Welcome to Cullman, Alabama - The Bass Fishing Hall Of Fame

Welcome to Cullman, Alabama
Home to the new Bass Fishing Hall of Fame,
Education Center and Convention Center
WHAT CULLMAN HAS TO OFFER
Location, Location, Location. Cullman has a wide
spectrum of attractions, hotels, and restaurants, with
options to meet everyones needs. Cullman is just
around the corner from everywhere! With 48,000
cars that pass the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Exit
each day, Cullman’s proximity in North Alabama is
perfect. Eight of the 11 major fishing lakes on the
Bass Trail. In addition to it’s superb fishing location,
it is the epicenter for multiple highway systems
including Highways I-65, 157, 278, 69 and 31.
You will find that your dollars stretch dramatically
further in Cullman, Alabama. Accommodations,
food, entertainment, shopping and special events all
cost less.
From regional to national events, sports, attractions,
and festivals, Cullman can accommodate you and
give visitors a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
WHY CULLMAN?
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Easy drive to Birmingham, Huntsville and Decatur
(additional shopping, cultural activities and varying sports)
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A 40-minute drive to Birmingham & Huntsville International Airports; 2 hours from Nashville International Airport;
and 3 hours from Atlanta International Airport
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Visitors will appreciate the “Southern hospitality” and customer service the area offers
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Lay of the land and proximity was the perfect design element
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Quality of Life
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Beautiful and intriguing scenes in nature, including geology and wildlife
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Local history and culture
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Festivals and events that celebrate local history, culture, harvest time and food
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Trails – Birding, Civil War, Hallelujah
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Agriplex – Farm tours and other agriculture based experiences that often have curb appeal to urban residents
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Extremely low crime rate - Safe
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Thriving downtown
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Community Involvement
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ALABAMA AND U.S.
INTERSTATE NETWORK
CULLMAN PROFILE
2013 Estimate
Cullman County
Population
80,648
Avg. Age
40.10
Male Population
49.37%
Female Population
50.63%
Minority Population
5.73%
# of Households
31,959
Avg. Household Size
2.49
Median Household Income
$33,044
Owner Occupied Homes
75%
Source: Nielsen Claritas, 2013 Report
Unemployment Rate
(Aug. 2013)
5.6%
Source: Alabama Dept. of Industrial Relations
Average Manufacturing Wage
Source: CEDA
$14.96 hr.
City of Cullman
14,970
AWARDS/HONORS
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#3 U.S. Micropolitan for Economic Growth - Site Selection
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#1 Best Place to Raise Children in Alabama - Bloomberg BusinessWeek
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#6 Community that is a Manufacturing Location –
Southern Business & Development
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#1 in the southeast for Overcoming Nature’s Adversity (for recovery following the April
2011 tornadoes) - Southern Business & Development
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#2 in Alabama for New & Expanding Industry - State of Alabama
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#2 in State of Alabama in test scores (Cullman City Schools) –
State of Alabama Dept. of Education
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Finalist – Cullman Park & Recreation for the 2010, 2011 , 2012 & 2013 National Gold Medal
Award (Top 4 in the U.S.)
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#1 in the Nation - Cullman City Parks & Recreation’s Heritage Park and the Field of Miracles
won the 2013 United States Specialty Sports Association (USSA) Complex of the Year Award
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#4 State for Doing Business – Area Development
QUALITY OF LIFE/
EDUCATION
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10,000 students in city, county, and private schools
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Cullman City Schools rank above state average in
Stanford 10 test scores
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Dual Enrollment at Wallace State Community College
(WSCC)
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7,000 students at WSCC
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WSCC 9th in the nation for number of healthcare
graduates
CULLMAN CITY SCHOOLS
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Consistently rank in the Top 10 in the State of Alabama - currently #2
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Students in 7-12 grades provided with laptops
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East Elementary received the International Reading Association’s Exemplary Reading
Program Award (only school in Alabama and only 14 nationally)
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Cullman High School has 37 Athletic Teams and 18 extracurricular clubs
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2012 State Championships in: Cheerleading, Geometry Team & Math Team
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$5 million in scholarships offered to 2012 graduates
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Cullman High School was named “2013 One of America’s Best High Schools” by Newsweek
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East and West Elementary are Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.
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Average ACT score: 23
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Attendance: 95.3%
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Annual budget: $28.1 million
State Average: 20.4
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
St. Bernard Preparatory School
• A Catholic Christian education
• College preparatory curriculum
• 5 or 7 day boarding
• Supervised study hall
• Accredited by The Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools
• 2012 – 21 graduates with $2 million in scholarships
• Grades 7-12
• Enrollment: 166
Cullman Christian School
The mission of Cullman Christian School is to serve
the Christian community by providing an
academically rigorous education with a biblical
world and life view.
Grades K-9
Enrollment: 113
St. Paul’s Lutheran School
St. Paul's Lutheran School strives to provide quality Christian education. Along
with providing instruction in God's Word and leading children in the Christian faith,
St. Paul's Lutheran School emphasizes excellence in Language Arts, Mathematics,
Natural Sciences, Fine Arts, Physical Education, and a variety of other extracurricular activities.
Grades 3 yr-6
Enrollment: 85
Sacred Heart School - Provides a vibrant Catholic Christian community which
encourages intellectual growth, nurtures faith and inspires action.
Grades 3 yr – 6
Enrollment: 145
CULLMAN COUNTY SCHOOLS
• 7 high schools
• 9,544 students
• 96% of teachers are “Highly Qualified”
• Average ACT score: 20.4
State of Alabama: 20.3
• 97% attendance rate
• Teachers, support staff, administrators, and Board members committed
to providing a positive and safe learning experience for students.
WALLACE STATE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Hanceville (Cullman County), Alabama
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16 technical programs offered with a
2yr. degree or certificate
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Offers short courses for professional
development / training
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Responds to the needs of industry
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WSCC is setting new trends in education. The
University Center partnership with Athens State
University, enables students to complete juniorand senior-level classes leading to a
baccalaureate degree
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Strong community involvement
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Highly qualified instructors
QUALITY OF LIFE/
CULLMAN REGIONAL AIRPORT KCMD
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Runway: 5,500’x100’ – expanding to 6,200’
Open 24/7
Accessible to aircraft up to a Boeing 737
40 T-hangers – adding 16
10 corporate hangers
56 tie-down spaces
10,000 sq. ft. terminal
Car rental
Plane and helicopter rental
Courtesy car
Snack bar
Pilot lounge with shower
Home to Wallace State Flight School
and Skydive Alabama
Fire department on premises 24/7
QUALITY OF LIFE/JOBS
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Diverse business community, international companies
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Unemployment below the state and national levels now
at 5.6% (3rd lowest in Alabama)
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Agriculture, forestry, and related industries represented
39.9% of total workforce. Holding the following
rankings:
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#1 in Alabama in broiler production
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#1 in Alabama in cattle
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#1 in Alabama in dairy cattle and milk
production
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#2 in Alabama in vegetable and melon
farming
QUALITY OF LIFE \ HEALTHCARE
Cullman Regional Medical Center
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Licensed for 145 Beds
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Top 100 in the country, 3rd Best in the State of Alabama
for value index (DataAdvantage, LLC)
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Top 10th percentile in the country for quality core
measure outcomes (Joint Commission on National
Quality Approval)
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Top 15% nationwide for exemplary service to patients
(HealthGrades)
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Tier One BC/BS Provider in quality care patient
satisfaction and cost containment
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Level Three Trauma Care and Express Care Facility
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Growing Campus – New POB and
Expanded/Enhanced ER
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Advanced heart care services now offering
interventional cardiology
Our Communities have numerous
private clinics, also:
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Urgent Care
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Good Samaritan
CULLMAN REGIONAL
MEDICAL CENTER
AWARDS
• 2013 Modern Healthcare Spirit of Excellence Award for Patient
Safety
• 2013 Nursing IT Informatics Innovation Gold Award for Patient Safety
• 2013 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Care About Your Care
Patient Safety Award Winner
• 2013 Dorland Health Case In Point Platinum Award for Discharge
Planning
QUALITY OF LIFE/
ATTRACTIONS
The Shrine of the Most
Blessed Sacrament
www.olamshrine.com
60,000 visitors this past year
Cullman County Museum
www.cullmancountymuseum.com
Ave Maria Grotto
www.avemariagrotto.com
19,000 visitors this past year
Skydive Alabama
www.skydivealabama.com
The Evelyn Burrow Museum
www.burrowmuseum.org
9000 visitors this past year
QUALITY OF LIFE /
ATTRACTIONS
Cullman County Fair
Mud Creek Festival
http://www.cullmanfair.com/
30,000 in attendance 2013
(19,300 over the age of 12)
https://www.facebook.com/Mud
CreekArtsAndCrafts
1200 in attendance 2013
Bloomin Festival
http://www.bloominfestival.com/
19,000 in attendance 2013
Rock the South
http://www.rockthesouth.com/
30,000 in attendance 2013 over 2 days
Cullman Oktoberfest
http://www.cullmanoktoberfest.com/
25,000 in attendance 2013
QUALITY OF LIFE/
FESTHALLE MARKET PLATZ
CULLMAN’S FARMERS MARKET
Multi-use Facility
32 Market Spaces
QUALITY OF LIFE \
ATTRACTIONS
Clarkson Covered Bridge Park
On June 25, 1974, Clarkson Covered Bridge was
named to the National Register of Historic Places.
Shortly thereafter, in 1975, the Cullman County
Commission restored the site with the help of
concerned citizens as part of the American
Bicentennial Project, embellishing the grounds with
hiking trails, a picnic area, and two period
structures built to accent the historical nature of the
bridge: a Dogtrot log cabin and a working grist mill.
Located just off U.S. Highway 278 in Bethel,
Clarkson Bridge is the site of the Old Fashioned
Days event, as well as numerous weddings, car
shows and various other activities. 12,000 visitors
yearly
QUALITY OF LIFE \ RECREATION
Cullman’s Heritage Park
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70 Acres with benches and pavilions
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5 championship lighted softball fields
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5 professional soccer fields
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Outdoor basketball court
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Beach volleyball court
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Multipurpose athletic field
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Splash Pad
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1.5 mile paved walking trail
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Dog park
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18 hole disc golf course
QUALITY OF LIFE \ RECREATION
Cullman
Wellness and Aquatic Center
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Indoor Pool
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Outdoor Pool
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Gym
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State-of-the-art equipment
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Variety of classes
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Slides
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Splash areas
QUALITY OF LIFE \ RECREATION
Smith Lake Park
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85,000 visitors yearly
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9 Cabins
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199 full-service sites
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5 water and electric sites
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61 tent sites
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8 pavilions
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Playgrounds
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Pool with kiddie pool
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Fishing Pier
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Concert Stage
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Boat Launch
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7 miles off of I-65
QUALITY OF LIFE \ RECREATION
Sportsman Lake Park
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110,000 visitors yearly
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Downtown Cullman
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Fish and wildlife
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Picnic areas
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Pavilions
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Walking trails
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Dock to enjoy the view or feed animals
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Train
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18 hole miniature golf
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Paddle boats
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Camping
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Veteran’s Memorial Park
QUALITY OF LIFE \ RECREATION
Cullman Area
Field of Miracles
Chester
Freeman Park
QUALITY OF LIFE \ RECREATION
Stony Lonesome is the first public OHV park of its
kind in the state. Open year-round, the 1456+ acre
park features trails for ATVs, rock crawlers, dirt
bikes, mountain bikers, equestrians, hikers,
pedestrians, and much more. 60,000 visitors yearly
QUALITY OF LIFE \ RECREATION
South Vinemont Sports Complex
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30 acres facility
5 baseball/softball diamonds
240 parking spaces
3 story concession/scoring facility
QUALITY OF LIFE \ RECREATION
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20,000 visitors yearly
First time rock climbing class
Climbing
Hiking
Trail running
Wilderness Survival Course
Mountain Biking
Bird Watching
Picnic areas
Pro Shop
THE CULLMAN CITY PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT
AT A GLANCE
• 1673 travel ball teams already participating with approximately 20 plus people traveling with each team. The teams utilize our ball fields
42 weekends out of the year. Economic impact totaling million of dollars annually.
• In July the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association State Swim/Dive Meet was held at our Aquatic Center. We had 1200 swimmers
with over 5000 people in attendance for 4 days. This event allowed us to showcase our community to people from all over the state thus
providing a huge economic boost during the tournament.
• 18 Hole Championship Golf Tournaments, 44 outings annually, 10 in-house tournaments with 30% of participation out of the county.
25,000 rounds annually.
• Midnight Run- annual event with 700 plus runners.
• Frosty 5K annual event held at the Aquatic Center.
• Over 13,000 members at the Cullman Wellness & Aquatic Center with half of the members outside the city limits.
• Over 2000 people each night at the ball fields for youth and adult sports games. Half of the participants are from outside the city limits.
• Gymnastics/Cheer Academy–State Qualifier held at Wallace College with 5000 participants annually. Half of these are from outside City
limits.
• Hurricane Creek Park on North Alabama Birding Trail with 20,000 annual guests.
• State and Regional Tournaments held at our 18 hole Disc Golf Course.
• Designs for tennis complex underway.
• Just acquired a 115 acre parcel of land for the future Convention Center, Amphitheater and Botanical Gardens with an additional 115 +
acres delegated for parks and recreational use at Duck River.
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We are the host city for the 2012-2017 ASA National Archery Tournament bringing 1500 of the world’s best archers to Cullman for a
week, plus their guests bringing in approximately 3 million dollars.
• Hosted Rock the South for the second year with Sara Evans. This year was a two-day country music festival that brought in more than
30,000 visitors. This years performances included The Band Perry, Scotty McCreery, Greg Allman, Jamie Johnson, and Hank Williams
Jr. as well as Sara Evans. Willie from Duck Dynasty also paid us a visit. We hosted Rock the South musical festival in April 2012.
This was a celebration for our community and region commemorating the tornado outbreak on April 27, 2011. Approx. 14,000 in
attendance to hear Dierks Bentley and Kellie Pickler perform.
• Cullman City Parks and Recreation Department was awarded the Quality of Life Award from the State of Alabama.
• The Cullman City Parks and Recreation Department is a finalist for the NRPA Gold Medal Award as the best Parks and Recreation
Department in the nation for three consecutive years.
• The Cullman City Parks and Recreation Department won the League of Municipalities Quality of Life Award.
• Cullman City Parks and Recreation Department won Event of the Year in 2012 for Rock the South from the Alabama Parks and
Recreation Association.
• Good Neighbor Friends of Tourism Award 2013 given by Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourism Association.
Number of League teams
Youth #'s: Baseball 500 Softball 195 Total: 695
Miracle League Player #'s: Spring- 70
Adult Team #'s: Spring Mens- 8
Summer Mens- 11
Summer Womens- 6
Summer Church- 10
Flag Football- 6
QUALITY OF LIFE \ ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
• Ranked #3 in the top 100 U.S.
Micropolitans for corporate facilities
• Ranked #1 in Alabama for new &
expanding industries
• 51 new and expanding companies
• 639 new jobs created
• $164,109,507 in capital investment
CONTINUED GROWTH
New and expanding industry in Cullman County has
been over $1 Billion in the past 10 years – helping
Cullman County have the third lowest
unemployment rate in Alabama.
CONTINUED GROWTH \
EXPANSIONS
REHAU
According to the Alabama Department of
Commerce, REHAU’s $119 million
expansion (shown here) in 2012 was the
7th largest investment in the state of
Alabama among 67 counties for new or
expanded projects.
CONTINUED GROWTH/
EXPANSIONS
Topre America
$109 million investment by Topre in 2011
was the 4th largest capital investment
expansion in the entire state.
CONTINUED GROWTH/
EXPANSIONS
Yutaka Technologies
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$11 Million Investment
60 New Jobs
CONTINUED GROWTH \
EXPANSIONS
CONTINUED GROWTH/
EXPANSIONS
Company
New/Exp
Capital Investment
American Proteins, Inc
Expanding
$1,800,000
HH Technologies, Inc
Expanding
$1,250,000
American Trim
Expanding
$1,066,000
General Dynamics AIS
Expanding
$1,500,000
Cash Acme
Expanding
$4,200,000
Concours Mold
Expanding
$1,100,000
Cullman Casting
Expanding
$1,000,000
Schulte Building Systems/Inland
Expanding
$1,029,801
Wal-Mart Distribution Center
Expanding
$1,435,200
Webb Wheel Products
Expanding
$4,600,000
CONTINUED GROWTH/
NEW BUSINESS
ZERORPM
• $2,500,000 investment
• 50 new jobs
• First tenant of Wallace
State Community
College’s Green Business
Incubator
Total Capital Investments!
10 Year Totals
NEW AND EXPANDING
MANUFACTURING/
DISTRIBUTION
CONTINUED GROWTH/
FACADE PROGRAM
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Total Amount Invested by Business Owners: $9,400,000
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Total Jobs Created/Restored: 415
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Total Amount Awarded from City of Cullman: $253,000
CONTINUED GROWTH/
FACADE PROGRAM
TARGETED PROJECTS /
DUCK RIVER
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650 acre reservoir
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Meets water needs for next 75
years
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Additional drought-resistance
WHY CULLMAN?
Cullman Times 10/29/13 - The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is steaming forward with plans to build an elaborate museum and active-use
complex for fishing enthusiasts around the world.
Some people may have trouble understanding why the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame chose Cullman over the usual tourist traps like Orlando,
the land of multiple international attractions. But the reasons for bringing the hall of fame to this part of Alabama are strong and sensible.
For all its allure, a metropolitan area such as Orlando is a brick-and-mortar destination with a high price tag for visitors. Cullman, on the
other hand, is in the heart of bass fishing country. The rural backdrop of the region is accompanied by an immensely busy interstate that
brings millions of people through the area on the way to the coastal charm of the Gulf of Mexico. For overseas visitors, rural Alabama offers
a fascinating destination with its many miles of navigable waterways and healthy fishing environment.
Where tourism and education are concerned, there is nothing written in stone that makes a large metropolitan area more attractive than the
rural trails of the country.
Within a short driving distance, three hours of so, millions of people are within a quick arrival to Cullman. The presence of Lewis Smith Lake
and the nearby wonder of the Sipsey Wilderness and the old-town charm of neighboring towns provide visitors with a package of
opportunities when visiting the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
So much development has been centered in areas such as Atlanta and Orlando that the pleasure of visiting those areas is often offset by
the misery of congestion and expenses. There is so much to offer in other areas of the country, such as the Cullman area, and making
investments in a valuable educational and destination center such as the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is warranted. In fact, time will prove that
the great fishing trails of the United States are more indebted to rural America than any overcrowded metro area.
The international appeal of bass fishing is finally being realized. Visitors and fishing enthusiasts will find the planned location in Cullman
County to be a pleasant and rewarding surprise. Bass Fishing Hall of Fame president Sammy Lee noted that Alabama has made
tremendous strides in recent years with bringing international industries to the state. With those connections and relationships, Alabama
already has a built-in publicity mechanism overseas for the hall of fame.
If one thing is missing about the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame project it would be the need to rename the facility the International Bass Fishing
Hall of Fame. Because that’s exactly how broad the appeal for this attraction will travel.
BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will
be the lynchpin for Alabama’s
identity and focus as a center for
fishing tourism in this country. It
will both solidify and add to our
state’s attractiveness as a fishing
and tourism destination state. It
holds high potential to enhance
“cross-over” tourism (golf-fishing).
Annually Attendance/Visitor
Comparisons
• U.S. Space and Rocket Center
(Alabama): 509,000
• Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail
(Alabama): 505,000
• National Baseball Hall of Fame
(New York): 350,000
• Wonders of Wildlife (Missouri):
225,000
TARGETED PROJECTS/
222 INTERCHANGE
CONTINUING - INFRASTRUCTURE
• City, County, and Chamber
committed $2 million for
ATRIP match
• $19 million ATRIP funds
• Bass Fishing Hall of Fame
estimated at $20 million
• City proposed a joint civic
center/convention center to
include the BFHOF
ALABAMA ANGLING
SPORTS FISHING IN THE
UNITED STATES
THE ALABAMA BASS
FISHING LEGACY
TOURNAMENT BASS FISHING
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
THE BASS FISHING
HALL OF FAME
THE HALL OF FAME – TOURISM –
RESEARCH SYNERGY
Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce
& Visitor Center
301 2nd Avenue, SW Cullman, Alabama 35055
256-734-0454 1-800-313-5114 Fax 256-737-7443
www.cullmanchamber.org
www.visitcullman.org
PROTECTOR OF THE PAST.
CARETAKER OF THE PRESENT.
BUILDER OF THE FUTURE.
The Chamber of Commerce has taken an active role in the continuing effort of ensuring that the Cullman area remains a
wonderful community, teeming with growth, economic stability, and a modern way of life. It is through the support of area
businesses, community leaders and volunteers that this goal is being realized. Our committees, activities and programs create a
unique environment that encourages both networking and community involvement. For over 60 years, area leaders have been
utilizing the Chamber of Commerce as a base of strength. The Chamber staff and volunteers continue to build on that strength,
thus sustaining a sound economy for the Cullman area.