How does Huntsville keep up with its growth? Find out at this community event October 28 

Sponsored

Do you have ideas for Huntsville’s growth, or questions about what the future of our city looks like?

I have good news. One of Huntsville’s largest annual gatherings of business and civic leaders is happening Wednesday, October 28 to address these very questions, and you’re invited to join the conversation.

Keep reading to learn how successful projects like Singing River Trail sparked from this annual community luncheon. 👇

Get your tickets to Beyond Boundaries luncheon, Oct. 28

Anyone interested in our region’s growth is invited to attend this annual luncheon hosted by the Committee of 100’s Creative Cities Fund (CCF).

• Where: The Jackson Center in Research Park, 6001 Moquin Dr NW, Huntsville
• When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 11AM-1PM
  • 11AM: Doors open + networking opportunity
  • 11:15AM: Lunch
  • 11:45AM-1PM: Program + keynote
• Who: Open to the public
• Tickets: $75

Huntsville’s growth: Community + city leaders weigh in

Huntsville gains around 18 new residents a day, while neighboring Limestone County is still the fastest growing county in the state.

How does Huntsville feel about that growth? We asked our LinkedIn audience:

• 39% have “Mixed feelings”
• 34% think “Growth is good”
• 25% say “We’re full”
• 2% fall under “Other”

With our exponential growth comes exciting opportunities to shape our region’s future. The Beyond Boundaries: Reimagining Collaborative Regional Government event brings elected officials, business leaders and civic partners together to explore new ideas, build on shared priorities and develop regional strategies that benefit all North Alabama counties.

“When one community wins, we actually all win. That’s the definition of regionalism—collaboration beyond one’s home base.”

Andrew Dollar, COO, Committee of 100

Here’s what to expect at the event:

🗯️ Moderated discussion with keynote speaker: Ralph Schulz, former CEO of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce

Schulz brings experience in regional collaboration, including how to:

• Build regional growth strategies across a multi-county region
• Strengthen cross-county partnerships through award-winning initiatives

🗣️Conversation topics:

• What does it take for neighboring governments + systems to work as one?
• What can Huntsville learn from other fast-growing cities like Nashville that grow faster than their boundaries?
  • Themes include economic development, transportation, affordability + more

“Our goal for this luncheon is to spur conversation—not only at your table, but back at the office and in your community.”

“We’ll explore how a neighboring metro city grew and ask ourselves what we can learn from it.”

Andrew Dollar, COO, Committee of 100

Get your tickets now to join Huntsville visionaries and thought leaders.

Singing River Trail + more projects born from this conversation

What happens after the luncheon? The ideas seeded often grow into wide-spanning community efforts like the Singing River Trail and more:

• 2015: Regional visioning—sparked Launch2035, now the Launch Regional Partnership, a nonprofit that connects thirteen counties around land use, workforce and entrepreneurship
• 2016: Land-use planning—inspired the Singing River Trail, now a greenway of 200+ miles
• 2017: Entrepreneurship—led to the study that shaped our region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
• 2018: Public education—funded poverty simulations for 600 local teachers + led to further training for all educators funded by Huntsville City Schools
• 2019-2020: Raise Your Hand—spurred a campaign to fund 500 National Board Certified Teachers across Huntsville’s three school systems ($1 million fundraising goal is met + the scholarship goal is in progress)
• 2023-2024: Workforce housing—highlighted the 27-acre Mill Creek redevelopment providing mixed-income housing, essential health + child care facilities, learning classrooms, retail amenities, greenspace + connectivity to the downtown area (through Affordable by Design)
• 2025-2026: How our local governments work together—the conversation on the table October 28

Ready to start the conversation about how local communities can come together? Get your tickets for Beyond Boundaries today!

How Committee of 100 + Creative Cities Fund further foster collaboration

In case you haven’t heard, The Committee of 100 is a member-led business organization committed to long-term strategies that support economic development, high-quality public education and cooperative local government.

It’s Creative Cities Fund was developed to drive innovation in economic development and education.

“Each year, the Creative Cities Fund luncheon unites the area’s most strategic people around big topics, looking to begin the discussion about issues we may face over the next five to ten years.

The conversations explore how we sustain our region’s momentum, strengthen collaboration and prepare for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

When we use our platform to put 200-300 business leaders in a room to start talking about, for example, what housing needs to look like moving forward, we’re able to reach solutions to the real challenges in our community.”

Andrew Dollar, COO, Committee of 100

Watch the magic happen when community members unite on Wednesday, October 28—get your tickets now to Beyond Boundaries!

Sponsored by: