North Alabama - Economy

Economy

The northern areas of Alabama contain a wide variety of industrial, manufacturing, and hi-tech corporations with both large and small operations. Each of the three economic centers in the region (Huntsville, Decatur, and Florence) have a distinct type of economic base. The Huntsville area is mostly dominated by hi-tech industries and federal operations such as Boeing and NASA. The Decatur area, in the central part of the region, is dependent mostly on industrial and manufacturing companies, such as General Electric and 3M, but some hi-tech and federal entities like the United Launch Alliance, who produces launch vehicles for NASA and other agencies, and the Tennessee Valley Authority also have roots in the area. The Florence area, also known as "The Shoals", is primarily dependent on industry and manufacturing, hosting companies such as Sara Lee, but also relies heavily on agriculture.