The document discusses community livability initiatives in DeKalb County, Alabama. It examines strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats across several livability factors, including housing, neighborhoods, environment, healthcare, education, safety, transportation, and education. For each factor, it outlines current conditions, solicits input from community members, and proposes solutions to capitalize on opportunities and address threats to improve livability. The overall aim is to create a natural place for both living and doing business in DeKalb County.

1. A Natural Place for Business
TVA
Community
Livability Initiative

2. Community Livability Structure
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 2
• DCEDA Staff
• Fort Payne Chamber of
Commerce
• 30 Community Leaders
• Emails and Phone calls:
requesting knowledge
from community leaders
• 4 Interviews: gathering
unique stories from
DeKalb
• Focus group: 10
community members
generating visibility and
perspective
Our Story
Collaboration
Process

3. LIVE, WORK & PLAY
DEKALB COUNTY ALABAMA

4. Housing
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 4
 Limited housing choices
 Few downtown living
opportunities
 No multi-use housing
construction in progress
 The only family rentals in
DeKalb are for low
income situations.
LIVE:

5. Housing
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 5
Solutions:
 Provide a “one location” place to
list all rental and housing sales
information for DeKalb such as a
website that would included
B&B and seasonal private home
rentals.
 Develop special zoned areas for
new housing construction for a
gated community etc.
 Generate more local Bed &
Breakfast locations than what
we already have.
I really enjoy how affordable the housing
is here than I had in Atlanta. – Local
Employee
Exactly. Don’t forget the low property
taxes. I love it. Far better than it was in
Birmingham. – Local CEO
Homeownership is 72.3%
which is higher than the
national average.
Market Absorption rate is 6 to
9 months from May 2017 to
June 2018. Source NAL MLS.
Household Income $38,248
Number of households 24,811
LIVE:

6. Neighborhoods
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 6
 Ethnic districts are small
but thriving.
 Bike-abilities are in a few
municipalities.
Arts and Crafts - Mentone
Cultural freedom - Mentone Collinsville,
and Fort Payne
Music - Fort Payne and Mentone
History Devotees - Mentone, Fort Payne,
Collinsville and Crossville
Outdoor enthusiasts - Rainsville,
Mentone, Fort Payne, Crossville,
Collinsville, Fyffe, Sylvania and Geraldine
Animal Lovers - Rainsville, Ider, Henagar,
Fyffe, Crossville, Collinsville, Geraldine,
Powel, Sylvania, Hammondville and
Valley Head
Agricultural Indulgence – Rainsville, Ider,
Henagar, Fyffe, Crossville, Collinsville,
Geraldine, Powel, Sylvania,
Hammondville and Valley Head
LIVE:

7. Neighborhoods
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 7
Solutions:
 Fort Payne Mainstreet Program is providing new opportunities for downtown development.
 Mentone is developing downtown sidewalks that connect into DeSoto State Park.
 Foster a deeper cultural connectivity between all 16 municipalities.
 Develop more downtown districts
Fort Payne is the largest
community at 14,101
92.8% White Alone in DeKalb
1.9% Black or African American
alone
14.8% Hispanic or Latino
7.3% Foreign born persons
When I moved back to DeKalb, I was really
looking forward to the space. Where I lived in
Sarasota Florida, homes were right next to each
other. – Local business owner
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
LIVE:
Being Hispanic and a woman and young and an
entrepreneur, I can tell you that inclusion is
strong here. That is why I chose to open my
business in DeKalb and not in Scottsboro. –
Local Entrepreneur

8. Environment
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 8
• Little River Canyon Center, a
Silver LEED certified building,
offers numerous field school
programs to the general public
that promote sustainability,
education, conservation, and
local heritage. Partnering with
the National Park Service,
DeSoto State Park, Anniston
Outdoors, and others.
• Public recycling in the city limits
of Fort Payne
• Private recycling offered in
many local industries
• One World Adventure Group –
Outdoor education
• DeKalb Schools systems practice
recycling efforts.
 Fort Payne is a Silver
Certified TVA Valley
Sustainable Community
 Rainsville is a Certified
Tree-City USA Community
 Little River National
Preserve
 DeSoto State Park
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
LIVE:

9. Environment
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 9
Solutions:
 DeKalb municipalities should
consider offering expedited
permitting, fee waver and
other incentives for business
that plan to build green and
sustainable buildings.
 Should provide more
community education for litter
control in the local scout
groups and JSU Canyon Center.
 Develop a Land Use Plan for all
of DeKalb.
17,514 acres of
greenspace in the city
limits of Fort Payne.
I really enjoy living so close to the parks!
– local CEO
It is so important what the Little River
Waterkeeper group does for us, how
they provide patrolling for litter and
education on the river. One World
Adventure. – Local community member
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
LIVE:

10. Healthcare
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 10
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
DeKalb Regional Medical Center is
located in the city limits of Fort Payne.
They offer behavioral health, women’s
health, cardiac care, fitness center,
senior behavioral health, sleep disorder
center, and much more.
The Hospital operates small clinics
around DeKalb.
134-bed facility with 37 physicians.
They recruited 7 physicians last year
bringing roughly $5.4 million dollar
impact to our county.
LIVE:
I want you all to know that DeKalb
Regional has the best care possible
and I would know, I’m really picky
about my doctors. – Local CEO
 Available Services:
• Cancer Treatment
• Rehabilitation Services
• Oncology
• Psychiatrist
• Nuclear Medicine
• Much more!
 County-wide Ambulance Service

11. Healthcare
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 11
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
 Fort Payne School System offers
Health Science career cluster
focusing on Therapeutic
Services, Nursing, and Sports
Medicine.
 DeKalb Technology Center offers
career/technical program for
entry-level careers in
Healthcare.
LIVE:
Our Health Science – HOSA Team just
placed 1st in the State in Community
Emergency Response Training. – Jim
Cunningham, FP Superintendent
Solutions:
 Open more clinics around
the most rural parts of
DeKalb.
 Continue to offer the
health science cluster in
our schools.
 Increase our 24/7 direct
primary care physicians in
DeKalb.

12. Education
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 12
 DeKalb has 16
municipalities with two
public school systems.
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
Fort Payne City School District
• 4 public schools serving 3,205 students in Fort Payne, AL.
• Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is
equal to the Alabama state average of 44%.
• The student/teacher ratio of 17:1 is less than the state average of 18:1.
• District spending/student: $8,007
• Diversity score: 0.54
• Graduation rate: 90%
DeKalb County Board of Education
• 16 public schools serving 9,015 students
• Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is
equal to the Alabama state average of 44%.
• The student/teacher ratio of 17:1 is less than the state average of 18:1.
• Diversity score: 0.59
• Graduation Rate: 95%
Source: Publicschoolreview.com and AL Dept of Education (2015)
LIVE:

13. Education
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 13
 Northeast Alabama
Community College is
located 12 minutes north
of Rainsville.
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
Northeast Alabama
Community College
NACC awarded 575
certificates and
2-year awards for the
2015-2016
academic year.
CIP Code Title
Certificates and
2yr Awards
52.0401 Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General 23
52.0201 Business Administration and Management, General 15
19.0708 Child Care and Support Services Management 26
11.0101 Computer and Information Sciences, General 10
12.0401 Cosmetology/Cosmetologist, General 2
43.0107 Criminal Justice/Police Science 17
15.1301 Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General 19
51.0904
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT
Paramedic) 39
15.0000 Engineering Technology, General 1
24.0102 General Studies 142
47.0105 Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician 48
47.0303 Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology 34
24.0101 Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 29
51.3901 Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 23
51.3501 Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage 3
51.0801 Medical/Clinical Assistant 75
51.3801 Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 35
12.0412 Salon/Beauty Salon Management/Manager 21
48.0507 Tool and Die Technology/Technician 5
48.0508 Welding Technology/Welder 8
Total 575
Source: JobsEQ®
LIVE:

14. Opportunity
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 14
Farmers Telecommunications
Coop (FTC) provides GIG
service to all of DeKalb.
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
Fort Payne Schools:
• 9-12 grade students are assigned a
Chrome Book
• 4-8 grade students are assigned an iPad.
• K-3 grade students work daily with iPads
• All classes utilize a promethean smart
board
LIVE:
Religion Choices:
• 45.8% Evangelical Protestant
• 45% Other
• 5.5% Protestant
• 3.7% Catholic
Median Age: 37.5
Persons in Poverty: 20.5%
Veteran-owned firms: 567

15. Safety
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 15
 Meth and Heroine
activity on I-59 is an
issue. This accounts for
our unemployment rate
of 3.5%.
DeKalb County population is
approximately 71,617.
DeKalb’s most recent Crime Index is
1,600.
Fort Payne crime rate is 2% higher
than Alabama. Yet violent crimes are
40% lower than Alabama average.
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
There is still a low crime experience
in DeKalb. But it would be nice to
bridge the communication gap with
local and regional solutions to
address the drug problem. – Local
CEO
LIVE:

16. LIVE, WORK & PLAY
DEKALB COUNTY ALABAMA

17. Transportation & Connectivity
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 17
 DeKalb is located near 3 major
interstates within one hour
drive time. (I-24, I-75 and I-65)
Interstate 59 traverses the valley between the two
mountains and parallels both the Norfolk Southern Rail and
U.S. Highway 11. There are 6 exits off I-59 in DeKalb with 3
exits serving Fort Payne.
DeKalb is excellently located close to many metropolitans
where our citizens can enjoy their amenities yet still have
the rural homelife.
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
WORK:
There’s a lot of diversity here for me.
Close to the parks and Chattanooga. –
Local Service Manager

18. Transportation & Connectivity
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 18
 DeKalb Rural Public
Transportation provides
transportation for the elderly
to commute to various
locations in DeKalb. The Rural
Public Transportation Program
funds this program
 Average commute time to
work is 23 minutes
The county’s topographic features
include Lookout Mountain and Sand
Mountain plateau which are of the
Appalachian Mountain range. Fort Payne
is located in the major valley region lying
between the two mountains. Because of
this, the main way to commute is by
automobile. Bike lanes are only available
inside city municipalities and DeSoto
State Park.
Mentone is in the process of
extending their sidewalks into
the park. Other municipalities
need to follow us. – Local
community member
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
WORK:
The city of Fort Payne has a plan to build multi-use trails from Wills
Valley Recreation Center up the mountain. With a potential easement
purchase, the trail could connect CR 166 and Citadel Rock Road and can
be called the Citadel Rock Mountain Trail. At the top of mountain, the
trail could connect to the Forever Wild Property and DeSoto State Park,
which can join Fort Payne to DeSoto State Park, the Forever Wild
National Park Trail and the Little River National Park Trail Systems, which
are conducive for mountain biking and hiking. Restarting this initiative is
a strong solution.

19. Education
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 19
 DCEDA is currently working
with DeKalb and Fort Payne
School systems to develop an
Educator’s Academy for all
teachers to participate. This
will involve multiple sessions
of educators touring and
interacting with businesses
and industries.
DeKalb County School system:
Fort Payne School System:
Source: AL Dept of Education
All of DeKalb Higher Ed completions from Summer
2016 through Spring 2017.
• 276 Associate Degrees
• 154 Bachelor Degrees
• 42 Masters
• 8 Doctoral
Source: JobsEQ
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
• Fort Payne City offers 9 of the 16
nationally recognized career
clusters with 13 different
programs within those 9 clusters.
• Fort Payne High School is in the
process of beginning a Youth
Apprenticeship Program. This is
the first program of its kind in
Alabama. The program allows 16
& 17 year-old students to gain a
job training and dual high school
and college credit while they
work. The students will draw a
sustainable wage and their
college classes will be paid by the
industry.
Doctorate 6 Year Master Bachelor
Percentage of Teachers By Degree Type
Not Specified
0.50% 12.44% 45.27% 41.79% 0.00%
0.17% 8.65% 54.08% 36.94% 0.33%
WORK:
We also provide Career Readiness
Indicator Credentials as well as Stackable
Credentials that students can use to get
into workforce. These are the things that
our business and industry partners tell us
students are lacking coming out of High
School. – Jim Cunningham FP
Superintendent

20. Education
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 20
Fort Payne City Schools Career Clusters
1. Agriculture & Natural Resources
• Agri construction – Welding
• Plant Systems
2. Arts, A/V Technology and Communications
• Television Production – 24/7 TV Station
Programing
3. Business, Management and Administration
• Commerce and Information Technology
4. Education and Training
5. Government and Public Administration
• JROTC
6. Health Science
• Therapeutic Services
• Sports Medicine
7. Hospitality and Tourism
• Restaurant, Beverages and Food Services
8. Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security
• Law Enforcement
• Fire and Emergency Services
9. STEM Project Lead the Way - Engineering
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
AWARDS
• FPMS 4th Grade Gifted students won 2nd
Place a the annual Celebration Science
Exhibit Prototype Competition in
Birmingham for their prototype of the
“Coriolis Carousel”. They competed
against 15 other schools state-wide.
• The Real World Design Team was
established in 2011.
• 2012-2017 State Champions
• 2015 2nd Place at National Competition
• 2015 Excellence in Education Award
• 2015 Added to Congressional Record
• 2016 National Competition Best Business
Case Award
• 2017 National Competition Effective Use of
Mentor Award
See all that Fort Payne is accomplishing
https://youtu.be/1WoDN7NHrsU
WORK:

21. Education
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 21
DeKalb County Technical Center
Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) awarded DeKalb
County Technical Center the James E. Bottoms Pacesetter
award that recognize schools that use High Schools That
Work (HCTW) key practices to transform teaching and
learning and motivate students to succeed in college, careers
and life. With support from an Alabama State Department of
Education career coaching effort, DCTC’s counselors are
partnering with business, community and postsecondary
partners to educate students and parents about careers.
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
 DeKalb County Technology
Center of the DeKalb County
School System offers multiple
career path alternatives for
DeKalb students.
 DCTC’s innovative career
exploratory experiences
include a Citizen Soldier
Career Expo sponsored by the
Army National Guard, which
maintains a satellite facility at
the center.
WORK:

22. Education
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 22
DeKalb County Technical Center Wins
Pipe Certified students for the 2017 – 2018 school
year for a grand total of 22 open root pipe
certifications
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
WORK:
7 State SkillsUSA
Champions for the 2017-
2018 school year

23. Education
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 23
Jacksonville State University
Field Schools
 K-12 Educational Field Trips
 Public Education programs
 K-12 Teacher Workshops
 Summer Programs
 Educational Concerts and
Festivals
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
• An important part of the JSU Field
School goal is to offer educational
opportunities to teachers and
homeschool parents. Through the year,
educational workshops are offered
such as the Growing up Wild Teacher
Workshop.
• JSU Field Schools regularly partner
with NASA (Marshall Space and Flight
Center) and offer day long teacher
workshops on Meteorite and Lunar
Sampling, GLOBE training, and other
topics. The Meteorite workshop allows
teachers to gain educational resources
and knowledge of the space program.
Another bonus to this workshop is that
by the end of the day, the teachers are
certified to borrow sample disks of real
meteorite and lunar materials from
NASA to use in teaching their classes.
WORK:

24. Education
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 24
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
Northeast Alabama Community
College (NACC)
NACC has several DOL Registered
Apprenticeship programs in DeKalb
County. They have Machining, Industrial
Maintenance, Construction and are
adding Tool & Die. All of the students at
NACC must complete a paid or unpaid
internship before completing their
certificate or degree.
WORK:
The Made in DeKalb Expo was established to:
• recognize all the great products that are made in
DeKalb County
• connect DeKalb County companies to establish
business to business relationships
• promote manufacturing careers to DeKalb high
school students
 Annual Made In
DeKalb Expo – in
its sixth year!
 NACC Registered
Apprenticeship
Programs
It was good to meet the local students. It was also
helpful to us to let them know there are jobs ready
for them when they graduate. A student we met in a
past MID came to work for us after graduation. And
just yesterday, a senior in Geraldine interested in
becoming a welder wants to come to work for us
when he graduates. – VP of Local Industry

25. Engagement
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 25
1. Young Professional Group Rising Leaders of DeKalb County (RLDC) has already experience
success in offering business and industry assistance to our young professionals by helping
them find the job that fits. They were created last summer.
2. Fort Payne Mainstreet Lunch & Learn series provide leadership, destination retailing,
marketing & social media, economic development, entrepreneurial grown business
processes and community initiated development information to all citizens of DeKalb.
3. Inspire Series is a quarterly engagement endeavor that speaks to the heart of all
entrepreneurial minds of DeKalb. Fort Payne Mainstreet designed this public platform to
help fine-tune best practices. Through real-time feedback from successful business leaders,
attendees will receive critically examined recommendations for business process
improvements.
4. Small Business Development Center Network provides resources and entrepreneurial training
through partnership with DCEDA, Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce and Rainsville
Chamber of Commerce.
5. Entrepreneurial Center of Fort Payne is in the initial planning stage.
6. Leadership DeKalb County established to bring community members and leaders together to
achieve greater community service through involvement and examine current programs of
DeKalb.
WORK:
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat

26. Business
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 26
Target Industries
 Metal Fabrication
 Plastics
 Distribution Centers
 Automotive
 Wood Products
 Food Processing
 Data Centers
 Available Labor Pool:
8,017
WORK:
Source: US EDA and Purdue Center for Regional Development
Outputs: Direct outcomes and economic
improvements in innovative activities.
Output indexes.Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
Source: Census Bureau and Alabama Dept. of Labor, Labor Market Division

27. Business
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 27
 Textile/Leather cluster is
projected to contract about
4.0% over the next ten
years.
 In 2016, nominal GDP in
DeKalb expanded 2.4%.
 Total GDP was
$1,841,542,000 with our
manufacturing industry as
the largest contributor
WORK:
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat

28. Business
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 28
 Over the next 5 years, fastest
growing occupation is expected
to be Healthcare Support with a
+1.4% year-over-year growth.
 Strongest forecast by number
over jobs in the next 5 years is
expected to be Food Preparation
and Serving Related occupations
and Healthcare Practitioners.
 More information is available
WORK:
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat

29. Business
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 29
 Foreign Direct Investment:
• Germany
• Japan
• Canada
• Australia
• United Kingdom
 Since 2016, FDI has invested
over $20 million in expansions
for DeKalb.
 More information is available
WORK:
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
TOTAL Announcements
Year Investment Jobs Projects
2018 73,482,468 83 24
2017 5,000,000 517 11
2016 32,990,564 124 23
$ 111,473,032 724 58
According to Indeed.com,
there are 597 job openings
for DeKalb where 238 are
in Fort Payne alone.

30. LIVE, WORK & PLAY
DEKALB COUNTY ALABAMA

31. Neighborhoods
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 31
Mentone Arts and Cultural Center
The mission of the Mentone Arts and Cultural
Center is to provide education about this rich
history in order to promote, propagate and
protect it for current and future generations.
Creation of the Center has been a long-time
dream of many in this mountain hamlet. Plans
are beginning to materialize that will ensure
the reality of this dream.
PLAY:
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
Sandra Ellis Lafferty
Walk the Line (2005), Hunger
Games (2012), Prisoners (2013)
Self/Less (2015), and A Walk in
the Woods (2015)

32. Neighborhoods
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 32
Northeast Alabama Agribusiness Center
is a multi-purpose facility on 43.5 acres, located
on the north side of Rainsville. It includes an
enclosed and climate-controlled arena, stables, a
warm-up area, a recreational vehicle park and a
two-acre lake.
The Agri-Business Center is the vision of a group
of local business and civic-minded people who
saw a need for a cultural, entertainment and
community affairs facility for the City of
Rainsville, Dekalb County, Alabama and the
extended region around Northeast Alabama.
PLAY:
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat

33. Tourism
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 33
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
1. Buck’s Pocket State Park – Geraldine and Fyffe: The park is being renovated
thanks to a federal grant of $526,000 for an ATV trail system.
2. Grove Oak, AL – This 2,000-acre state park is located on Sand Mountain and has
camping facilities, hiking trails, and opportunities for birding.
3. Cloudmont Ski Resort – Mentone: Southern most active Ski Resort. The resort
offers seasonal skiing, golfing, horseback riding and trails. The resort is also home
to Shady Groves Dude Ranch.
4. DeKalb County State Lake – (Sylvania Lake) Sylvania: Fishing, hiking and Saturday
afternoon family picnicking.
5. DeSoto State Park – Fort Payne and Mentone: covers 3,502 acres and features
waterfalls, scenic hiking trails, and picnic areas. The park’s lodging includes
chalets, log cabins, rustic cabins, a resort lodge, and campgrounds.
6. High Falls Park – Geraldine, AL: is known for its 35-foot waterfall. The park has a
pedestrian bridge that spans across Town Creek and a natural bridge formed by
25-feet of rock.
7. Little River Canyon National Preserve – Fort Payne: The preserve spans across
almost 16,000 acres. This is one of the deepest and most extensive canyon and
gorge systems in the eastern United States, at times measuring 500 feet from the
edge of the cliffs to the river bottom.
8. North Alabama Birding Trail Sites throughout DeKalb County
9. Fort Payne municipal Country Club and Golf Course
10. Rainsville Gold and Country Club
PLAY:

34. Tourism
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 34
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
PLAY:
True Adventure Sports – Classes, Guided
Tours, Lodging, Rappelling, Rock Climbing,
Whitewater Kayaking, Backpacking, Wild
Cave Tours, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Zip lines
Lodging Numbers
 490 hotel rooms
 8 B&B lodges
 150 rental cabins
 7 campgrounds
Movie Tourism
 Failure To Launch (2006)
 Cold Mountain (2003)
DeKalb
• $85,786,441 tourism expenditures
• 1,073 direct and indirect tourism
jobs
• DeKalb’s lodging tax increased by
4.1% from last year
North Alabama
• $2.6 billion tourism expenditures
up 7% from 2016
Little River Canyon Preserve visitors
for 2017 was approximately 250,000
DeSoto State Park visitors for the same
year approximately 250,000

35. Entertainment
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 35
 The Alabama Band
It's been 40 years since a trio of young cousins
left Fort Payne, Alabama, to spend the summer
playing in a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, bar
called The Bowery. Now their legend lives right
here in Fort Payne Alabama.
PLAY:
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat

36. Entertainment
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 36
Fort Payne Alabama
 Boom Days
Boom Days Heritage Celebration honors Fort Payne’s rich cultural past with events that tie
the history to the present, great historical artifacts and clothing at the Fort Payne Depot
Museum, a miniature railroad system in the original office of the Coal and Iron Company,
music covering all musical genres with more than two dozen acts on 6 different stages.
Fort Payne Boom Days estimated attendance last year was around 21,000 enjoying 150
vendors of all varieties, a rock climbing wall, wine tasting, a pet parade, a quilt show, Dye
Dash 5k, and 30 musical acts.
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
PLAY:

37. Entertainment
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 37
Fort Payne Alabama
 Fort Payne’s Opera House is the only historical Opera House in the State of Alabama still in
use. The establishment is being used as a movie house, live theatre and for public forum. The
Opera House opened September 1890, built during Fort Payne’s boom period, and was
converted during the era of silent movies. Closed in October 1935. Purchased by Landmarks of
DeKalb County, Inc. 1969, and renovated, restored and reopened to public in 1970.
 Coal and Iron Building Fort Payne restored the 1889 Coal and Iron building for any event for
our citizens. It stays booked a minimum of 4 days a week per year.
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
PLAY:

38. Entertainment
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 38
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
PLAY:
Fyffe's UFO Annual Festival
Valley Head Mayberry
Festival
Collinsville Mule Day
Festival
Rainsville Annual Freedom
Fest and 5K run

39. Engagement
@dekalbeda Community Livability - 39
PLAY:
NACC Community
Plays
Current Program: The Nerd
July 13-15 & 20-22
Summer Youth Theatre
Workshop July 24-28, 2018
Annual Season Auditions July
30-August 1, 2018 for ages 9
and up.
Strength Weakness
Opportunity Threat
JSU Field School
 Each year, local schools bring school groups ages K-12th to JSU’s Little River
Canyon Center. The purpose of these field trips is to engage students in activities
that give them a better appreciation of the environment that is in their own
backyard. By engaging students in this way, the program develops a desire in the
students to both protect and preserve the natural resources in our local area. The
students also develop an understanding of how the local natural resources play a
role in maintaining a higher quality of life for the entire community.
 In 2016, a pilot program was launched with the Fort Payne School System. This
program within two years of its inception will see all 3200 students from Pre-K to
12th grade at Fort Payne attending a field trip every year to the Little River
Canyon Center. The goal is that by allowing yearly, continuous exposure of the
students to the natural wonders of the Little River Canyon Preserve and its
sustainability efforts we will build future Naturalists, Scientists, and children with
a general love for the outdoor world.
 In 2016, another initiative was begun within the Field Schools to make the
National Preserve more accessible to all people. In 2016, a group of 65 English as
a Second Language local High Schoolers attended a pilot bilingual field trip. Most
of these students had been in the United States for under a year and few spoke
English. Because of this field trip, many of the students returned to the Little
River Canyon National Preserve with their families.

40. THANK YOU
Diana Goss
P.O. Box 680941
Fort Payne, AL. 35968
(256) 845-7957 Office
(888) 421-7957 Toll Free
dgoss@dekalbeda.com
(256) 997-6924 Mobile
@dekalbeda