The City of Huntsville has honored local corporations for their commitment to reducing air pollution in the area. The Air Pollution Control Board of Huntsville announced the winners of its Air Pollution Control Achievement Awards for 2023. The awards, which have been given out since 1997, recognize companies that go above and beyond regulatory requirements to minimize air pollutant emissions.
During the recent ceremony held on February 26, Mayor Tommy Battle and Huntsville’s Department of Natural Resources acknowledged three companies for their outstanding efforts in pollution control and prevention. The recipients of the awards were Sanmina Corporation, Vulcan Materials, and Wiregrass Construction Company.
In other business news, the housing market in North Alabama experienced significant changes in January. While some cities saw an increase in median home prices, many areas also witnessed a rise in the number of days homes stayed on the market.
According to the data for January 2024, the median home price in Huntsville was $317,000, with homes spending an average of 48 days on the market. In Madison, the median home price was $405,000, with a median of 52 days on the market. Athens had a median home price of $324,500, with homes staying on the market for around 60 days. Decatur recorded a median home price of $247,500, with a median of 64 days on the market. Florence/Muscle Shoals had a median home price of $230,800, and homes sold relatively quickly, spending only 23 days on the market. Guntersville had the highest median home price at $510,000, with homes staying on the market for an average of 60 days.
Experts from the University of North Alabama’s Sanders College of Business & Technology provided insights into the potential changes in federal interest rates for 2024. Dr. Jason Imbrogno, a professor at UNA, expressed his belief that interest rates will likely decrease by the end of the year. However, he also noted that businesses heavily reliant on zero-interest-rate environments may face challenges, as such conditions are not sustainable in the long term. Dr. Imbrogno emphasized that businesses with solid revenue streams and viable products should be able to adapt and thrive, potentially even benefiting from the rate changes.
This concludes the North Alabama business news roundup for this month. Stay tuned for more updates next month, brought to you by the University of North Alabama’s Sanders College of Business & Technology.
