The Local Economy

The 2014 Summer has lived up to expectations so far and the beach has been busier than ever, literally.  It was projected last year that previous attendance and occupancy records would again fall to the heavy traffic of vacationing families from all over this part of the United States.  Figures for the Spring quarter are indicative of this projection being again accurate, just as they were from last year, and the year before, and the year before that.  The beach is again proving to be a favorite destination as a drive-to vacation spot for families everywhere.

Events and holidays this year have been driving guests to the white-sandy beaches and emerald green waters of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.  The first large-scale convergence to the Alabama Gulf

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The Gulf Coast is experiencing a robust recovery. Tourism records set in 2011 were broken again in  2012 as visitors from across the country and the world flock to the Gulf Coast. The Gulf tourism industry  has seen a strong rebound in part due to BP monies. BP has supported the Gulf Coast tourism through  payments of:
• $179 million for state-led advertising campaigns • $7 million non-profit groups and government entities promoting tourism • A BP national advertising campaign that complemented these efforts to promote tourism along 
The Gulf Coast’s remarkably recovery is evidenced by:
• Taxable lodging revenue in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach set a new record in 2012, surpassing  the previous record set in 2011 by 15%. •…

According to CoreLogic, home prices rose 3.3% statewide compared to 2012.  This trend continued across the state with a few exceptions during the month of September.  Prices fell in mobile along with four other metro areas that include Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Aurburn-Opelika and Dothan.  
Distressed sales and foreclosures are dragging prices down in these areas, with the exception of Aurburn.  In Mobile, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Dothan home prices would have increased if these short sales and foreclosures would have been excluded from the analysis.  
The Auburn-Opelika market was the only market that prices would have still fallen even without the effect of the distressed property sales.  This perplexing state is a question mark as to the reason.  In…

The Mobile based automation company whose most lucrative products are sold by most of the larger cable providers in the country including, but not limited to Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Rogers.  Catalysts for the recent growth over the past two years are the result of the demand for its devices, which control everything from lighting to thermostats.  
Once thought of as a product for the ultra wealthy, from high tech gadgets on the walls of higher end homes.  Today automation technology’s growth has become apparent in all homes.  Major companies like Bright house and Comcast provide services that are integrated with CentraLite devices.  
The company was recently named by Inc. magazine, as one of the top job producers in the state of Alabama.  The number…