The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) broke ground today, January 6th, for its new Disaster Relief Resource Center at the Autauga Interstate Business Park in Prattville.

Speakers included Dr. Rick Lance, SBOM executive director, and Art Faulkner, Department of Emergency Management for the State of Alabama.

A variety of area community leaders participated in the event including: Mayor Bill Gillespie, Autauga County Commissioner Jay Thompson, Autauga County Industrial Development Board Chairman Malcolm Cain, Chamber President Jeremy Arthur, Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC) Board of Trustees Chairman Chase Riddle, and CAEC President Tom Stackhouse.

When completed, the Resource Center will house a variety of hardware and other resources related to disaster relief efforts of the 3,275 churches affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention.

Mel Johnson, who serves as the SBOM's disaster relief strategist, affirmed the Business Park's strategic central location in Alabama along the Interstate 65 corridor: "Particularly in the wake of future disasters, this Autauga center will serve as an effective staging area so we can deploy resources quickly to other parts of Alabama and beyond as needed."

The Resource Center will also serve as a venue for events during which Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers will be trained in general and specialized disaster relief skills.

"We are grateful for the partnership of all who will be in attendance at the groundbreaking, notably the Development Board and the Chamber of Commerce," Lance said. "We look forward to being good partners with community leaders as future needs arise related to disaster relief."