Groundbreaking Held on $10 Million Project

The City of Gadsden held groundbreaking ceremonies Wednesday on a new office building to house the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. The new facility will be located on East Broad Street behind Burgers 101. Mayor Craig Ford told the large crowd in attendance, this ten million dollar capital improvement project will save 40 jobs for the City. He said this is part of the City’s master plan of Grow Gadsden which will enhance the East Broad corridor.

This is a joint effort with the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, The City of Gadsden, Gadsden Public Building Authority, and Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority.

Architect Craig Lipscomb told WEIS Radio News, the facility will be an aesthetically pleasing facility and should efficient and provide the best service possible. The modern construction will ensure maintenance costs and utility bills will be lower than other locations. He said the final product will be 20% under budget with a savings of more than $1.2 million dollars.

ADSR Commissioner Birdshaw told the group this facility will serve more than 3400 children and families. Many children coming to the center have special healthcare needs and high school graduates with special challenges who want to go into the work force will be served by this new ADRS Complex. This facility will provide to residents of northeast Alabama not just Etowah County residents.

IDA Director David Hooks told WEIS Radio News he hopes to be doing a ribbon cutting here in the summer of 2025. State Representative Ginny Shaver said she was proud of the investment to keep the facility in Gadsden and provide necessary services to families in the northeast Alabama region.