Sessions, Siegelman to Speak at Rural Economic Development Conference at UA Dec. 6-7

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions and Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman will join experts from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Delta Regional Authority, the Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Alabama Development Office at a high-powered Rural Economic Development Conference at The University of Alabama Dec. 6-7.

The conference, which will also feature several Alabama legislators and UA speakers, will be held at the Bryant Conference Center on the UA campus. The program is designed to provide Alabama’s civic, elected and community leaders with useful information and greater understanding of rural development programs, ideas, sources of funding and projects currently being developed. Participants will have an opportunity to meet leaders who shape rural development policy, programs and funding at the federal, state and local levels.

The one-and-a-half day program will begin with a welcome by UA President Andrew Sorensen and Auburn University Interim President William Walker and breakfast remarks by Siegelman from 7:30-8:30 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 6. Sessions will speak on “The Federal Government’s Role in Supporting Infrastructure and Economic Development” at 8:30 a.m.

A panel of representatives from federal agencies will discuss funding priorities of the Bush administration following Sessions’ remarks at 9:15 a.m. Speakers will include Dr. Jesse White, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission; Pete Johnson, federal co-chair of the Delta Regional Authority; Steve Nesmith, deputy assistant secretary of the Economic Development Administration, and Steve Pelham, state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development. The panel will be followed by a session featuring Alabama “success stories” – examples of small towns and communities that have been successful in downtown revitalization, community investment in healthcare and wellness, capturing the potentials of location, and coming together to create strength in numbers.

Todd Strange, newly appointed director of the Alabama Development Office, will provide luncheon remarks.

Afternoon conference sessions will feature facilitated discussion and resource and information exchange on topics including community development, economic development, funding resources, education, workforce training, healthcare, strategic and infrastructure planning, environmental issues, tourism and recreation, small business development, technology, media and community relations, and downtown design and revitalization.

University of Alabama System Chancellor Tom Meredith will lead off the program on Friday, Dec. 7, speaking on the Governor’s Commission and rural counties at 8:30 a.m. A panel of Alabama legislators will follow at 9 a.m. discussing “Alabama Industrial Incentives for Rural Areas and the Importance of Investing in Alabama’s Rural Counties.” Speakers will include State Sen. Hank Sanders, State Sen. Charles Steele and State Rep. Betty Carol Graham.

Additional speakers on Friday morning will be Norm Davis, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, and Ed Castile, director of Alabama Works, Alabama Industrial Development Training.

Dr. J. Barry Mason, dean of the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration at UA, will present a summary report of the conference and recommendations for future actions. Art Campbell of the Federal Home Bank in Atlanta will provide closing remarks before the conference adjourns at 11:30 a.m., Friday.

For more information, contact the University Center for Economic Development at UA at 205/348-7058.

Note to editor: Reporters are welcome to cover all conference sessions. For more information or a complete schedule, contact Nisa Miranda, University Center for Economic Development, at 205/348-7621, or Cathy Andreen at 205/348-8322.