More growth and more jobs are expected in Huntsville by the FBI in the coming years, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby said Monday, as construction continues on a sprawling campus inside the gates of Redstone Arsenal. Shelby, speaking to about 900 business and community leaders at a Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce breakfast, said the FBI investment could eventually reach $1 billion.

Such a project would be on par with the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA development in Huntsville, which promises a $1.6 billion development and 4,000 jobs.“Huntsville is on fire,” Shelby told the breakfast audience at the Von Braun Center. “

In November, the FBI announced the transfer of 1,350 jobs to Redstone Arsenal.

The expansion of the FBI presence at Redstone Arsenal is expected to ultimately be more than 4,000 jobs.

We love our hometown of Madison. Surrounded by beautiful parks and nature, our town began in 1856 when tracks were laid by the Memphis and Charleston Railroad company. Today, Madison is one of the fastest growing cities in the southeast, with one of the highest per capita incomes and a school system that is recognized for excellence at every level, even ranking top 10 in the nation.

Madison has been listed as a US News & World Report “Top 10 Places to Grow Up”, a CNN Money “Top 100 Best Places to Live”, one of Family Circle’s “10 Best Towns for Family”, and was recognized as Google’s “2013 Digital Capital of Alabama”. Madison has been named the best city to live in Alabama by www.ChamberofCommerce.org on its “Best Cities to Live” list.

Currently, over 1,000 businesses call Madison home, enjoying a low cost of business with educated professionals and a hard working labor force. Facebook and Google are investing 1 BILLION dollars+ to establish data centers nearby and new jobs are coming to the area every day. Toyota-Mazda is slated to open in Limestone County and it will bring thousands more jobs, upwards of 4,000.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our own community here in Madison. With its beauty, walkable atmosphere and so much more to come, it’s one of the best reasons of all to make Madison home!

When you live in Huntsville, every day can be an adventure. You might even say, ‘there’s an art to it.’ Indeed, our hometown boasts some of the most creative, innovative and entertaining art in the state.  We have scores of brilliant local artists practicing their art in a variety of mediums. There are also many opportunities to see world-class art exhibits, concerts and performances. Films, music, dance, and visual arts are celebrated here in Huntsville. At Village at Oakland Springs, we recognize and appreciate the contributions artists make to the culture and quality of life of our city. Take some time and discover the artistic side of Huntsville!

• Be inspired by the important works of art in the Huntsville Museum of Art
• Explore and discover outdoor artworks throughout the city along the Spaces Sculpture Trail
• Take in a performance from the famous and fabulous Huntsville Symphony Orchestra
• Enjoy the grace and strength of dancers of our own  Huntsville Ballet, North Alabama’s first professional ballet company
• Explore the South’s largest privately-owned center for the arts, Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment

Visit ArtsHuntsville.org  »

If you love being out in nature, you’ll love the surrounding parks and trails around Madison. With beautiful parks and natural areas around the Tennessee River to beautiful Rainbow Mountain Nature Preserve, Madison is a great place to discover your ‘outdoor’ side.

Enjoy walking, hiking, biking or simply exploring in places in and around the town. Enjoy a day exploring the outdoors along the Rainbow Mountain trail and breathe in the scents of the forest. Indian Creek Greenway is a great place to get out and bike, walk or explore, too. And, living at Oakland Springs, you don’t have to leave your neighborhood for a little ‘nature moment’— our pocket parks and natural areas are a great place to relax. We’ve also been called a locals’ favorite place for a beautiful evening stroll.

Huntsville Botanical Gardens is open all year and there’s always something beautiful to experience. Across 112 acres, you can explore diverse ecosystems—grassy meadows, woodlands, brilliant collections of flowers and plantings, and a variety of aquatic habitats.

The Botanical Garden welcomes everyone and is a unique locale where beauty and natural wonder reign. Enjoy exploring winding nature trails that meander through all sorts of flora, including some of the loveliest of Alabama’s own native species. An all ages experience, the gardens offer a Children’s Garden and something truly spectacular: the nation’s largest open-air butterfly house! The Botanical Gardens puts on events, exhibits, and programs all year and is a local favorite for a memorable afternoon or evening.

More about the Huntsville Botanical Gardens »