Bank Independent names DeMarco McClain Area President for Madison County

Bank Independent has announced the promotion of DeMarco McClain to Area President for Madison County. “DeMarco’s leadership, deep knowledge of the market, and commitment to our mission make him the ideal leader to continue building our presence in Madison County,” said Rick Wardlaw, CEO of Bank Independent. “He has earned the trust of his team, […]

The Catalyst Center Hosts Founder Lady Vowell Smith to Inspire Young Entrepreneurs

On April 17, The Catalyst Center’s “Strong Coffee Strong Women” series featured Lady Vowell Smith, co-owner of The Snail on the Wall, Huntsville’s independent bookstore. The morning buzzed with entrepreneurial energy as Smith shared how she turned a “bookstore without a store” into a thriving brick-and-mortar business. A Community-Driven Model Smith, a former English professor […]

Local institutions address issues faced by Gulf Coast states

The University of Alabama in Huntsville and partner Calhoun Community College are about as far from the Gulf Coast as any other institutions of higher learning in Alabama. The two Tennessee Valley schools, however, co-hosted an event to launch a $600,000 fellowship aimed at preparing students to address environmental, health, energy and infrastructure challenges faced […]

HudsonAlpha Hosts High School Students for DNA in Biotech Career Conference

On Wednesday, April 16th, the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology hosted junior and senior high school students from north Alabama for a DNA in Biotech mini-conference. Small groups of students from nearly every public and private high school in Madison County were in attendance.  Kelly East, the organization’s Vice President for Educational Outreach, shared her enthusiasm […]

Two new extended-stay hotels open, Bolstering local hospitality sector

On April 16, Huntsville’s hospitality landscape expanded with the grand opening of two extended-stay hotels—Everhome Suites and WoodSpring Suites—located side-by-side on Holmes Avenue. These additions cater to Huntsville’s increasing population of business travelers, contractors, and relocating professionals, offering a mix of affordable and upscale long-term lodging options. The grand opening celebration, themed “Opening Day Double […]

Huntsville reopens improved Derrick Street Camp, Focuses on safety and stability

Attempting to get a firm direction relating to the growing homeless community, the City of Huntsville is taking a progressive approach to reopening the campsite on Derrick Street near downtown. Scott Erwin, director of the city’s community development arm, led reporters on a tour of the soon-to-be-open, restructured site that was  shut down by a […]

Cutting-Edge and Customer-Centric: Yard Robotics and the Future of Lawn Care

When Divya Thakur relocated from San Francisco to Huntsville in 2020, he didn’t yet know what would come next—but he knew he wanted to build something meaningful. A veteran of the robotics industry and former Director of Product Engineering at Cruise, Thakur brought with him an impressive résumé and an entrepreneurial spirit. What he hadn’t […]

ReLaunch Job Fair opens doors for Huntsville’s evolving workforce

On Tuesday, April 15, job seekers from North Alabama and beyond gathered at First Baptist Church for the ReLaunch Job Fair—a free, inclusive hiring event designed to provide direct access to quality employment opportunities. The fair, which ran from 9 AM to 1 PM, welcomed anyone seeking a new start: the unemployed, career changers, and […]

Madison County Parks and Recreation sees increase in facility usage, youth sports enrollment

At the Madison County Commission’s April 9 meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Yates presented a report highlighting the expansion and growing popularity of rural recreation programs—and made a case for hiring an additional staff member to sustain that growth. Thanks to increased funding in 2024 and 2025, the department now employs two recreation coordinators […]

As markets waver, Huntsville builds to rent

The Huntsville Area Association of Realtors’ (HAAR) Weekly Market Report, dated the last week of March 2025, shows that Huntsville’s real estate market has experienced a demand divergence between single-family units and townhouse/condo units. Single-family units saw a 53.9% increase in new listings posted during that week, while pending sales increased 19.8%, for a total […]