Jul. 26—At this week’s Limestone County Commission meeting, seven organizations requested appropriations from the commission totaling $316,500, plus land, an $84,500 increase from fiscal 2025 appropriations to those organizations.
Bethany Shockney, Limestone County Economic Development Association (LCEDA) president and CEO, said her nonprofit requested $120,000 for fiscal 2026.
“Even though Limestone County and our region have been growing at a rapid pace and the cost of doing business has skyrocketed, we have been level funded at $90,000 since 2009,” she said during Monday’s commission meeting. “Being the fastest growing county in the state over the last four or five years presents a lot of challenges that y’all probably know better than anybody.”
Shockney said she feels as the leader of her organization, it is her job to support the commission’s mission as it pertains to growth and to make sure the commission is receiving a return on its investment from her organization.
“Outside of the typical increases of doing business, we are also providing significant increases in services to Limestone County,” she said. “We are laser focused on strategically addressing those challenges through job creation and recruitment of preferred businesses and industries. Because of the rapid growth, we’re also experiencing a proportionate amount of business and industry inquiries and decisions to locate in our community.”
Shockney said this takes a lot of their time and effort to determine what is best for the county.
“Since 2009, we have had over $4.4 billion in capital investment. Over 1,200 jobs that were created just on those projects that have been awarded tax abatements,” she said. “We have had several other companies that have had expansions. Several other companies that have come into our region that never even asked for tax abatements.”
There has been an increase in costs, Shockney said.
“Due to the need to serve more industries and citizens, we have had a significant increase in expenses,” she said.
Tere Richardson, Athens Main Street executive director, said her organization received an appropriation of $18,000 for fiscal 2025, but asked for $23,000 for fiscal 2026.
“We’re putting your dollars to work in a measurable and meaningful way,” she said at Monday’s commission meeting. “The revitalization of downtown is paying big dividends. Our events like Friday After Five are booming. They draw 3,000 to 4,000 people to the Square each time.”
Richardson said many of these attendees are first-time visitors to Limestone County.
“They’re eating at our restaurants, they’re shopping in our stores, they’re filling up at our gas stations. More importantly, they’re coming back again and again,” she said. “That kind of foot traffic drives sales tax and gas revenues. It directly supports our local economy, and that’s a big win for our county.”
Craig Beasley is the board chair for the Athens Limestone Public Library. For fiscal 2025, they received $80,000, plus $85,000 in Tennessee Valley Authority in-lieu-of-tax funding from the county. He said, for fiscal 2026, they are asking for a $100,000 appropriation and $100,000 in TVA funds.
Becky Bentley with the Limestone Child Advocacy Center asked the commission for an appropriation of $30,000 for fiscal 2026. They received $24,000 for fiscal 2025. Bentley said the funds would be used entirely as match money for state and federal grants.
Chloe Wilson, director of the Limestone County Extension Service, said the commission provides them with a building and pays their utilities, but has never given them an appropriation. They requested $20,000 from the commission for fiscal 2026.
Emmet Moore with the Family Resource Center said as of July 1, the center has taken on Learn to Read when it disbanded. For fiscal 2025, the center was appropriated $20,000, but due to taking on another organization, they asked for $23,500 for fiscal 2026.
Jeffrey Newton with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs did not request a monetary appropriation, but rather land. He requested 110 acres to build the second State Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
—erica.smith@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2460.