Why Businesses Are Flocking to Prattville and Autauga County
While many communities still struggle with economic progress five years after the COVID-19 pandemic, in Prattville, the business scene thrives, cultivated by a successful community of local business owners and experts who appreciate the close-knit community and location of Autauga County.
“People say the economy is softening, but we’re not seeing it,” says Amy Hilliard, Prattville economic development director.
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Welcoming Businesses to Prattville and Autauga County
The Prattville and Autauga County area has welcomed 50 new commercial-retail businesses since the fall of 2024, Hilliard says, and has 10 new industrial projects in the works, as well.
One of its newest corporate citizens is Guardian Credit Union, which was founded in 1958 in Montgomery to provide savings and loan accounts to Alabama National Guard members. Though it is more than 65 years old, Guardian never had an official headquarters location. That is, until now.
Prattville was chosen in 2023 for a 57,000-square-foot building that serves as the credit union’s first-ever headquarters. The building is located off Old Farm Lane near Interstate 65. “This new home brings our administrative and operational teams under one roof,” says Heath Harrell, Guardian Credit Union president and CEO.
Guardian has branch offices for customers in 16 Alabama counties, including Autauga. In fact, the credit union’s newest branch location opened in late 2025 in the Autauga County town of Pine Level.
“This is our first credit union inside Pine Level’s town limits,” says Pine Level Mayor Zachary Bigley. “We’re happy to have Guardian here. It’s a significant step forward for our community’s financial services and economic growth.”
“Prattville is just shy of 40,000 people, and considering our size, we have a lot to offer. You don’t have to leave to find anything you need.”
Amy Hilliard, Prattville economic development director
New Offerings Galore
The area now offers a greater variety of restaurants and hotels, and its location, a 15-minute drive from the state capital of Montgomery, brings significant spillover from visitors and major events.
But proximity to Montgomery isn’t the only appeal.
“Prattville is just shy of 40,000 people, and considering our size, we have a lot to offer,” Hilliard says. “You don’t have to leave to find anything you need.”
She highlights the Robert Trent Golf Trail at Capitol Hill as a key draw, bringing in visitors and tournament-goers. The area also boasts 17 natural springs and the beautiful Autauga Creek, which flows through town.
Though close to a major city, the Prattville and Autauga County area maintains a close-knit community with natural beauty and resources, which business leaders like Marquis Forge of MRaine Industries LLC appreciate.
Small Town, Big Heart
“In a big city, you’re just another number, but here, I am the number, because there’s no other business like mine,” says Forge, whose Eleven86 Water is the official state water of Alabama.
Hilliard says the growth and diversity of businesses coming to the community contributes additional revenue that supports parks, community development and other quality of life features.
Forge now helps others find the rich opportunities that both the land and people of Autauga County hold.
“This place is a hidden gem,” Forge says. “There is a big opportunity to make a change. When you bring a business to this area, a good paying job – the citizens respond!”
Interstate Business Park Helps Drive Growth
Located just 1 mile off Interstate 65 along the U.S. Highway 31 corridor, Interstate Business Park in Autauga County is an economic hub that serves as the headquarters for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and a slew of established companies, including Alabama Fiber Network, Bomb Party and UFP Packaging. Now, the park is offering 15 lots that range from 0.46 to 1.36 acres and are designed to attract commercial and service enterprises.
Kristi Pieper, Autauga County’s director of economic and community development, says these turnkey commercial sites are quick and convenient for entrepreneurs and established businesses. Located in the town of Pine Level, the newest municipality in Autauga County since 2023, these sites are ideally positioned for financial, medical and professional services, benefiting Pine Level residents and communities throughout central Alabama.
“This new municipality is a game changer,” Pieper says. “People want to have a place to belong, a strong community to live in. People need to be able to access good jobs, retail and commercial services closer to home.”
An example of this growth is the recent groundbreaking for the First Community Bank Pine Level branch, and more companies are following suit. Additionally, Design Alabama and other partners have been working with the community to create a comprehensive plan, including walkability and accessibility to enhance the area.
“Investing in local businesses and preparing a place for them means more money stays within Autauga County, fueling further growth, creating jobs and enhancing our tax base and quality of life,” Pieper says. “This used to be an empty part of the county. Now, it’s the fastest growing area of Autauga County that’s filled with promise.”
Get to Know Prattville
Want to learn more about living and working in Prattville, AL? Check out the new edition of Livability Prattville-Autauga County, Alabama.