Limestone County is currently experiencing a surge in growth unlike any other county in the state of Alabama — and it is catching the attention of residents, businesses and government officials alike. 

In August 2024, Governor Kay Ivey made her annual stop in Limestone County to deliver her State of the State Address in front of a packed audience filled with hundreds of community members at Athens State University. 

“It’s always special to have the governor come to Athens and give us a much needed update on the state,” District 6 State Representative Andy Whitt told The News Courier after the special event on Aug. 22. “We certainly appreciate her taking time out of her busy schedule to come up and do this year after year. She loves Limestone County; she’s here often and we love to have her.”

Whitt was just one of the many elected officials, from both the state and local level, who crowded ASU’s Carter Gymnasium to hear from Ivey. He was also joined by several of his fellow members from the Limestone County Legislative Delegation.

“People want to be able to connect and know that their state government is concerned about them, that’s what this is about,” District 5 State Representative Danny Crawford said. “Anytime you can get the governor of Alabama to your community is a good thing. She thinks enough of our delegation here in Limestone County, and she knows there is a lot going on in North Alabama.”

During her address, Ivey highlighted some of the progress and accomplishments the community has made — and how the state will continue to support the growth seen in the region. She also touched on the economic growth and development of the area, as well as the rising infrastructure plans the state has for North Alabama. She also heavily focused on education, noting the impact of the 2025 Education Trust Fund for the upcoming fiscal year which will bring millions of dollars to schools throughout the state.

Then, after the devastating events of the Dec. 28, 2024, EF-1 tornado — both Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter and Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger came together to assess the damage left in the wake of the storm.

“You can tell that the people of Limestone County have the strength and the willpower to not only bring this community back to where it was — but to make it better,” Gudger said after the tour. “We are going to build back better, we are going to build back stronger, we are going to build back so that this place is the best place in North Alabama to live, work, play and worship.”

As the county continues its rapid expansion, local elected officials have geared up to capitalize on this momentum with a renewed focus on quality of life services that will propel the county into a prosperous future.

At the helm of this effort is Limestone County Commission Chairman Collin Daly. He has been nothing short of instrumental in shaping the vision for growth and development in the county. 

“The main thing for us is to not only maintain, but continue the growth we’ve experienced in the past seven years,” Daly said. “That’s the mission we have as we go forward in 2025. We’ve got a lot of internal projects that we want to finalize this year so we can secure our county’s government in the future. There’s not a day that goes by that we aren’t thinking of the well-being of our county and our residents.”

One area where Limestone County has already seen significant success and improvement is in the animal services department. The creation of the Limestone County Animal Care and Control facility, which opened its doors to the public in October 2024, has been a “game-changer” for the community, according to Daly. 

“Anytime you start something new as a county, you are going to face a little bit of backlash,” Daly said. “In 2023 it was the creation of the solid waste pickup, last year it was the animal shelter. The creation of these good, quality services is a huge thing for us going forward, and it is what all of us Commissioners strive to do. The job Christy (Perry) has done with the facility has been nothing short of miraculous, her whole department has been a game-changer for us. I think continuing to add onto services like that will be what distinguishes us from every other county.”

As the county continues to evolve with better services, Daly has emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnership with other officials from around the state. In 2024, Daly was selected to become the Vice President of the Association of County Commissioners in Alabama — a role that will enable him to work closely with other 66 counties to address common challenges. 

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Daly said after his election. “I was fortunate enough to make it into the election process, and it’s an honor and a privilege to be chosen.”

Daly was officially elected to the position at ACCA’s 96th Annual Convention held late August 2024 in Orange Beach.

“I think it is vital to build those relationships with elected officials, I don’t care if they are city or county governments…they all are interested in improving their areas,” Daly said. “I’m on the phone with chairmans from other counties on a daily basis. That level of communication is how we improve our counties to make North Alabama and the state that much better. We all want to make our area in the world the place to be, and I truly believe that is what we have done here in Limestone County.”