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ABOUT

Here in the counties of North Alabama, we enjoy a strong local economy. Unemployment rates are down, new business starts are up, and we’re attracting major employers to locate here. Ours is a flourishing region with an abundance of natural beauty and many great places to live, work and play.

Our chambers of commerce and other economic development organizations are busier than ever. Our elected leaders are cooperating and collaborating while putting the Tennessee Valley region first. Our schools, universities, and community and technical colleges are working to shape the workforce of the future.

Getting here took years of planning, investment, and hard work. Staying here and making sure our region continues to prosper, will take a collaborative effort.

Enter Launch, a business-led regional partnership that’s rethinking and imagining our future impact over the horizon.

Having kicked off in fall 2014, Launch 2035, a 501c3 non-profit, counts business, community, and elected leaders from across the region among its supporters. United by the belief that our region’s prosperity depends on our counties and the Tennessee Valley region working and planning together, these leaders are committed to fostering regional economic growth and an enviable quality of life for all our residents.

Launch Timeline

  • 3-County Business Focus Group Discussions: October – December 2014
  • Consultant Interviews: December 2014 – March 2015
  • Phase 1 Funding Completed: July 2015
  • Consultants Hired: August 2015
  • 1st Leadership Team Meeting: September 2015
  • 1st Task Force Meetings: December 2015
  • Logo & Website Launch: February 2016
  • Phase 2 Fundraising: January – March 2016
  • Data collection, Task Force meetings, Focus groups: 2017 – 2019

  • Regional Entrepreneur Ecosystem Study Completed – 2017

  • Regional Collaboration Initiative of North Alabama (RCI-NA) begins – 2018
  • Implementation Plan begins 2019
  • RCI-NA three county cooperation agreement signed – 2019
  • Regional Workforce Study delivered – 2019
  • Singing River Trail (SRT) Master Plan Complete -2020
  • SRT Executive Director hired – 2020
  • Deliberate & inclusive expansion of all 8 Counties in North Alabama: 2021
  • Launch Tank Entrepreneur pitch competition held – 2021
  • Jackson and Lauderdale counties added to leadership team – 2022
  • Marshall and Lawrence counties added to leadership team – 2023
  • Colbert county added to leadership team – 2023

Launch Original Donors

  • Alabama’s Mountains, Rivers, and Valleys Resource
  • Conservation and Development Council, Inc.
  • AT & T
  • BizTech (Huntsville)
  • Citizens for Economic Progress (Athens)
  • Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce
  • Emm Dee Drug Co. (Athens)
  • First National Bank (Athens)
  • Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce
  • Huntsville Committee of 100
  • Huntsville Hospital
  • Huntsville International Airport
  • Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce
  • Huntsville Utilities
  • John Maund (Athens)
  • Market Street Properties (Athens)
  • 21st Century Investments (Athens)Association)
  • Redstone Federal Credit Union
  • Regions Bank
  • Reliance Bank (Athens)
  • 21st Century Investments (Athens)