DEMOPOLIS – Well-respected business leaders from the Demopolis area and all over Alabama gathered to share and gain information about Alabama’s economic and business aspects.

Neil Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office or ADO, was the guest speaker Thursday afternoon at the Demopolis Civic Center.

He spoke to a crowd of Alabama business and community leaders such as mayor Cecil Williamson, John Northcutt, Jay Shows, and many others about the goals of ADO.

“We are looking at economic development in a different light,” Wade said. “The strength of economic development is at the local level not the state.”

Wade said the ADO wants to make sure all state resources are moving at a similar pace in order to create more jobs in Alabama.

According to Wade, the goal is to create and retain 20,0000 news jobs in the state over the course of three to five years.

“We want not to be reactive but to be proactive,” Wade said.

He also stated Alabama created more jobs than they lost in the past year.

“We are strictly a job creation agency,” he said. “We are the leading economic development agency in the state and we value our partners and all our Alabama based companies.”

He also informed attendees to contact Linda Swan at ADO if they wish to attend any of the trade conferences listed in a provided handout.

“I want you to go to something you can benefit from,” he said.

Shows said Demopolis was asked to host the ADO information session and he was satisfied with the attendance.

“We had a lot of economic developers from the state. The Linden Industrial Board, the Demopolis Industrial Board, the Utility Board and members of the City Council were invited,” Shows said. “I am pleased with the turnout, the questions and Mr. Wade’s presentation,” Show said.