Category: Economic Development

Opelika Daily News coverage of economic development in Opelika, Alabama — industrial recruitment and expansions, tax abatements approved by the Opelika City Council, workforce training and talent-pipeline programs, downtown business openings, housing and commercial construction, and the work of Opelika Economic Development. Reported story by story since 2005, with an archive that goes back to the arrival of the companies now driving the city’s defense and automotive manufacturing base. See also our Opelika Economic Development Tracker, a running scoreboard of Opelika projects by sector.

Zoe’s Ice Cream Delite Lives On as Miriam’s Delite Under Longtime Cook Danny Atteberry

This is a brief follow-on to a story first reported by The Observer , Opelika's community newspaper. Read their full story for complete coverage. The Opelika restaurant that started in 1994 as Ice Cream Delite and later became Zoe's Ice Cream Delite has a new owner and a new name: Miriam's Delite. Danny Atteberry worked in its kitchen for seven years and stepped in when the former owners were preparing to close and retire, The… Read More

Label Maker Maxim Opens an RFID Plant in Auburn, 1.7 Miles From AU’s RFID Lab: $1.4 Million, Up to 15 Jobs

Maxim, a global maker of labels, tags and packaging, is opening an RFID and smart-label manufacturing plant in Auburn, the City of Auburn announced. The company is investing $1.4 million in equipment and build-out and will create up to 15 jobs. The plant will operate as Maxim Solutions Auburn LLC in a 5,680-square-foot building at 967 Stage Road, 1.7 miles from Auburn University's RFID Lab, whose new building is under construction in The Park. It… Read More

GE Aerospace Foundation Puts $1 Million Into Aerospace Job Training in the Auburn-Opelika and Montgomery Region

The GE Aerospace Foundation will invest $1 million in aerospace workforce training in the Auburn and Montgomery region through its Lifting Futures program, the company announced Tuesday, Oct. 6. GE Aerospace runs a major additive manufacturing plant in Auburn. First-year grants in 2027 are expected to help more than 400 people. Southern Union State Community College will start a free bootcamp to prepare students for entry-level jobs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing and will buy… Read More

Auburn Council Awards $9.87 Million for the First Phase of North Donahue Drive Widening

This is a brief follow-on to a story first reported by The Observer , Opelika's community newspaper. Read their full story for complete coverage. The Auburn City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 6, approved a $9.87 million contract with EAC Enterprises, doing business as AGX Siteworx, for Phase 1 of the North Donahue Drive widening project, plus a $770,861 agreement with Thompson Engineering for the same phase, The Observer reported. The council also approved a $63,083… Read More

Four Seasons Credit Union Breaks Ground Oct. 14 on a $5 Million Rebuild of Its Pepperell Parkway Branch

This is a brief follow-on to a story first published by The Observer , Opelika's community newspaper. Read their full story for complete coverage. Four Seasons Federal Credit Union will hold a groundbreaking at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, for a $5 million renovation and expansion of its branch at 2915 Pepperell Parkway in Opelika, according to an announcement from the credit union published by The Observer. The project will completely renovate the building and… Read More

Working, but Not Getting By: 4 in 10 Lee County Households Fall Below the ALICE Line

Four in 10 Lee County households, 29,629 in all, didn't earn enough in 2024 to cover a bare-bones budget, according to the 2026 ALICE report. In Opelika the share is closer to half. Part 1 of our Understanding ALICE series. Read More

Opelika Main Street Expands Its Downtown Facade Grant, Adding Up to $25,000 for Fire and Safety Upgrades

Opelika Main Street has expanded its long-running Bill Roberts Facade Enhancement Grant into a broader Historic Property Enhancement Grant Program. It launched Oct. 1 and gives downtown property owners and tenants more ways to pay for work on their buildings. Over the past 10 years, the facade grant has helped 40 businesses with a total of $199,643 in grants, according to Opelika Main Street. The new program has four categories: Bill Roberts Facade Enhancement Grant… Read More

East Alabama Health’s Paid Maintenance Internships With Southern Union Earn a State Best-Practice Award

The Alabama Department of Workforce has named East Alabama Health's FAME partnership with Southern Union State Community College a 2026-27 Regional Work-Based Learning Best Practice. It was the only health care organization recognized, the Opelika-based health system announced Tuesday. Through FAME (the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education), Southern Union students working toward technical degrees get paid experience maintaining a hospital system, interning alongside East Alabama Health's Plant & Maintenance Department to troubleshoot equipment and keep… Read More

Kyle Sandler, who took Opelika investors for $1.9 million, reported dead

The Round House founder, who pleaded guilty to wire and securities fraud and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, died June 22 in Florida according to two outlets that covered his post-prison consulting business. ODN has not independently verified the death. Read More

Opelika Chamber Names Its 2026-2027 20 Under 40 Class

OPELIKA — The Opelika Chamber has announced its 2026-2027 class of 20 Under 40, the program that brings together young professionals from across the city for a year of learning how Opelika's government, schools, businesses and public services fit together. This year's class: Kinara Autry, Auburn University; Kristen Blanton, city of Opelika; Danarius Crayton, Crayton Investment Group; Ariana Curtis, East Alabama Health; Natasha Davis, PNC Bank; Kristin Fillingim, East Alabama Health; Jessie Heath, Auburn University… Read More

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