DeKalb County Economic Development Authority (DCEDA) recruits new businesses and provides ongoing support for existing businesses located in DeKalb County. The authority can help businesses by providing statistical information, assisting with incentives and assistance programs for new and expanding businesses and providing businesses support programs for existing businesses (Industry Resources). For site selection or business assistance, please contact the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority staff at 888-421-7957.

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Staff

Jimmy Durham, Executive Director

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Jimmy Durham has served as the Executive Director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority since its inception in 1994. A native of DeKalb County, he has been involved in economic development throughout his career. Jimmy served on the Fort Payne City Schools Board of Education for 20 years and has served as an adjunct professor in Business for the past 32 years at Northeast Alabama Community College. Jimmy graduated from Auburn University with a BS Degree in Marketing and Transportation and a Master’s Degree in Business.

He was employed for 16 years with Ladd Engineering and Ladd Environmental Consultants as a planner, grants writer, marketing director. Between 1986 and 1989 he served as the Executive Director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Muscle Shoals and was responsible for the design and funding of the Museum. In 1989, Jimmy, moved to Montgomery to take the appointment as Program Manager for the Alabama International Airport Study and later became the first Executive Director of the Alabama International Airport Authority. In 1994 Jimmy moved back to DeKalb County to serve as the Executive Director of the newly formed DeKalb County Economic Development Authority.

Jimmy has served on the Fort Payne City Council and served two terms as President of the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of Leadership Alabama, a graduate of the Tennessee Valley Authority Rural Leadership Institute and the Auburn University Intensive Economic Development Training Course.

Awarded: 2014 David R. Echols Distinquished Service Award from the Alabama Department of Commerce

Jimmy's Membership in Professional Organizations includes:

• Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA)
• North Alabama Industrial Development Association (NAIDA)
• TVA’s Rural Economic Development Cabinet
• Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA)
• Alabama Germany Partnership (AGP)
• Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC)
• Southeast US/Japan Association
• DeKalb Jackson Industrial Development Authority (DJIDA)

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 Pam Clay, Business Retention and Expansion Director

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Pam has been with DCEDA since 2008. Responsibilities include developing and implementing an existing industry support program which includes facilitating Leadership Skills training through AIDT, hosting workshops on OSHA, EEOC, Energy Savings and Sustainability among others such as current policy changes that have an impact on manufacturing. She works in partnership with local education systems, Chambers of Commerce, Alabama Technology Network, Career Centers and existing industry. Provides assistance with expansion projects, tax abatements, incentives and available training.

She serves on the Advisory Council for DeKalb County Technology Center, EDAA Rural Development Committee, Leadership Committee for Northeast Alabama BEST Robotics, DeKalb County Human Resource Professionals Group Membership Committee, Northeast Alabama Maintenance Managers Group Secretary, and is the Co-Chair of Made In DeKalb Steering Committee. 

She is a graduate of the Auburn University Intensive Economic Development Training Course, a graduate of the Leadership DeKalb County Program, and a graduate of the Tennessee Valley Authority Rural Leadership Institute.

Pam's Membership in Professional Organizations includes:

• Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA)
• Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA)
• North Alabama Industrial Development Association (NAIDA)
• Business Retention Expansion International (BREI)
• Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM)
• Southeastern Employment and Training Association (SETA)
• National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP)
• Leadership DeKalb County Alabama

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 Jami Posey, Marketing and Administrative Director

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Jami started with the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority in August 2022. She manages the marketing, social media, DCEDA website, public relations, community outreach, project research, accounting, building operations, and other administrative duties.

A Fort Payne native, Jami graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing within the UAB School of Business. She serves as the Secretary/Treasurer for the Fort Payne Optimist Club, and she is a member of the Fort Payne Three Arts Club and the DeKalb County Rising Leaders.

Awarded: 2015 The Times-Journal "40 Under 40" 

Jami's Membership in Professional Organizations includes:

• North Alabama Industrial Development Association (NAIDA)
• Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA)

 

 

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Board of Directors

Name/Location	Role	Appointed By
Dr. John Anderson, DMD Rainsville, AL	Chairman	Mayors Association
Mike Shirey, PE PMP Fort Payne Improvement Authority Fort Payne, AL.	Vice Chairman / EEO Officer	City of Fort Payne
Mark Malone, CEO Sand Mountain Electric Coop Rainsville, AL.	Secretary/Treasurer	Legislature
Chris Bryant, COO Farmers Telecommunication Corp. Rainsville, AL.		County Commission
Chip Kerby Marble Works USA Henagar, AL		County Commission
David Killian Killian & Cushen, PC Fort Payne, AL		Legislature
Danny Lacey Fyffe, AL.		Legislature

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Sustaining Members

Platinum Members

	Member:	Contact Info:	Website:
	Tennessee Valley Authority	Warren Hicks 256-430-4804	www.tvasites.com/
	DeKalb County Commission	Ricky Harcrow 256-845-8500	www.dekalbcountyal.us
	City of Fort Payne Alabama	Mayor Brian Baine 256-845-1524	https://fortpayne.org

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Gold Members

	Member:	Contact Info:	Website:
	Fort Payne Improvement Authority	Mike Shirey 256-845-0671	www.fpia.com
	Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative	Mark Malone 256-638-2153	www.smec.coop
	Fort Payne Water Works Board	Brandon Light 256-845-0449	www.fortpaynewater.com

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Silver Members

	Member:	Contact Info:	Website:
	Marshall DeKalb Electric Coop	Scott Bobo 256-593-4262	www.mdec.org;

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Bronze Members

	Member:	Contact Info:	Website:
	Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative	Fred Johnson 256-638-2144	www.farmerstel.com
	Twin City Used Car Sales	Bobby Ledbetter 866-906-8151	www.twincityusedcars.com

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