Cullman, Alabama

A Pocket of Success in the South

Nestled in northern Alabama just 50 miles from Birmingham and 55 miles south of Huntsville, Cullman is a financial and commercial city with a population nearing 17,000. Two national highways, two state highways, one regional airport, and a Class 1 railroad ensure Cullman is connected to major crossroads of the South.

The city has a diversified economy driven by manufacturing, retail, and agriculture. Over 120 manufacturing and distribution companies, with total employment ranging from nine to 1,300 workers, are located in Cullman County, which is also one of the top six counties in the United States for total agricultural income.

The retail industry is also on the upswing, too, as taxable retail sales in Cullman County grew by more than 33% between 1999 and 2004, surging from $562 million to more than $746 million. Major retailers include Blockbuster, Lowes, Radio Shack, and Walgreens, among others.

While Cullman offers small town charm, it is also one of the three cities that comprise the Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman combined statistical area, which is home to over one million people.

Employers and Employee Totals (Manufacturing)

Wal-Mart Distribution                      1,404

McGriff Industries                            556

REHAU, Inc.                                    470

Golden Rod Broilers                        450

HH Technologies, Inc.                      360

Webb Wheel Products, Inc.             264

Topre American Corporation           254

Rusken Packaging                          241

American Protein                            238

Axsys Technologies                        235

Employers and Employee Totals (Non-manufacturing)

Cullman County Schools                           1,038

Cullman Regional Medical Center             985

State of Alabama                                       683

Wal-Mart Super Center                              550

Wallace State College                               530

Cullman County Government                   400

City of Cullman                                          350

Cullman School System                            345

Woodland Medical Center                        225

Good Hope Contracting                            200

Source: Cullman EDA

Cullman: Connected to the South

Tuscaloosa, AL                90 miles

Chattanooga, TN             129 miles

Montgomery, AL             149 miles

Nashville, TN                  150 miles

Atlanta, GA                     156 miles

Memphis, TN                  239 miles

Mobile, AL                       295 miles

Plane and Simple: Cullman’s Airport Is Important to Business

In May, officials from the Cullman Folsom Field Airport held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of a new 16-plane, $550,000 hangar. The project took two years to complete, and was funded partially by a $250,000 grant from the state of Alabama. The airport itself paid the remaining balance.

In total, 77 planes are housed at the airport, and a long-term goal to reach a capacity of 100 has been set.

“With 100 planes you get access to the maximum potential state grant ($400,000) offered each year,” says Bob Burns, manager of the airport. “Most of our growth has been in the last five years,” says Burn. “Corporations came in. But if [they] can’t fly in, they go somewhere else.”