By John Brice
Correspondent
News broke on Wednesday, August 16th of 2023 that during a board meeting of the Chambers County Development Authority on the previous day that CCDA Deputy Director Chris Busby had been named their new Executive Director. In a post to their official facebook page, it was announced “Good afternoon, friends, supporters and our valued economic development partners. I am happy to announce to you all that at yesterday’s Board meeting, long term employee Chris Busby was unanimously named the Executive Director of the Chambers County Development Authority. As many of you know, I will be retiring in a few days (Valerie Gray), and I cannot think of a better leader for our organization! Please join me in congratulating Chris!” Outgoing Executive Director Valerie Gray has held the position for over twenty years and will be retiring at the end of this month.
According to the description on their official website, the CCDA “actively recruits industrial, commercial and retail opportunities for Chambers County. We strive every day to improve the quality of life through retaining and adding new, quality jobs, providing leadership, and encouraging economic and community development in all of Chambers County.” It goes on to continue “The organization was incorporated as the Industrial Development Board of Chambers County in 1979 to recruit and retain industrial clients for Chambers County, Alabama. In 1995, the Board of Directors re-incorporated the organization to form the Industrial Development Authority of Chambers County. Due to enabling legislation passed by the Alabama Legislature in 2001, the organization became a council and was formally known as the Industrial Development Authority of Chambers County, by which name it had been previously operating. With the new charge of retail and commercial recruitment added to the mission of the IDA, the name officially changed to The Chambers County Development Authority in 2009.”
Reaction to the news was equally enthusiastic in relation to Busby’s promotion as well as Gray’s well deserved retirement after many years of service to the community. One commenter remarked “Val, what a fantastic article on your strong leadership and impact on Chambers County!! Chris will carry your vision through, no doubt, thanks to your guidance and development of his leadership! Well done and best of luck!” Another noted “Enjoy your retirement Valerie, thx you for a job well done, Chambers County is a better place because of you. The Father loves you and so do I.” Summing up the feelings of many grateful residents was the comment “Happy retirement and congratulations to you Thank you for your wonderful service”.