Imagine a community that experiences 45 percent population growth while successfully maintaining the unique identity and special quality of life that make it such an attractive place to live and work.

Now stop imagining and think of Prattville, which has maintained its small-town appeal while experiencing growth in every segment, including residential, retailing, manufacturing and tourism.

“Prattville is really poised for continued growth,” says Joe Turner, president of All South Corp., one of the city’s largest commercial and residential real estate companies.

“We’ve lived a lot of places. This is our favorite place,” Turner says.

The reason is easy to see, says Nancy Hefner, owner of The Turtle Shell retail shop.

“It’s the atmosphere,” Hefner says.

Signs of Growth

Evidence of growth everywhere:

·        Prattville’s population grew to 33,960, up from 24,303, between 2000 and 2010, according to U.S. Census figures. Many residents commute to jobs in nearby Montgomery. Population growth got a boost from jobs created by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama's nearby vehicle assembly plant.

“We’ve been the chosen residency location for many of them,” says Prattville City Planner Joel Duke.

·        High Point Town Center offers national retailers such as JC Penney, Belk, Best Buy and Alabama’s first location for Bass Pro Shops. Turner expects smaller shops and restaurants to follow.

·        Historic downtown’s locally owned retail shops – including The Turtle Shell, A Touch of New York, Carol Brooks Home & Holiday Shoppe, Paravicini’s Home Furnishings & Décor, and Victoria’s Boutique – are thriving despite the troubled national economy. Local residents and tourists are attracted by the district’s unique shopping experience, Hefner says.

·        Hearthstone, a 175-lot subdivision, offers high-end single-family residences.

·        The HomePlace offers what Turner describes as “the most upscale apartments in the Montgomery MSA.”

·        The LPGA Navistar Classic showcases the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill, which offers more than 1,500 acres of golf and nature on three 18-hole championship courses in Prattville.

·        International Paper has a facility in Prattville and remains the city’s largest manufacturer.

·        Road and bridge projects are easing traffic congestion and providing increased access to the city’s industrial park, Duke says.

“We try to take a managed approach to growth,” he says.

Welcoming Medline

One of the city’s newest corporate citizens, Medline Industries Inc., will serve health-care facilities throughout Alabama and northwest Florida from its 350,000-square-foot distribution center in Prattville. The company is the nation’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies. The new facility will initially employ 30 people. 

The design of distribution center incorporates the latest energy efficient technology and will have LEED (Leadership in Energy in Environmental Design) certification to measure its performance.

Green technologies employed at the facility include:        

·        Motion sensors combined with energy-saving lighting to keep lights off when not in use.

·        Daylight sensors to take advantage of the natural daylight from more than 300 skylights. As long as the skylights bring in sufficient light, the fixtures stay off.

·        High-output light fixtures and on/off sensors. There are no on/off switches in the warehouse. Lights are controlled with the motion and daylight sensors.

·        Super-sized fans to reduce dependence on air conditioning and heating.

·        Tankless water heaters.

·        Fluorescent bulbs.

“The building design and construction not only demonstrate Medline’s commitment to our environment, but they also incorporate worldwide best practices in layout, technology and distribution methods – as well as an outstanding team of professionals – to deliver our products to our customers where and when they need them,” says Bill Abington, Medline’s president of operations.

Prattville and Medline share the same attitude, Duke says. “It’s about building relationships and meeting needs.”

Read about more businesses in Prattville, AL.