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Eastern Shore, AL

Business & Industry

Business on the Eastern Shore is booming — in fact, the Eastern Shore’s economic picture has never looked healthier. There are more than 6,000 established businesses in Baldwin County. The area’s entrepreneurial spirit is strong, with approximately 170 new businesses starting each year and business growth increasing more than 170 percent in six years.

The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce
The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce works in partnership with local city governments, the Baldwin County Commission, the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, SCORE (Service Core of Retired Executives), and the SBA (Small Business Administration) to enhance the thriving business environment of our communities.

Celebrating 85 years of supporting and building businesses on the Eastern Shore, the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce is committed to economic development. The Chamber’s mission is to support stability and growth for the business community by providing services that cultivate economic expansion and community development. Through its collaborative network, the Chamber fosters collective business accomplishments that may be difficult for an individual business to achieve on its own.

Blueprint for Tomorrow
Business leadership is the watchword for the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce as it fosters a healthy economic climate as well as a favorable cultural environment for the businesses and communities in the area. In 2006, the Chamber met its $2 million fundraising goal for Blueprint for Tomorrow, a five-year economic and community development plan for Daphne, Fairhope and Spanish Fort that combines the strength of the partners to accomplish these goals. Key components of the strategic plan include Governmental Affairs, Economic Development, Education, Transportation, the Environment and Tourism.

The Chamber has adopted an active role in accomplishing the goals set forth in the five-year plan, working in partnership with our city and county governments. In addition, the Chamber continues to advocate pro-business policies and support legislation for the business community.

Promoting the Eastern Shore
The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce plays the lead role in promoting our Eastern Shore area. The Chamber works with media, conventions, writers and FAM tours to get the word out about our quality of life and business opportunities.

ESchamber.com received nearly 2 million visitors this past year. The Chamber operates the only privately run welcome center on Interstate 10 in Alabama. In addition, the Chamber answers more than 100,000 phone calls annually and assists thousands of visitors at the office in downtown Fairhope and at the Visitor Center at the Scenic Overlook office.

The Chamber provides demographic information about the region and also stands ready to assist businesses in their search for the financial, educational and technical resources our area offers.

Tourism
The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce understands that tourism is vital to economic growth in the area, and the Chamber plays a major role in disseminating information and promoting our communities to prospective members and visitors.

Leadership Training
With the area’s rapid growth, leadership is more important than ever in decision-making on the Eastern Shore. The Chamber once again takes a proactive approach through leadership training in the area.

Prior to elections, the Chamber holds a three-week community leadership training course. The course, which covers a range of topics from “How to Run for Office” to “How to Properly Run a Board Meeting,” is perfect for individuals who wish to run for office as well as a new bank manager who needs skills for a seat on the board of directors.

The Chamber also provides leadership training through Annual Leadership Trips. It is the Chamber’s premise that relationship-building skills are instrumental in accomplishing goals. In addition, it’s vital to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of other communities. At the end of the trip, participants know it’s important to bring the information back home and add it to the community’s repertoire of tools.

Other Chamber Initiatives
• Arranging and hosting meetings with legislators and other elected officials and members, the Chamber formulates an annual Legislative Agenda and identifies key issues that impact area businesses.

• The Eastern Shore Chamber Economic Development Council takes a proactive approach to business and works on a variety of projects. One such project interviews existing businesses, helps identify needs and assists with plans for future growth. Strategic involvement allows the Chamber to pinpoint the issues that impact the growth of businesses in our communities.

• Each year, the Chamber hosts a Business Expo to provide local businesses with exposure to area businesses as well as to the community at large.

• The Chamber offers networking opportunities throughout the year for both small and large businesses.

Baldwin County Incubator
Want to grow a new business? How would you like advice from experts in the community? By all means, check out the Baldwin County Incubator.

The incubator is a joint effort of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance; local chambers of commerce, including the Eastern Shore Chamber; SCORE; and many businesses, educational institutions and government agencies throughout the county. A sub-council of the Economic Development Council works on business-education seminars conducted in partnership with SCORE and the SBA.

Great News About Growth
Baldwin County is gaining a national reputation for its outstanding economic development efforts. Recently Forbes magazine rated our area one of the top 50 places to start and grow a business. The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA) was chosen by Site Selection magazine as one of the top 20 economic development organizations in North America. BCEDA’s five-year goals of attracting and supporting business and industry include $250 million in new capital investment, $15 million in workforce and business grants, 200 relocations, and 300 existing business interviews.

In 2006, Baldwin County was listed as Alabama’s only representative among the 100 fastest-growing counties in America. New U.S. Census Bureau estimates show that Baldwin County gained roughly 6,000 new residents between July 2004 and July 2005, and the county’s population now numbers approximately 163,000 people. The county’s 3.8 percent growth rate was the key factor in pushing it into the ranking of number 100 on the nationwide list.

There’s plenty of expert help in place for new businesses wishing to join the region’s economic boom. The Chamber partners with SCORE, a resource partner of the Small Business Administration. SCORE offers free confidential business counseling for existing and new businesses. Contact the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce at 251-928-6387 for an appointment.

Area Industries
According to BCEDA, Baldwin County’s major industries include farming, forest products, aviation, software development and computer equipment. Along the Eastern Shore, the largest industry sectors are medicine, finance and the aeronautical industry, which is growing by leaps and bounds.

Although much of Baldwin County is comprised of rolling rural farmland, the Eastern Shore boasts more than 1,500 businesses with roughly 13,000 employees. A few of the largest employers include Thomas Hospital in Fairhope; Mercy Medical and Wal-Mart Super Center in Daphne; Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club and Spa in Point Clear; and the Westminster Village retirement complex in Spanish Fort. Print Excel, a national business, has its headquarters on the Eastern Shore in Montrose.

Bottom line — the business community is experiencing unparalleled growth. With the Chamber’s involvement and with the Eastern Shore cities, county and other partners, we are creating a wonderful quality of life and an abundant business environment. We invite you to join us.