3. Looking for Some Local Color? This program, sponsored by Shoals United, is an integral part of the Shoals Chamber of Commerces Five-Year Strategic Plan, called Back to BASICS.

4. The Shoals Area is located in the northwest corner of Alabama, adjacent to Tennessee and Mississippi.

5. This satellite map shows the United States at night…

6. As you zoom in to the Southeast, you can see…

7. If you draw a line from Nashville to Birmingham…

8. …and from Nashville to Memphis…

9. …and from Memphis to Birmingham, we are strategically located in the center of the triangle.

10. In fact… We are within a days drive of almost half the U.S. population!

11. We are the Shoals. We include 13 municipalities and two counties. Florence Muscle Shoals Sheffield Tuscumbia Anderson Cherokee Killen Leighton Lexington Littleville Rogersville Waterloo St. Florian

12. Our Population... In our cities is over 65,000. Our MSA includes about 143,000 people. Our regional trading area includes 410,000 people. We are in the geographic center of 3 million people!

13. Were located on the beautiful Tennessee River. We are the largest and closest metro area to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

14. Wilson Dam, a hydro-electric facility, contains one of the largest inland locks in the world.

16. The Port of Florence is an intermodal hub, where rail, water and highway transportation meet.

17. Norfolk-Southern has one of the largest rail switchyards in the country, right here in the Shoals.

18. Twenty-three truck lines serve the Shoals, most with local terminals. We are served by four-lane highways from the north, south, east and west.

19. Through the Northwest Alabama Regional Airport, we are connected to the world.

20. We can move people and products anywhere in the world… …by water, rail, air and land.

21. Educational opportunities in the Shoals are extraordinary.

22. We make Alabama proud with the quality of our education. The ACT and SAT scores from our K-12 schools are among the best in Alabama. The University of North Alabama and Northwest Shoals Community College provide exceptional educational opportunities for Shoals area students.

23. Technology We are the center of a variety of environmental and technological research centers. The TVA Public Power Institute, in Muscle Shoals, is where TVA develops technologies to address efficient energy production and use. The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) helps bring fertilizer and technology to developing countries around the world.

24. Technology The Bevill Center for Environmental Technology gives training to business and individuals in a variety of environmental areas, and is a part of a statewide Technology Network. The Waste Reduction and Technology Transfer Foundation (WRATT) is a local network of retired professionals, available to business for consulting and education on a variety of topics. The Small Business Development Center at UNA helps develop small business plans, provides business consulting, and maintains a business library.

25. Our state-of-the-art Entrepreneurial Center has campuses in Florence and Sheffield, including a special Culinary Center with an FDA approved kitchen for food-related businesses.

26. Medical Services Our area is served by regional not-for-profit healthcare providers. Facilities include three hospitals in Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, diagnostic centers and long-term healthcare facilities. Almost every medical specialty is represented in the Shoals.

27. Doing Business in the Shoals. Our utilities are reliable, abundant, and affordable. Electricity, gas, water; we bring more power to you in the Shoals. Rolling blackouts are not an issue! Our area is served by DSL and T-1 lines. Property taxes are among the lowest in the country. The Shoals area was recently ranked as having the lowest cost of living of any MSA in the state of Alabama.

28. Doing Business in the Shoals. Our area has six industrial parks, all conveniently located near transportation hubs, and all served by our public utilities. We are a retail hub, drawing customers from Mississippi, Tennessee and to the south of us in Alabama. Our retail areas are thriving and easy to find.

29. Recreational opportunities in the Shoals are the envy of cities twice our size. Much of our recreation revolves around the Tennessee River, with its championship fishing…

30. Our harbor and marina accommodate a variety of pleasure crafts.

31. In fact, the quality of life in the Shoals is unbeatable, and full of color.

32. Deep blue waters. Blue ribbon fishing. Blue skies.

33. Golden quality of life. Golden opportunities.

34. A red-hot business climate. The color of cotton against the rich, red earth.

35. Lush green neighborhoods. Ivy Green, Helen Kellers birthplace.

36. Playing the greens on our beautiful golf courses.

37. No wonder… The FBI named us the 5 th safest community in the country…and American Express named us the #8 place to retire.

38. Life in the Shoals is exceptional.

39. Looking for some Local Color?

40. Youve come to the right place! Shoals United / Shoals Chamber of Commerce 612 S. Court Street, Florence, AL 35630 877-764-4661 www.shoalschamber.com