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Mobile & Baldwin Counties – Alabama

Mobile County

The Mobile MSA is located in southwest Alabama at the head of Mobile Bay. The region includes Mobile and Baldwin counties, and covers an area of 2,829 square miles. With an estimated population of 564,013 in 2005, the Mobile Bay area MSA is the second largest metro area in the state behind Birmingham. As a port city, Mobile's culture has historically been shaped by the diverse cargo and exotic travelers that consistently passed through the Bay. Their legacy is written across the area in art, architecture, food, and religion. Mobile is a city that offers the amenities and infrastructure of a major metropolitan area, yet has retained its sense of community and friendliness.

Pro-Business Environment
Mobile's Alabama State Docks is currently undergoing the largest expansion in its history by expanding its container processing and storage facility and increasing container storage at the docks by more than 1,000%. Mobile is also in the race to become home to the nation's largest military contract in history, a $200+ billion air force tanker project, which would generate over 5,000 high-paying jobs in Mobile, pushing the city to the very front of the nation's most prosperous cities. The rapidly growing auto industry in Alabama has resulted in more than 2,000 new jobs created in Mobile.

Mobile has most recently made national headlines with the announcement that ThyssenKrupp will build a $3.7 billion steel manufacturing facility in North Mobile County. This plant represents the single largest investment in the United States. The Retirement Systems of Alabama recently completed a restoration of the historic Battle House Hotel, as well as construction of the RSA Tower, a 35-story, 500,000 square foot office building. The RSA Tower is now the tallest building in Alabama and one of the ten tallest buildings on the Gulf Coast. Even prior to these nationally recognized projects, however, Mobile has been valued for its ideal port location, and has served as a crossroads for travelers and businesses alike. As a Right to Work state, Alabama brings companies a highly attractive climate in which to do business. Home to numerous manufacturing and high-tech facilities, oil and gas companies, bio-medical, paper, and paper product companies, Mobile offers a diverse economic base and is home to nationally recognized companies such as Big 10 Tires, Chapura, Cooper T. Smith, Stevedoring, Integrity Media, SSi group, and Mentor Graphics.

Diversifying Economy
Mobile's economy, traditionally dominated by the chemical and paper industries, is continuing to expand and diversify. While the chemical industry remains as a vital element, the area has successfully diversified its economy away from its traditional paper and chemical industry reliance. The thousands of businesses in the Mobile Bay area make it a center for finance, healthcare, education, manufacturing, transportation, construction, distribution, retail trade, and technology. Conventions and tourism have become growing influences in the economy with Mobile serving as a regional convention center with its 317,000-square-foot, $50 million convention facility. In May of 2006, Mobile was ranked by Southern Business and Development Magazine in the "Top 10 Mid-Markets with Highly-Diverse Economies."

Summary
Mobile County's strategic location and exemplary infrastructure make it an ideal center for business and the reasons why it has prospered. The impressive quality of life, diverse cultural and recreational activities, low cost of living, close distance to the beach, and temperate climate add to the area's attractiveness. With so many exciting things occurring in Mobile, it will continue to attract residents and businesses to this progressive city.

Mobile County, the second largest county in Alabama, and it is still growing at an amazing rate. Mobile is rich in southern charm and hospitality. With a population of more than 399,000, Mobile County is located in the extreme southwestern corner of the state, covering over 1,200 square miles. The county is bordered on the east by Mobile Bay and the Mobile Tensaw River Delta - the largest inland delta in the nation; and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, offering endless water-related recreation and commerce opportunities.

Baldwin County
When most people think of Baldwin County, Alabama, they think of beautiful beaches, first class golf courses, and unlimited recreational opportunities. A lush green paradise surrounded on all sides by one form of water or another, Baldwin County has become known as fisherman's haven and a golfer's dream. The land contains a bounty of wildlife, natural and protected, that is harvested by the locals through hunting and fishing. Water sports abound, in fresh and salt-water, with boating, jet skiing, surfing, water skiing, and swimming among just a few of the activities available for the avid water enthusiast.

However, as the largest and second fastest growing county in Alabama, Baldwin County is attracting more than just vacationers. Forbes Magazine rated the area as one of the top 50 small metro areas to start and grow a business. In fact, business growth has increased over 170% in six years. Baldwin County is attracting and growing businesses like Ace Hardware Distribution Center, Goodrich Aerospace, Pro-Cell Plastics, and Mountz Tools, just to name a few.

The explosive population growth and continuing prosperity of Baldwin County is astounding as well. The overall population has increased nearly 59% since 1990, and is expected to continue to grow 11% over the next five years. The average annual family household income is over $71,000, and per capita income is above the national average. Over half of all Baldwin County residents have attended college. The EASI Quality of Life Index for Baldwin County is 178 - high above the U.S. National Average of 100.

Baldwin County Facts:
• $3.9 billion in sales in 2001 - up 170% since 1996 (MarketPlace)
• 1.7 million other businesses within a 500 mile radius
• Cost of living is 60% of the national average (Monster.com)
• Quality of Life Index is 178% of the national average (EISI, Inc)