Business View Civil Municipal - July 2023

214 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 7 big parts of the local infrastructure. “Safety is the number-one priority for our residents and guests,” he said. One new development of real significance was the breakaway of Orange Beach’s schools from the Baldwin County Public School System in July of last year. “Our goal is to have high academic achievement for our local students,” said Handley of the Orange Beach City School System. “Our mission, vision and daily operations now fit the personality of our community. We’re very excited about that.” Planning your summer vacation now? Think of Orange Beach. “We are a 95-percent drive market,” Handley noted, as interstate drivers can reach the beach from Texas and even as far away as Michigan. “Families know that when they get here, they’re going to be safe. They’re not going to see trash in the medians. And it’s not just about our beaches. You have the opportunity to do many things. You have the trails. You have our bay system, and you have the shopping. In this day and age, we offer a little bit of everything to allow a family to come down here, to bond and to reconnect––to enjoy a break from whatever life they left back at home.” PREFERRED VENDOR/ PARTNER n Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism www.gulfshores.com