New study shows Cullman a great place to retire

    According to a recently completed community inventory assessment, Cullman is a great place to retire. Research and interviews with local officials by staff members of the Center for Economic Development at Jacksonville State University focused upon the retirement amenities which migratory retirees look for when assessing a community as a potential place to permanently retire. When matched up with the amenities sought by retirees, Cullman is highly rated.
    Jacksonville State University initiated the pioneering research in retiree attraction as an economic development strategy to provide an alternative to "smoke-stack chasing" - a term referring to the relentless courting of new industry and manufacturing - for rural Alabama communities. According to JSU experts, one affluent retiree locating in a community is the equivalent of three factory workers as far as economic development is concerned. Cited as one of the most powerful economic development tools, retirees create no burden on infrastructure and bring outside funds directly into the community. In addition, they generally have a disposable income far greater than that of the average working member of the population and tend to spend it locally.
    The JSU Center looked at how Cullman measured up to the wants and needs of migratory retirees. In searching for the ideal location, retirees consider a number of amenities including low crime rates, the proximity of quality medical care centers, overall low cost of living, mild climate, low taxes, low housing costs, convenient shopping, friendly neighbors, nearness to major cities, and an active social/cultural environment.
    Surveys show that most retirees prefer small towns and rural areas as better places to make ends meet and get in touch with more important values. These retirees see the overall quality of life as being better outside of the larger cities but want to be within reasonable distance of such a city for the amenities offered in a larger, more metropolitan environment.
    The JSU study was funded by a grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to help communities determine how closely they match the wants of migratory retirees and to determine what strategies they may use to actively attract retirees.
    For more information concerning the JSU study or to find out more concerning the City of Cullman or Cullman County as a possible place to retire, please contact the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce or the Cullman County Economic Development Office.