Author: Shannon Jackson

Southeast Gas recently announced that Claire Christie will serve as an Economic Development Summer Intern as part of the company’s participation with the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s (EDAA) Summer Internship Program. Christie is one of six students selected for internships through the 10-week EDAA program, which begins June 5. As an intern for Southeast Gas through this program, she will work within a variety of areas related to economic development, including work at state, regional, local, and private organizations. Southeast Gas Director of Economic Development Vince Perez looks forward to the company’s participation in this program, and has first-hand insight to the value of the internship. “Having served as an EDAA intern myself, I understand the benefit of meeting and working alongside economic professionals while still a student,” says Perez. “It was important to me that Southeast Gas participate with the program because of our commitment to increasing the…

Southeast Gas congratulates its Community Service Scholarship recipients for 2023. Twenty-five students demonstrated their outstanding commitment to serving others, and will receive a $1,500 scholarship to the university, college, or technical school of their choice. This year’s recipients are: Allie Bedsole, Rehobeth High School; Madison Page Bledsoe, Ashford High School; Preston Bourne, New Brockton High School; Kennedy Bullard, Straughn High School; Orlandria Chitty, Abbeville High School; Paine Cole, Dothan High School; Caroline Courson, Opp High School; Mackenzie Daniel, Luverne High School; Lauren Dodson, Cottonwood High School; Kaylen Fuller, Highland Home High School; Madeline Hamilton, Headland High School; Ella Hogan, Enterprise High School; Haley Jones, Daleville High School; Khloe’ Lampley, Pike County High School; Kimberly Morton, Russell County High School; Eli Nichols, Brantley High School; Kayley Peebles, Red Level High School; Catherine Pettie, Andalusia High School; Jacob Pryor, Greenville High School; Marlon Stabler, Carroll High School; Katie Wilkins, Charles Henderson High…

The Alabama House and Senate have been in full swing since the 2023 legislative session began in early March, and one of their top priorities has been economic development and job creation. At the top of the legislature’s list of economic development priorities is the reauthorization and strengthening of two critical economic development programs – the Alabama Jobs Act and the Growing Alabama Credit. Before we get into these important incentive programs, let’s talk about what economic development really means. To some, any progress in a community would be considered economic development, and they’d be right.  Bike lanes, new retail, improved walkability, new healthcare infrastructure and other improvements all make a community’s quality of life and attractiveness better for both existing and incoming citizens.  The question is how do you create these community improvements? The view shared by the hard-working people at the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Business Development Division,…

Southeast Gas recently announced Community Betterment Funds allocations for 14 cities in Alabama. This year Southeast Gas will provide $164,000 to economic and community development agencies to enhance existing industry and recruit new businesses to Southeast Alabama. Community Development Funds are just one way that Southeast Gas invests in communities throughout Southeast Alabama. In 2022, the company restructured its existing approach to economic development by adding an emphasis on community development to support existing and potential commercial businesses in cities served by Southeast Gas. Southeast Gas Director of Community Development Jimmy Black is working alongside local economic development agencies, chambers of commerce, and organizations like the Alabama Retailers Association and the Alabama Center for Real Estate to support and enhance efforts to locate and retain commercial entities in the region. “Helping communities thrive is our priority,” says Black. “For some communities, that may look like helping improve and market undeveloped…