Describing the economy in Tuscloosa County requires a lengthy lexicon; no one word or two will do the job.

"Stable" is a good descriptive word. Unemployment in Tuscaloosa County usually runs much lower than in other parts of Alabama.

"Diversified" is a good modifier. Roughly 33 percent of the non-agricultural workforce has jobs in government, healthcare and education. With the University of Alabama, Stillman College, and Shelton State Community College, two large public school systems and a number of private schools, education is big business in Tuscaloosa County. Healthcare employers also play a large role, and the DCH Health System has two hospitals. The Veterans Administration Hospital is a large complex, and Bryce Hospital and the Partlow Developmental Center serve mentally challenged patients.

Tuscaloosa's churches, especially in the downtown Tuscaloosa area, are continually building facilities to serve the needs of congregations of up to 5,000.

Put “dynamic” in front of economy. Businesses and industries are expanding. The two major industrial parks (one at the Municipal Airport, the other on the way to Birmingham) continue to add occupants. Call the economy “international.” Tuscaloosa County has drawn major investments by companies from France, Germany, Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Fifteen percent of the 98,800 non-agricultural workforce works in manufacturing. Those manufacturers include BF Goodrich, JVC America, Johnson Controls, Radicispandex, ZF Lemforder, Mercedes-Benz, Hunt Refining, and Gulf States Paper Corp.

The diversity of manufacturing includes automotive, electronics, plastic injection molding, steel, wood products, food products and chemicals among the manufacturing ventures in the area.

Or you can call the economy “home grown.” Large companies like Randall Publishing, Fitts Industries, and Phifer Wire Products were born and raised in Tuscaloosa County - and they are prospering today.

“Bustling” is an adjective for the retail and wholesale trade in which more than one-fifth of the workforce sells everything from small specialty items to clothes on a hanger to sporting goods and sports utility vehicles.

Construction, transportation, finance, insurance, real estate also thrive in Tuscaloosa County. Many of these are small businesses - the backbone of the economy and 85 percent of the membership in the Chamber of Commerce. Describe them as energetic, innovative, and enterprising. Tuscaloosa County has become an outstanding investment opportunity for small business development and new business startups. In fact, the Tuscaloosa-Birmingham corridor consistently ranks in the top 20 markets in the U. S. for entrepreneurial success

A strong system of banks, credit unions and other financial institutions stand behind business and industry. The 15 major banks and 12 credit unions have combined deposits of several billion dollars, and represent an exceptional base for meeting the needs of an expanding economy and growing community.

Support for existing business and entrepreneurs comes from a number of sources, the chief of which is the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama - which has a professional staff, an up-to-date Business Resource Center, a cutting-edge One Stop Licensing and Permitting Center, and an active Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

Alabama International Trade Center, the Small Business Development Center, the Small Business and Family Business Institute, the Alabama Institute for Manufacturing Excellence, and the Center for Business and Economic Research are among other business partners that provide assistance. All of these are located at the University of Alabama. The Entrepreneurial Development Center and the Center for Advanced Productivity are at Shelton State Community College. The Center for Workforce Development is also located Shelton State, and a broad-based, multi-faceted and community-wide effort to improve both the quantity and quality of the labor force for West Alabama is coordinated at this office.

Stillman College (a historically black college) manages the Disadvantaged Enterprise Program, which seeks to advance opportunities for minorities in the marketplace.