By Steve Alexander Reporter
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Published: Thu, January 31, 2008 - 9:02 pm
Steve Alexander
The national publication projects the Mobile area as the fastest growing small metro area between the years 2007 to 2012.
And city leaders say its not just large companies responsible for the growth.
Ed Edwards opened Edwards Glass Studio about a year and a half ago after he and his wife moved to Mobile from California.
Edwards says business has been good, especially this past week.
He says, "I've had a number of customers come in that were here for Mardi Gras and I've been pleasantly surprised."
Mobile Mayor Sam Jones says, "There's no better announcement than to hear that you've been judged to be number one by Forbes Magazine."
And Mayor Jones says small businesses as well as large ones like ThyssenKrupp contribute to growth.
But he says good growth is planned growth, so the city is preparing a new master plan for the years 2008 to 2018.
Mayor Jones says, "It has a vast area, about a ten mile area that we're working, including the downtown area. That plan is extremely important to us especially with all the rapid growth and development downtown. We have to have a blueprint for that."
And Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce officials say they, too, expect the growth cycle to continue.
Leigh Perry-Herndon with the chamber says, "We look at statistically what our numbers are looking like in terms of new business licenses and you're consistently seeing between 200 and 300 new business licenses in the city of Mobile."
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I very proud of Mobile, but we must give credit where credit is due. Mike Dow did all the foot work to get the industry flowing into Mobile. Mayor Sam Jones is doing a great job, but he came into office on the hills of many already planned projects.