Montevallo Development Cooperative District (MDCD)

Montevallo and the MDCD are touted as an effective model for such districts by Main Street Alabama, Alabama Communities of Excellence, and other economic development organizations. MDCD serves as an example of cooperation among public entities to leverage resources and maximize tax dollars for all citizens. 

A three-member board governs the MDCD with each board member serving a four-year term and each board member able to serve multiple terms if reappointed by their respective entities. Trey Gauntt, Chair, represents Shelby County, Mark Richard represents the University of Montevallo and Sonya Swords, City Coucil Member, represents the City of Montevallo. 

The MDCD is funded in a variety of ways. Each of the three entities individually or in combination may provide funding for particular projects. The MDCD's only continual source of funding comes from an appropriation of 90% of the City of Montevallo's 2011 1% sales tax. The MDCD has completed a number of critically important projects, each with differing levels of financial commitment from the three entities. The first project was the North Boundary Street Promenade, a storm-water management and sidewalk improvement project that links the University to Main Street to Orr Park. Next, the MDCD purchased the old Alabama Power building on Main Street to bring the University and Main Street together in the center of our community. This project, known as "UMOM" (University of Montevallo on Main) shows the power and flexibility of the MDCD: the City, County and University own the building equally, but Shelby County and the University of Montevallo bore 100% of the renovation costs. UMOM was renovated for classrooms and office space, bringing university students downtown and encouraging them to spend money in local businesses. This project later added a public green space, Owl's Cove Park, for the entire community to enjoy.  Numerous community events are held here, including the popular "Friday Nights at the Cove." Other projects include the construction of a NCAA regulation softball stadium, a NCAA regulation track, field and lacrosse facility, and a vibrant restaurant on the promenade within a building owned by the MDCD. A pocket park was created at this site, becoming Bicentennial Park. The MDCD also funded the City of Montevallo's portion of the Main Street streetscape project, which allowed receipt of a federal grant through the Alabama Department of Transportation that improved traffic flow, pedestrian traffic, parking, ADA accessibility and aesthetics of traffic control features in downtown Montevallo. The streetscape project, along with the efforts of Main Street Alabama, the surge of private investments and an improving economy have contributed to a 40% increase in sales tax from the Main Street district the first year after completion. The largest expenditures since inception from MDCD, in order of cost, have been paving and sidewalks throughout the City, City Hall and the North Boundary Street Promenade improvements. 

MDCD has invested over $11 million in the City of Montevallo since its creation, with over $6 million coming from the City and the remainder approximately evenly split between the University and Shelby County. In addition to this direct MDCD investment, the University is investing approximately $25 million in the Center for the Arts and $5 million in a new College of Business building. Over $50 million has been invested in Montevallo in the last few years by private investors, the University, Shelby County, Alabama National Cemetery Overlook Support Committee, American Village, federal government transportation funds & MDCD.

2019 MDCD projects include: paving, sidewalks, Highway 25 crosswalk engineering work, two bridges at Shoal Creek Park (in partnership with Shelby County and private donors), trail work at Shoal Creek Park and a city-wide strategic planning initiative.

The MDCD meets on the first Monday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at City Hall in Council Chambers. All minutes and annual audits are posted on the City's website. Our community is always welcome at our meetings and we are always looking for more volunteers to contribute to the improvement of and future investment in our City. 

Members