Officials attending the ribbon cutting included from left, DeKalb County Commissioner and TARCOG Board Member Lester Black, State Rep. and TARCOG Board Member Mike Kirkland, State Rep. Ginny Shaver, State Rep. Marilyn Lands, State Rep. Rex Reynolds, State Rep. Tom Butler, TARCOG Executive Director Michelle Gilliam Jordan, Guntersville City Councilman and TARCOG Board Member John Myers, Athens City Councilman and TARCOG Board President James Lucas, State Rep. Andy Whitt, Limestone County Commissioner and TARCOG Board Member Johnny Turner, Limestone County resident and TARCOG Board Member Helen Carter, Madison County Commissioner Rex Vaughn, Madison city resident and TARCOG Board Ex Officio Connie Spears, Huntsville Mayor and TARCOG Board Member Tommy Battle, Madison County Commissioner and TARCOG Board Member Craig Hill, State Rep. Phillip Rigsby, and can’t be seen on the second row, Arab Mayor and TARCOG Board Member Robert “Bob” Joslin, Geraldine Mayor and TARCOG Board Member Chuck Ables, DeKalb County resident and TARCOG Board Member Larry Chesser, and Gurley Mayor Stan Simpson
Michelle Gilliam Jordan on a TARCOG milestone
In just three short weeks, TARCOG staff moved in and officially opened the facility with a ribbon cutting on April 16.
We are excited to be home again—just a few blocks from our longtime location—as we replant our roots in Cummings Research Park and MidCity.
Working alongside our executive team and architect, Les Tillery, we were intentional in designing spaces that support our staff and the work they do each day. From the windows to the color schemes and furnishings, every detail was thoughtfully considered. Doster Construction then turned the dream into a reality.
While there’s more to share than space allows, a few highlights include a dedicated office for light-sensitive staff, a private telephone room for those working in cubicles, and wellness rooms on each floor. These quiet, calming spaces are especially important for our Area Agency on Aging staff, who sometimes need a moment to regroup after challenging home visits or the loss of a client.
Our new office is located at 4976 Corporate Drive NW, near the intersection of Old Monrovia Road. For the past three years, the agency has operated from a temporary location after a flood destroyed our longtime office just down the street.
This facility now serves as TARCOG’s home base as we support communities across DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison, and Marshall counties—identifying shared challenges, opportunities, and solutions.
Within this region, 173,694 residents are age 60 or older, representing 23 percent of TARCOG’s total population of 742,021.
During the ribbon cutting, State Rep. Rex Reynolds served as guest speaker, noting that nearly 1,200 nursing home–eligible clients received in-home care last year through the TARCOG Area Agency on Aging’s Medicaid Waiver program—resulting in an estimated $132 million in savings to the Alabama Medicaid Program.
He also highlighted TARCOG’s continued impact in economic development and planning, including securing more than $7.7 million in grant funding last year for 16 community projects across the region.
This is meaningful work, and we are grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate this milestone. Approximately 200 people attended the ribbon cutting and building tour, including state legislators, regional government leaders, board members, staff, and many valued partners.
On behalf of our board and staff, we are proud—and happy—to be back in a permanent home.
Michelle Gilliam Jordan
See more photos, courtesy of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, and TARCOG staff