Mayor Tommy Battle delivers State of the City address focused on Huntsville’s future
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With celebration and appreciation for Huntsville’s successes parallel with a focused, clear-eyed vision for the city’s future, Mayor Tommy Battle delivered his 18th State of the City address at the Von Braun Center’s Saturn Ballroom
Speaking to a sold-out audience of more than 1,200 business and community leaders as well as Gen. Stephen Whiting, Commander of U.S. Space Command, Mayor Battle outlined why Huntsville is one of the nation’s most decorated cities.
Looking ahead with an energy and determination to maintain its lofty standards, the Mayor announced The BIG Picture – Next Generation, the second iteration of a forward-looking blueprint for the city driven by resident input.
“Our economy is strong,” Mayor Battle said. “Our opportunities are growing. Our challenges are real. And our future is ours to shape.”
That future includes Space Command, which will soon break ground on its headquarters at Redstone Arsenal. Mayor Battle was honored to welcome Gen. Whiting to the State of the City address.
“U.S. Space Command joins this extraordinary concentration of national security capabilities here in Huntsville,” Mayor Battle said. “Gen. Whiting, we’re proud to welcome this important mission to Redstone.”
As Alabama’s largest city, Huntsville is the 94th-largest in the country with a population of more than 250,000 residents.
“I’ve always said I don’t want Huntsville to be the biggest,” Mayor Battle said. “I want Huntsville to be the best.”
To meet that objective is to see beyond the horizon.
“Ten years ago, we asked the people of Huntsville a simple question: What do you want this city to become?” Mayor Battle said. “Your ideas became The BIG Picture.”
Through resident feedback and connection, Mayor Battle guided the City to implement those ideas into new parks, housing, arts and redevelopment. It also led to successful recruitment efforts that brought, among others, Trader Joe’s and Cheesecake Factory to Huntsville.
The BIG Picture – Next Generation will launch in 2027 with public meetings, conversation and the insight of those who live and work in Huntsville.
‘A serious conversation’
Foremost in Huntsville’s future, Mayor Battle said, is a premium transportation system that will elevate the city’s infrastructure.
“We need to have a serious conversation,” Mayor Battle said. “Huntsville has done its part to help deliver a half-billion dollars in road improvements. We’ve invested our own tax dollars to accelerate state projects because our growth couldn’t wait.
“Now, we need the state and federal governments to step up.”
Extending Interstate 565 east to Shields Road, rebuilding the I-565/Memorial Parkway interchange and adding capacity to U.S. 72 West are Mayor Battle’s top transportation priorities.
With a flourishing economy critical to Alabama’s success, Huntsville’s transportation needs can wait no longer. Less than a year ago, Eli Lilly and Company announced plans for a $6 billion campus in Huntsville – the single-largest private investment development in state history.
“We’ve been patient,” Mayor Battle said. “We’ve been good partners. And we’ve put our money where our mouth is. Now it’s north Alabama’s turn. I’ll keep making that case in Montgomery and Washington until we get the transportation investment our people and our economy deserve.”