Madison, Alabama continues to make headlines for its remarkable growth and vision that nurtures a thriving business ecosystem with a flourishing community.

On Thursday, the city held the 2nd annual Celebrate Madison event at Toyota Field. The event, presented by Meta and organized by the Madison Chamber of Commerce, exemplified these values by showcasing the city’s commitment to economic development and the well-being of its residents and their communities.

As the namesake implies, the night was a celebration and granted a platform for the business community to strengthen its bonds with residents while showcasing the potential that Madison holds for business growth.

Mayor Paul Finley talks all things Madison at this year’s 2023 Celebrate Madison Event hosted at Toyota Field.

At the heart of the celebration was Madison Mayor Paul Finley’s State of the City address, a carefully crafted presentation that didn’t just stop with statistics. Finley’s address was not just a reflection of Madison’s past and present achievements but a visionary projection of the city’s future. His words spoke truth to Madison’s ambitious economic growth objectives.

Finley’s popularity within his city was evident from the cheers raining down from the stands that are usually reserved for Trash Panda homeruns. Thanks to major transformative projects like 565 and County Line, Zierdt Road, and Old Madison Pike, Madison’s status has been locked in as a destination of choice for both businesses and residents.

“We’re never going to be in a position right now where we can just sit still and hope that it stops. It’s going to continue because we’re on the map for people to come here. Great jobs, great community,” emphasized Mayor Finley.

Lindsey Knupp, Executive Vice President of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, also expressed her enthusiasm for community collaboration before the event started.

“The support from the local community has been incredible for years, and we look forward to bringing everyone together at Toyota Field for this special event,” said Knupp.

City officials also made sure to honor veterans and military families, which was a crucial part of the celebration that saw two awards handed out through the night. The Active Duty Family of the Year award honored Colonel Stacey Harring and her family.

Col. Harring’s has been dedicated to helping serve children and veterans in Madison ever since arriving six years ago. She has served in leadership positions at Madison American Legion Post 229, volunteered with the local Girl Scout troop, and currently serves as a mobilized Reservist at Army Materiel Command on Redstone Arsenal. Col. Harring’s unwavering commitment to instilling patriotism in the youth remains an inspiration.

“Well, it’s a great city, we love Madison as civilians and also as part of the military in this community. We do a lot for it, and it does a lot for us, so it’s an honor to be recognized today,” said Col. Harring.

It wasn’t 100% celebrating throughout the night, though. The decision regarding Space Command and the recent decision to select Colorado as the agency’s permanent home was met with resilience from leadership and those in the crowd.

“We’re ready for it if it comes, we think they made a mistake by not coming. Hopefully, they’ll change that, but whether they do or they don’t, this community will absolutely continue to solve problems and be the place everybody wants to move to,” said Mayor Finley.

The eventful night included prizes for the crowd and ended with a spectacular fireworks show that rivaled those at Trash Pandas games.

For more information, please visit www.madisonalchamber.com.