June 26, 2025
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Economic Development
Growth: Two of Alabama’s fastest-growing regions, Huntsville and the Auburn-Opelika area, have received the prestigious 2025 Mac Conway Award for Economic Development Excellence from Site Selection magazine, recognizing their innovation and growth. This national honor highlights the success of both regions in attracting businesses, developing workforce capacity, and advancing local infrastructure.
It underscores Alabama’s broader economic momentum, building on momentum from statewide initiatives like the SEEDS grants that support site readiness. The award reflects strategic planning and collaborative efforts that are positioning these communities as leaders in economic development and innovation.
Read More: Made in Alabama June 26, 2025
Big Spring Park: The City of Huntsville unveiled final designs for the Big Spring Park East expansion, transforming the former City Hall property at 308 Fountain Circle into a 2.4‑acre public greenspace. The plan includes terraced plazas, a green‐roof pavilion, ADA‑accessible winding walkways, playgrounds, a water feature, public art, enhanced lighting, and trees to connect Big Spring Park East and West.
Designers emphasized improved connectivity via a lower terrace linking both sides, plus enhanced Church Street pedestrian access. Bids are expected in July, with construction slated for completion by the end of 2026.
Read More: City of HSV June 24, 2025
Government
The Huntsville-based company Axient LLC has been chosen as one of 12 awardees for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Test Experiments (STEP) 2.0 contract, a 10-year, $237 million IDIQ agreement aimed at driving military space innovation. Under this contract, Axient will compete for task orders to design and deploy modular satellites and integrate experimental payloads into orbit, strengthening the Space Force’s ability to test emerging technologies in space. Managed by Space Systems Command’s Space Test Program, the first delivery order for STEP 2.0 is expected by January 2026.
Read More: AL.com (paywall) June 23, 2025
Nonprofit
The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville awarded $78,640 in grants, through its Racial Equity Fund, supporting seven local nonprofits focused on closing equity gaps. The recipients include The Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama, Huntsville Community Drumline, Huntsville Learning Center, Momentum Leaders, and The Cap & Gown Project, with the largest grant of $38,600 going toward a STEM Summer Institute.
The funding was matched by donors, effectively doubling the initial awards, and came after a rigorous selection from 26 applicants. Established to foster systemic change, the Racial Equity Fund has now granted over $545,850 to 50 organizations, with half allocated to an endowment that has grown to $350,000 to ensure long-term impact.
Read More: HBJ.com (paywall) June 24, 2025
People
John Kenneth Pruett, who served as sports editor at the Huntsville Times from 1974 after joining in 1966, passed away on June 25, 2025, at the age of 83 following a long illness. Highly decorated in his field, he was the first person in Alabama Sports Writers Association history to achieve the “grand slam”, induction into their Hall of Fame, the Herby Kirby Award, the Bill Shelton Award for community service, and ASWA’s presidency, and was named Alabama’s Sportswriter of the Year 17 times by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
Remembered for his thoughtful criticism, which carried more weight than harsh rhetoric, he was admired not just for his reporting but also for his kindness, earning him the affectionate nickname “The General” during his many years in the Army Reserve.