COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 15 Amendment 50 gives Gulf states stable snapper season The Islander PAGE 7 INSIDE APRIL 24, 2019 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Economic development on display at Gulf Shores By CRYSTAL CASTLE its most recent work session. of December saw a 162.9% to place a bigger focus on
[email protected] Phelps discussed how part increase in lodging tax rev- growing the community in of the goals of Vision 2025, enue. November saw a 74.8% a more well-rounded way to The City of Gulf Shores presented in 2014, was to increase, while October has attract more full-time resi- has taken big strides not look at the economy and be- received a 52.1% bump. dents.” only in environmental sus- come more seasonally diver- Phelps said the city has fo- Some of the highlights tainability, but in economic sified from the tourism base. cused on the community in a from the report included sustainability as well. In the years since, the city more holistic way. the return of The Lodge at Economic Development has seen significant growth “We certainly don’t want Gulf State Park, the opening Coordinator Blake Phelps in what were previously to detract from tourism of the Auburn University Greenest City in Alabama presented a 2018 Economic known as “shoulder sea- which is the primary driver educational complex, the Gulf Shores’ efforts to Development year in review sons.” From fiscal year 2014 of the economy,” Phelps maintain an environmen- report to the city council at to fiscal year 2018, the month said.