The beat goes on: Mayor Tommy Battle’s 2023 State of the City address
Published on September 26, 2023
Huntsville’s unique identity and progressive approach to development were the highlights of Mayor Tommy Battle’s annual State of the City address Tuesday at the Von Braun Center’s Saturn Ballroom.
Delivering his 15th State of the City since being elected in 2008, Mayor Battle touted the City’s measured growth in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. He also reflected on the City’s resilience and determination to break new barriers each day.
“We are Huntsville,” he said. “We dare to be different, and we set the tempo. Because we have an unequaled and unsurpassed passion for innovation, we boldly march to the future.”
The 2023 State of the City was hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber and is the group’s largest event. Approximately 1,100 community and business leaders attended this year’s sold-out luncheon.
During his speech, Mayor Battle focused on the City’s economy, strategic initiatives and what makes Huntsville an excellent place to live, work and play. He also announced plans for a major, two-day music festival at John Hunt Park.
If approved by City Council, festival producer C3 Presents would create a one-of-a-kind music experience unlike anything Huntsville has ever seen.
“If you’ve never heard of C3, you’ve probably heard of some of the festivals they’ve produced, including Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo,” Mayor Battle said. “With Council’s blessing, we can’t wait to listen to internationally acclaimed artists performing at Huntsville’s first large-scale music festival.”
Mayor also credited aerospace and defense companies for Huntsville’s economic successes, including a gross domestic product (GDP) of $5.6 billion. Redstone Arsenal, home to 44,000 workers, has an economic impact of $27 billion per year and accounts for nearly 10% of the state’s GDP.
Click here to watch the 2023 State of the City address and here to access Mayor Battle’s slideshow presentation.
