
Baldwin County Commission — Baldwin Cty. — 475
Mercy Medical — Daphne — 425
North Baldwin Infirmary — Bay Minette — 300
Flowerwood Nurseries — Loxley — 260
Hazels Family of Restaurants — Gulf Shores, Orange Beach — 270
As reported by the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance - Updated 2007
 |
 |
|---|---|
 |
|
