Loxley Joins Live Locally Alabama Campaign to Boost Local Businesses

LOXLEY, Ala. — The city of Loxley has signed on to Live Locally Alabama, a statewide campaign that encourages residents to invest in their hometowns, support local businesses and get involved in the decisions that shape their communities.

The campaign is led by the Alabama League of Municipalities, the organization that represents cities and towns across the state. In a statement released by the city, Loxley’s mayor voiced support for the initiative and emphasized the role local governments play in building stronger communities and creating opportunities for the people who live in them.

What Live Locally Alabama is about

Live Locally Alabama focuses on the everyday issues that determine what it is like to live in a community. According to the city’s statement, those include:

• Public safety
• Infrastructure improvements
• Economic investment
• Education
• Workforce development
• Support for local businesses
• Access to cultural and recreational activities

Through the campaign, municipal leaders say they are working to improve infrastructure, encourage thoughtful growth and development, preserve natural resources and promote healthier lifestyles. The broader aim, as described in the statement, is to bring residents and local officials together to strengthen Alabama’s communities and build a more prosperous future for generations to come.

The mayor’s statement highlighted the importance of investing in local communities as part of supporting Alabama’s economic future, and it noted that local governments are often the level of government closest to residents. City and town governments are typically responsible for many of the services people use most directly, such as police and fire protection, streets, parks, and local planning and zoning.

A state of 466 cities and towns

The statement pointed out that Alabama is home to 466 incorporated cities and towns. They range widely in size, from communities with about 100 residents to cities with populations of more than 100,000. Some of those municipalities predate Alabama’s founding as a state in 1819, while others have been incorporated within the past decade.

Although the state’s largest populations are concentrated in urban areas, more than 42% of Alabamians live in rural communities, according to 2020 U.S. Census figures cited in the statement. That mix of large cities, small towns and rural areas means that the needs and priorities of local governments can vary considerably from one place to the next.

The statement also pointed to the state’s natural diversity as part of its appeal, from the white-sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico to the Appalachian Mountains in the north, known for their scenic views and hiking trails. Combined with the people and communities across the state, those resources help make Alabama a place to live, work, play and raise a family, the statement said.

How residents can take part

A central idea of the campaign is that residents have a direct role to play in the health of their hometowns. The city’s statement encourages people to support the local economy and stay engaged with local government in a number of ways:

• Shop at local stores.
• Dine at neighborhood restaurants.
• Visit nearby museums.
• Spend time at local parks.
• Attend city council meetings.
• Take part in community initiatives and improvement projects.
• Follow local government social media pages for updates on activities and plans.

Community involvement, the statement noted, gives residents an opportunity to help shape improvements that reflect local needs. Public meetings are where many decisions about budgets, roads, zoning and services are discussed and voted on, and they are generally open to anyone who wants to attend. Many cities also set aside time during meetings for residents to address elected officials directly.

Why shopping local matters to cities

The campaign’s emphasis on local businesses is connected to how Alabama’s cities and towns pay for the services they provide. Sales tax is a major source of revenue for many Alabama municipalities, which means that money spent at stores and restaurants within city limits helps fund services such as police and fire protection, street maintenance and parks.

Spending money locally can also help keep small businesses open, support local jobs and keep commercial areas active. When residents choose a neighborhood restaurant or a hometown shop, a share of that spending tends to stay in the community through wages, local purchases and tax revenue.

The campaign’s call to visit museums and parks reflects a similar idea. Local attractions and recreational spaces are part of what makes a community appealing to residents and to families considering a move, and use by residents helps show their value.

About Loxley

Loxley is located in central Baldwin County along Interstate 10, between the Mobile Bay communities to the west and the county’s inland and coastal areas to the east and south. The city has deep roots in the area’s farming heritage and is home to the annual Baldwin County Strawberry Festival, which draws visitors each spring.

Baldwin County has been one of Alabama’s fastest-growing counties in recent years, and communities across the county have faced questions about how to manage new residential and commercial development while maintaining the character that attracted residents in the first place. The campaign’s focus on “thoughtful growth and development” and on preserving natural resources speaks to those kinds of challenges.

By joining Live Locally Alabama, Loxley adds its voice to a statewide message that local government works best when residents are engaged, and that the choices people make about where they shop, eat and spend their time can have a direct effect on their community.

About the Alabama League of Municipalities

The Alabama League of Municipalities is a nonpartisan membership organization that represents the state’s cities and towns. Based in Montgomery, the league advocates for municipal interests at the Alabama Legislature and provides training, research and other resources for elected officials and city staff.

Live Locally Alabama is the league’s effort to encourage residents across the state to see their local communities as places worth investing in. Participating cities and towns share the campaign’s message with residents through their own channels.

Staying informed in Loxley

Residents who want to follow city business or learn about upcoming meetings, events and community projects can check the city of Loxley’s official website and social media pages. Attending a city council meeting is one of the most direct ways to learn how local decisions are made and to share ideas with the officials who make them.

As the campaign puts it, involvement at the local level gives residents a way to help shape the improvements that reflect what their community needs.