By The North Chilton Advertiser staff

The city of Jemison has made several visible strides toward becoming a bigger city in 2009.
If you have not already done so, just drive up Interstate 65 to Exit 219 and you will see that the north Chilton interchange is one of the most well lit exits between Birmingham and Montgomery.
The lights are the result of a major federal grant awarded to the city and are already starting to open the eyes of prospective businesses looking to expand to developing cities like Jemison.
We talked to a couple of business owners in the area, and they like having the lights there not only for the increased visibility of their businesses but also because the presence of the lights heightens one’s sense of security.
Perhaps the lights will also serve as a deterrent to crime in the area, in addition to boosting commercial growth to bring in more revenue from the thousands of vehicles that pass through every single day.
Another welcome improvement that has been a long time coming are the finished sidewalks along Highway 31 and Church Street (Alabama 191) in Jemison. As the city expands and daily traffic increases, these sidewalks provide pedestrians with a safe thoroughfare from their homes to businesses, schools or wherever.
It’s also impossible to ignore the new municipal building under construction on Highway 31.
All these things are the ingredients for future progress. They are signs that Jemison is being proactive knowing what is ahead. These are things both city leaders and citizens can be proud of.