Southern Development Council, Inc.

08/28/2026

This week, we're shining a spotlight on Convenient Auto Spa, where vehicles leave looking showroom-ready and customers leave smiling! 🚗✨

Through the SBA 504 Loan Program, Southern Development Council was proud to help support the growth of this local business, providing long-term, fixed-rate financing to help keep their plans rolling forward.

🫧 You could say this project really made a splash! 🫧

At Southern Development Council, we're committed to helping businesses wash away financing obstacles and drive toward their goals.
Check out Convenient Auto Spa at either their Rainsville or Fort Payne, AL locations!

08/25/2026

SDC wanted to shoutout Foxhound Bee Co, one of the small businesses we helped expand through the SBA 504 program, in their training of Matthew McConaughey for his upcoming film, The Rivals of Amziah King, in which he plays a beekeeper. 🐝

McConaughey learned from the best! Foxhound Bee Company is a business built on passion, education, and a deep commitment to supporting pollinators and the people who care for them.

From high-quality equipment and protective gear, to hands-on classes and workshops, Foxhound Bee Company is dedicated to sharing knowledge and making beekeeping more accessible to all. 🍯

We’re proud of your continued success and opportunity to share your expertise for this upcoming film. 🎬

🐝🐝 MCCONAUGHEY + ALABAMA BEES: Alabama beekeepers trained a bee-allergic Matthew McConaughey to hold 12,000 live bees for his new film — and now you can buy a jar of that same Alabama honey.

08/21/2026

This week, we're polishing off another success story: Salon Studio Nails & Spa in Huntsville, Alabama! 💅🏼

Thanks to SBA 504 financing, this project is proof that when opportunity is at your fingertips, great things can happen. From fresh ideas to business growth, Salon Studio Nails & Spa is helping clients look and feel their best—one appointment at a time. 💆🏽‍♀️

At Southern Development Council, we love helping small businesses nail down their goals and put plans in place that are built to last.

✨ Here's to a future that's looking polished, prosperous, and picture-perfect!

08/14/2026

Southern Development Council was proud to help finance Holiday Inn Express & Suites Huntsville (Space Center) through the SBA 504 Loan Program, providing long-term, fixed-rate financing to support business growth and investment in the hospitality industry. 🏨🧳

Whether it's welcoming travelers, business professionals, or families on the go, Holiday Inn Express continues to provide guests with a comfortable place to stay—and we're proud to have played a small part in helping make that possible.

🔑 The key to growth? The right financing.

08/13/2026

SDC funded 2 loans for the month of August through the SBA 504 Loan Program, helping support continued growth and expansion across the state of Alabama.
These projects were located in Huntsville, AL and Owens Cross Roads, AL and helped provide financing to a Franchise Hotel and a Nail Salon respectively. Totaling $7.3MM in SBA dollars, the total projects were $22.8MM.

We are proud to partner with our banking partners and Alabama’s small businesses to help create jobs, encourage investment, and strengthen communities across the state.

Call one of our Business Development Officers today to learn how the SBA 504 Loan Program can help finance your next project!

• Sarah Chambliss: [email protected] | (334) 580-7499
• Beau Strong: [email protected] | (334) 318-1448

08/07/2026

August 2026 rates have been updated and are listed below. Don't forget to like or follow us so you can keep up with rates, upcoming events, and other important information and opportunities.

Thanks for visiting our page. We hope to provide your Small Business with the financial solutions it needs to grow. Contact us today!

08/04/2026

Last week, Southern Development Council had the opportunity to attend the Alabama Bankers Association's CEO & Directors’ Conference at The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in Fairhope, Alabama. Business Development Officers Beau Strong and Sarah Chambliss joined banking leaders from across the state for several days of insightful discussions, industry updates, and meaningful networking.

The conference brought together bank executives and industry experts to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping today's financial landscape. From strategic leadership and economic outlooks to emerging trends impacting community banking, the sessions provided valuable perspectives that will help us continue serving our lending partners with knowledge and confidence.

Thank you to the Alabama Bankers Association for hosting another outstanding event. We enjoyed reconnecting with longtime partners, meeting new faces, and bringing back fresh ideas that will help us continue supporting Alabama's banking community and the small businesses they serve.

07/24/2026

This Financing Friday, we’re proud to highlight our partnership with Builders Supply in Fort Payne, AL, a trusted concrete block manufacturing plant helping lay the literal foundation for projects across the region. 🏭

Through an SBA 504 loan, we helped Builders Supply secure long-term, fixed-rate financing to support their growth—giving them the stability to expand operations, invest in their future, and continue delivering quality materials that keep construction moving forward.

Because when the financing is solid, everything built on top of it is too. 🛠️

Let’s keep building—together.

07/21/2026

🌊 Last week, the SDC team had the opportunity to attend the Alabama Bankers Association's Bankers 2 Leaders (B2L) Conference at The Lodge at Gulf State Park.

Our Executive Director & President, Yolanda Merriweather, along with Business Development Officers Beau Strong and Sarah Chambliss, joined banking professionals from across Alabama for several days of learning, collaboration, and networking.

The conference featured engaging sessions focused on leadership, communication and effective listening, insights into our feelings and emotions, business ethics, and how to navigate life and business with a little humor. Hearing from experienced speakers and connecting with bankers from across the state provided valuable perspectives that will help us continue strengthening relationships and better serving our lending partners.

At Southern Development Council, we believe investing in professional development is an investment in the communities we serve.

A sincere thank you to the Alabama Bankers Association for hosting another outstanding conference. We look forward to putting what we learned into practice and continuing to work alongside our banking partners to help create opportunities for businesses across our state.

07/17/2026

Helping businesses grow—and communities heal. This week, we’re highlighting Meadowbrook Counseling in Athens, AL, who utilized an SBA 504 loan to purchase a new building and complete renovations to better serve their clients.

Just as counseling helps individuals build a healthier path forward, the SBA 504 program helps businesses create a solid foundation for long-term growth. 📓🖊️
With their new space, Meadowbrook Counseling can continue providing a place for healing, growth, and support in their community—and we’re honored to have played a role in that journey. 🌿

Investing in people and communities is always a return worth making.