The Southeast Alabama Gas District (SEAGD) has contracted with the company led by Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard for economic development. SEAGD made the announcement in a press release Friday afternoon.

Ozark Mayor Billy Blackwell, who serves as chairman of the SEAGD board, said the board voted to retain Auburn Network, Inc. as part of its increased efforts to recruit new jobs.

“We live in a globally-competitive economy, and to be successful we have to be able to market our region to the world,” Blackwell said. “Mike Hubbard and his team of professionals at Auburn Network, Inc. have the talent and

expertise to help us build our brand so we can sell it.”

Auburn Network, Inc. Auburn Network, Inc. is a broadcast, multimedia production and publishing company headed by Hubbard, who also represents Lee County in the legislature, where he is speaker of the House.

Blackwell said SEAGD has long played a role in recruiting projects that bring jobs to communities in its service area, and is ready to expand those efforts.

SEAGD was organized in 1952 by 14 member municipalities and provides natural gas to industrial,

commercial and residential customers in an area stretching from Montgomery, Opelika and Chambers County on the north, south to Dothan, Enterprise and Andalusia, and from

Fort Deposit and Greenville on the west, and east to the Georgia border. It is headquartered in Andalusia.