Civil and Municipal - Mar 2023

35 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 Along with being the county seat, Anniston is home to regional hospitals, banking, and more. Prominent attractions include a vibrant downtown area with some of the region’s most beautiful architecture and a selection of Calhoun County’s best activities. Anniston has adopted a very proactive bicycle and pedestrian integration plan over the last five to six years, making the city a mecca for cyclists. Mountain bikers flock to the Coldwater Mountain trails. This has led to Anniston becoming a hub for ecotourism activities in the region. Currently, the city is in the process of completing what will be the last 7.2 miles of the Chief Laga Trail in Alabama. This part of the trail will link up to the Silver Comet Trail in Georgia, which will form one of the country’s longest multipurpose trails at 98 miles. This trail ends up in the metropolitan area of Atlanta. “We and the Atlanta Regional Commission, in conjunction with Pathfinders in Atlanta, are currently working to bring the Silver Comet Trail into the downtown area of Atlanta,” says Toby Bennington, Director of Planning and Economic Development of Anniston. Planning for a large-scale ecotourism project is not without its challenges, including the development of new roads and pathways, so it’s vital for the local and regional economy to be a part of the trail. As the city’s list of activities grows, more people will come to the Anniston region. Also, a part of the development is the connection to three industrial parks within the city, all of which have shown positive growth over the years. In the last two years, the Local Industrial Development Authority has provided incentives to five companies to either expand or add employees. The city is actively pursuing new retail developments as well as working to retain established outlets. The city wants to take control and assist ANNISTON, ALABAMA AND ANNISTON REGIONAL AI RPORT businesses in the region to attract new clientele by creating something that will bring tourists and visitors to Anniston. Anniston has a list of retailers that do well in the area and is encouraging them to open locally. An Aldi grocery store opened recently and the developer of this property is now concluding a deal with other outlets in the surrounding area to stimulate growth. There are even prospects of a national hotel chain opening up. Also in the region is Fort McClellan, a decommissioned US Army post. There has been a surge in activity on the property due to training provided by the Center for Domestic Preparedness, the Homeland Security expansion, and the shifting of the Alabama National Guard. The city is also home to the Anniston Fire Training Center, which provides basic training for firefighters and first responders throughout North Alabama. “A lot is going on in Anniston. Hopefully, this gives people a sense of how much activity is occurring outside the ecotourism sector, and that the city is bringing more business