By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

PELHAM—The Pelham Commercial Development Authority elected leaders and began to strategize ways to capitalize on the city’s commercial opportunities during an Aug. 28 meeting.

The CDA selected Lenny Glenn as chair of the board. A long time resident of Pelham, Glenn currently works with AT&T and has served on numerous city boards.

Tracey Morant Adams, former director of Birmingham’s Office of Economic Development and current senior vice president small business and community development director for Renasant Bank, was chosen to be the board’s vice chair.

Clay Alford was selected as the secretary and treasurer for the CDA. Alford served as the vice president of operations at Moore-Handley Tools.

The CDA currently has $108,000 in its account, and Pelham City Councilman Ron Scott said the board will receive a consistent form of funding from the City Council.

“Know that your City Council is actively engaged right now in finding a funding source that will be consistent from year to year, and will be enough for you to actually do something,” Scott said.

The CDA identified an immediate need to compile a comprehensive inventory of available properties for development in Pelham, along with statistical population and demographic information.

“There are some gems here… on U.S. 31,” Scott said of sites for possible development in the city.

Wendi Boyen, senior vice president government and institutional banking director, and Bill Keller, senior vice president city president Shelby County, from Regions Bank discussed ways the bank can assist the city in economic development during the Aug. 28 meeting.

Regions Bank worked with Leeds and Prattville to bring Bass Pro Shop to both cities. The bank also set aside a more than $1 billion loan pool to help start and expand businesses in Alabama, Boyen explained.

“Congratulations on the triple-A rating,” Boyen said, noting Pelham’s strong financials and recent AAA bond-credit rating. “That puts you in a flexible position. There’s a lot you can do.”

“I think we’re poised for growth,” Scott said. “The work the city has done on the financial end for getting that rating is huge.”

The CDA will meet again to discuss the goals and mission of the board on Sept. 16.