Tagged : beaches

After another record-breaking season of fun in the sun both guests and residents prompted the powers to approve a $48 million budget.  The plans include investing more in recreational facilities, strengthening public safety and provides a three percent cost-of-living raise to all city employees.

From the projected $48 million, $3 million is carried over from last year's budget, $25 million the city intends to draw, with $23 million carrying over from 2012.  Orange Beach expects to have a $4.5 million surplus for 2013 - $2.5 million more than expected - on December 31st.

"We had a huge surplus," Mayor Tony Kennon said.  "But you never know what next year brings, so, you know, make hay while the sun shines."  Total expenses in 2014 are expected to

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Local tourism officials expect the flights to boost the economy and none as much as the Alabama / Florida beaches along the Alabama Gulf Coast.  The trip to the beautiful white-sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Perdido Key, FL will be be much more accessible and from a variety of new locations with fewer lay overs for those flying in to the area.  The city of Pensacola is only 45 minutes East of Gulf Shores, closer still to Orange Beach and a mere 20 minutes to Perdido Key, Florida.  Mobile, AL is approximately an hour from Pensacola International Airport.  City officials from the beaches of Alabama are excited about the new option for people to reach their vacation destination.   Southwest is now offering twice-daily nonstop service…

According to Dr. Don Epley, director of the center for real estate and economic development (CRES) at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL, business and real estate activity along the Alabama Gulf Coast should outpace that of the U.S. average.  While speaking at the recent seminar, Epley cited reports from the Federal Reserve bank in Philadelphia which studies economic indicators for the region including parts of South Alabama including:  Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope and Mobile, AL.  According to these reports, Epley and others believe Alabama will grow at a rate of 4.6 percent placing them in the top 5 U.S. states in terms of growth.  By contrast, the U.S. economy as a whole is expected to grow at a rate between 2

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Real Estate Rebound

     The local economy is moving in the right direction and this is partially due to the real estate market, according to Lee Lawson, president of Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (EDA), based in Robertsdale, AL.  Lawson's recent comments were received at the Coastal Economy Outlook VI, the annual seminar produced by the University of South Alabama's Center for Real Estate Studies and Economic Development at which he outlined the various areas where Baldwin County experienced economic growth.
     Baldwin County had a “good solid year coming out of the recession,” having a population growth rate of over 2% bringing the total to approximately 190,000;  a 30% increase over the last 10 years.
     The Alabama Gulf Coast beaches of…