Editor's note: To hear Mike talk about the Atlanta Fed's regional outreach program and his role in it, listen to this Economy Matters podcast episode. You can also read an Economy Matters article, "Chriszt's New Role Steps Up Atlanta Fed's Engagement in Small Towns, Rural Areas," that also describes the program.
Brewton, Alabama—one of the first places I visited as part of the Atlanta Fed's regional outreach initiative—represents the often-overlooked strength of small-town America. Located just 60 miles from the Gulf Coast, Brewton boasts a highly rated school system and a well-established industrial base. But what I remember most, and what I have found in countless other towns across the region, is its spirit of optimism and resilience, which simply cannot be fully absorbed until you spend time with the people of these communities.
How did I choose Brewton? When this new outreach initiative launched, I reached out to Merrill Stewart, who was then a member of the board of directors of the Atlanta Fed's Birmingham Branch. Merrill runs Stewart Perry Construction, a general contracting company with business throughout the Southeast and beyond. Merrill and I had known each other for a long time, and I was familiar with his company's work in small towns. He was well positioned as someone I could go to for advice on my new venture. He immediately said I needed to go to Brewton. Having just completed construction in that town on the new Alabama headquarters for Provalus, an IT services company, Merrill had been to Brewton many times and had gotten to know it well. I'm deeply indebted to him and thankful for his support and inspired by his service.
To it, not through it
If you drive into Brewton from the south, a lovely mural depicting the town's historical ties to the lumber industry greets you, along with what looks to be an old movie theater. I learned later that it's not actually a movie house. The town had to raze its original movie theater back in the 1980s but salvaged the marquee and façade, attaching them to a facsimile of the original. This building is now used as a landmark to welcome travelers and as an announcement board for community events. It's a terrific symbol of the creativity and ingenuity that I've seen on display throughout my travels.
I met up with Merrill at City Hall, where Mayor Yank Lovelace and Connie Baggett, the city of Brewton's program manager, welcomed us. They were incredibly gracious with their time, as were so many others that I met during my visit. We discussed Brewton's recent economic history and their work in revitalizing the downtown before we moved on.
The rest of my visit, which Merrill and the mayor's office had set up, included a tour of Provalus, discussions with business and community leaders from Brewton and nearby towns, and a talk with the Rotary Club of Brewton. This mix of tours, meetings, and talks has been something I've tried to replicate in my later visits to other towns in the Atlanta Fed's district. My goal is to spend time in these towns, talking to as many people as possible and learning as much as I can. It's my "to it not through it" approach: I never want to just drive through a town, give a talk, then drive away.
A successful blend of innovation and history
Provalus is a newcomer to Brewton, yet it matches the town's spirit of innovation. Will Ruzic, vice president of facilities and operations, showed us around the company's campus, which has a modern and fun layout that incorporates unused downtown structures, so blends efficiently with the historic setting of downtown Brewton.
Brewton is one of four Provalus locations; the others are in Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. The company locates its offices in small towns, like Brewton, and rural areas to take advantage of untapped talent. It aims to help revitalize these important economic areas.
Brewton is also home to one of the oldest privately held sawmills in the nation. T.R. Miller Mill Company, in operation for more than 150 years, represents how the town manages its bountiful resources. The early town settlers and their descendants have tamed the resources they could and taken steps to manage those they could not, like the two creeks that bisect the town and often brought heartache when their waters spilled over their banks.
One of my most memorable encounters—it was during a meeting with local business leaders—was when members of the McMillen family, one of the town's most influential families, gave me the book The History of Escambia County. They gave it to me with a smile and such a sense of pride that I knew its 600-plus pages hold more than just a region's history. This book was their story, and the story of other families who had built Brewton with the kind of spit and grit it took to scratch out a town in what was a wilderness. They are still there—families with long-standing presence in Brewton, continuing to invest in their town and guiding its future development.
Economic challenges and successes
Brewton's economy, like that of many other small towns, has had its struggles, but the mayor and other city leaders have worked hard to bring in the kind of amenities necessary for successful revitalization. They expect more retail and restaurants to open and are conducting several beautification projects. These plans and projects have faced challenges because so many unoccupied buildings seem to be owned by someone or some firm from far away who has little interest in selling or refurbishing. Happily, many of the town's historic buildings and residences have been lovingly cared for and remain in use today. These charming places are the cornerstone of Brewton's presence, something that is true for other small towns throughout the region.
Some of the people I spoke with shared that housing is a concern—there's not enough of it. Builders have supply and labor issues, and may find it more profitable to build in urban areas. I'm not sure how many of the 200 or so Provalus employees live in town, but community leaders shared that there weren't as many as they would like. While these leaders are confident this will be resolved as Brewton continues to invest in itself and more housing becomes available, everyone acknowledged it would take time.
Labor shortages were another concern businesses expressed. Finding workers for open positions has been difficult. They shared that their top priorities are both attracting new employees and retaining the employees they have.
Some smaller companies were evidence of the town's success at attracting and supporting businesses. For example, I met a married couple who came home to Brewton to start an IT training company to help prepare the next generation for the jobs that will be in demand. I also spoke with a young entrepreneur who had started her own coffee shop, one that everyone in town was talking about.
The pride, commitment, resilience, and kindness of Brewton
I mentioned Connie Baggett earlier, Brewton's program management director. Every small town seems to have someone whom I, in tribute to her, have come to call "Connie." These are the folks who make things happen, who always seem to find a way to get things done, and whose energy is matched by kindness and warmth. Connie and those I've met like her strike me as the kind of people who would pitch in to help you with your chores, even if your chores had nothing to do with theirs, and still manage to finish everything on their own to-do list with time to spare.
Connie, the mayor, and all the other people of Brewton I was gifted with meeting were the epitome of pride, commitment, resilience, and kindness that I experienced in Brewton and in every other small town I've visited since. They all know the challenges that lay ahead, but remain convinced they will meet and overcome them.
I, too, am convinced.
Mike Chriszt
Atlanta Fed's vice president for regional outreach