Each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes a report on job growth. According to the November 2019 report, nonfarm employment rose by 266,000 nationwide,
and in October 2019, the unemployment rate in the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley area of Alabama was at just 2.2%, compared to a nationwide average of 3.6%. This information offers just a snapshot of Daphne’s strong economy.
DISC groundbreaking event. From left to right: Andy Bobe, Dewberry; Steve Carey, Chairman of the Industrial Development Board; Logan Dunn, Dewberry; Caleb Hearn, Dewberry; Daniel Calametti, Dewberry
Conceptualization of DISC
In 2015, indicators led the Industrial Development Board (IDB) of the City of Daphne—along with government officials, local leaders, and private investors—to believe that the economy was indeed on the
rise. Additionally, Daphne’s available land, ideal economic opportunities, and strong workforce lead IDB leaders to feel confident that a new multi-service complex would be sustainable. With the site now ready, the Daphne Innovation and Science
Complex (DISC) is located in Baldwin County and offers sites for businesses to establish themselves in this technology- and science-focused area, where the workforce is ready and available.
We were hired by the IDB to provide a variety of services related to subdivision preparation and rezoning, including boundary and topographical surveys, wetland delineation and clearance letters, civil engineering site plans, utilities and drainage, Alabama
Department of Transportation (ALDOT) construction plans, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) compliance, and construction management in support of the project.
Spurring Economic Opportunities for Local Communities
The $3.3-million master-planned campus is expected to recruit and retain technology, professional service, and corporations, which will in turn support and bolster Daphne’s growing
economy and population. The process of bringing DISC to Daphne is an example of how small-town officials and large, corporate organizations can work together to provide employment opportunities while expanding their organizations in a way that supports
communities, increases job growth, and grows economic opportunities.
The site is primed and ready for new businesses.
About the Authors
Andy Bobe
