Sometimes, the message always seems the same. The reverberating economic development message heard across Marengo County sure seems the same, no matter who’s telling the story.

David Hutchison, assistant director of the Alabama Development Office, made a brief stop in Demopolis on Thursday to talk about the role of his organization in helping bring new industries to this part of the state. All the while, he pressed the idea of working closely with existing industries to keep them happy and help them expand.

ADO, the state organization charged with helping industries find homes in Alabama, has spent the past decade immersed in the automotive industry, and Hutchison told a crowd of nearly 50 that Marengo County can still benefit from that industry.

Hutchison filled in for new ADO head Neal Wade – who spent Thursday testifying before members of the state legislature. During his talk, he made sure to remind anxious community leaders that recruiting industry is never a sprint.

While Hutchison did not speak in specifics Thursday, he did offer a few tips for making Demopolis and Marengo County a viable location for new industries. And for each tip he listed, those in the audience realized Demopolis has done all it can do.

Marengo County &045;&045; and Demopolis in particular &045;&045; are well taken care of on the site.

Among the sites listed are Griffith Foods, Old National Guard Armory, Sherrod Building and Spec Building No. 1 in Demopolis, and the old Linden Sportswear Building.

For most of his talk, Hutchison focused on ways Demopolis &045; and cities like this &045; can best assist in the recruitment of new industries.

Hutchison believes certain communities fit certain industries, and it’s important to know what needs an area’s workforce can meet best.