Economic Development

Why Alabaster?

Growth

Alabaster’s growth is at an all time high. Alabaster is one of the fastest growing Cities in one of the fastest growing Counties in the Country. That means the demand for retail, restaurants and other commercial developments are also at an all time high. Translation, Alabaster is a profitable location. From geographical location to quality of life, Alabaster is a prime location for commercial and office development.

Location

Alabaster is located on Interstate 65 just 20 miles South of downtown Birmingham and just six miles south of Interstate 459. We are also less than an hour from Montgomery. Meaning we are in the heart of Alabama between the state’s largest city and the Capitol City. This location provides access to a high-density corridor of travelers and residents. That makes it a perfect place to do business.

Population

The city has grown more than 63% in the last 10 years. The median age of an Alabaster resident is 33 years old, and the median family income is estimated at $64,000. That translates to young professionals with disposable income. In surveys, residents site retail and restaurants as the areas they would like to see developed in the city. The Alabaster community is very stable with an estimated 71% of households being occupied by married couples. Population density figures have one resident per acre in Alabaster leaving lots of room to grow.

Police and Fire Protection

Alabaster has one of the lowest crime rates in Shelby County and the Southeast. With over 50 sworn officers and 10 support personnel, the Alabaster Police Department offers excellent coverage from well-trained and professional officers. The City has just completed construction of its third fire station in an effort to provide the very best in fire protection to its citizens and local business. The city is constantly evaluating both police and fire personnel levels and will be adding more staffing and stations as needed.

Major Private Employers

Shelby Baptist Medical Center is the city’s major private employer with more than 830 employees and over 230 beds. The hospital has recently applied for a certificate of need to operate an Open Heart Surgery Center and a Cancer Center.

Major Employers:

Shelby Baptist  - 830 employees
Dravo Basic Material -  135 employees
Specification Rubber  - 117 employees
De Shazo Crane - 110 employees

Economic Services and Incentives

Alabaster offers competitive tax advantages to make it easy to locate your business in the city or, for that matter, to relocate. Alabaster businesses enjoy some of the lowest utility rates in the nation.

Currently Alabaster has a water capacity of 5 million gallons a day. The Alabaster Water Board is in the process of looking to expand its daily supply for the city to provide for substantial growth.

The City completed construction on a new wastewater treatment plant that added 4.7 million gallons of capacity per day to the city. This pushed Alabaster's total sewer treatment capacity to 7.6 million gallons per day.

Alabaster Advantages

• Alabaster’s phenomenal growth is expected to continue with a predicted growth rate between 35 and 40 percent over the next ten years.
• In comparison to the region, Alabaster has a higher than average family income of over $64,000.
• The average age of an Alabaster resident is 33 years old.
• Major employers in health care, manufacturing, and mining bolster Alabaster’s strong economic base.
• Even with the City’s fast growth, population density figures in Alabaster are less than one person per acre.
• Alabaster and the state of Alabama have one of the lowest tax rates in the nation. A full 19 percent below the national average.
• Alabama utilities are some of the lowest priced in the nation.
• Alabaster and Shelby County ARE NOT subject to occupational taxes

For more information on locating in Alabaster contact:

Cam Ward
Executive Director of the
Industrial Development  Board
201 1st Street North
Alabaster, Alabama 35007
(205) 664-6800