April 2006 - Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce

What the Foreign Press is Saying about Huntsville . . .Financial Times: “Huntsville’s growing reputation as the technology and engineering capital of the South was underlined last week when EADS becamethe latest in a series of international manufacturers to establish a presence in the city.”Le Figaro: Huntsville “has all the advantages of a high-tech metropolis, without the drawbacks of Silicon Valley.”“The spirit of conquest that motivated the NASA scientists is still alive.”German Public Radio: “The Apollo program brought the small town to world fame, however, the Rocket City continues to boom.”“…a well established business community, outstanding support from local tax authorities and at 3,840 meters, the second longest take-off and landing stripin the American Southeast.”leading from the airport to the city center, “Itwas almost as though we had come upon agigantic showroom of global manufacturers.”Le Figaro, the second largest newspaperin France, and German Public Radio alsocarried in-depth pieces about Huntsville’shigh-tech economy following the press tour.The French reporter noted Huntsville’sposition as the second largest research centerin the United States and wrote that thecity “has all the advantages of a high-techmetropolis without the drawbacks ofSilicon Valley. The local universities and thepeople who retire from the armed forcesand NASA ensure an influx of brains at areasonable price.”Andrew Ward, the international businesscorrespondent for the Financial Times whoDCI arranged to visit Huntsville lastDecember, also took note of the brainpowerin Huntsville. He reported on Huntsville’sgrowing reputation as the technology andengineering capital of the South and that“other high-value industries, such asbiotechnology, are emerging.”In addition to arranging for journalists tovisit Huntsville, DCI has also orchestratedmeetings of chamber officials with foreignmedia on their own turf. Case in point ispress appointments arranged in October2005 when chamber vice president of economicdevelopment Ethan Hadley and otherHuntsville executives were in Japan andKorea on business. The contingent met inSeoul with The Wall Street Journal-equivalent– Korea Economic Daily – and spent thebetter part of an afternoon with the presidentand managing editor of Munhwa Daily.When Huntsville delegates participate intrade shows overseas, DCI makes a point toarrange interviews with foreign and trademedia. Following the Farnborough andParis air shows, for example, Flight DailyNews ran a complimentary story under theheadline, “U.S. Rocket City Zooms intoFarnborough.”continued on page 36Celebrates GroundbreakingFor New Jones Valley LocationL to R: Vernon Bice, Stan Bailey, Mayor Loretta Spencer and Jim Link.Representatives from Superior Bank Senior Management, members ofSuperior Bank Board of Directors and City Officials were on handOctober 18th for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Jones Valleylocation, which is planned to open in the spring of 2006.Jones Valley is one of three new branches Superior Bank plans to constructin the Huntsville area that will bring over 20 new jobs to Huntsville. Thetwo other locations planned for construction are Hampton Cove and theHighway 72 area.Each of the offices will provide state of the art convenience to thecustomer and will also provide mortgage lending, investment andinsurance services. For more information, please come by our HuntsvilleBranch at 300 Clinton Avenue West or contact us at 532-2690.More information on Superior Bank Corporation and its subsidiaries may be obtainedover the internet at www.superiorbank.com0037599715Initiatives April 2006