Mayor Alton Craft was joined by his fellow Calhoun County mayors for the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce’s annual “State of the Cities” forum held Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Oxford Performing Arts Center’s Studio venue.

In his remarks about the city of Oxford, Craft reported on some of the most recent statistics reflecting the city’s growth.

“Oxford had 66 new businesses, 34 new commercial buildings, 82 new homes, $147 million in private investment, and is the home of the fourth busiest retail hub in the state,” Craft said.

The mayor said work with ALDOT is continuing to modernize Leon Smith Parkway and work has begun on new sidewalks for Main Street.

“We’ve also been named the number one sports tourism city in the state of Alabama,” Craft said. “We have so many who are participating in the tournaments we host, a lot of those numbers are shared with the other cities.”

“Oxford was also ranked among the top 11 hospitable cities, which says a lot about the three-county region we are in,” he added. “If it wasn’t for your hospitality, we would never see that title.”

Craft noted that the city has become a popular host for fishing tournaments and is home to the state's third-largest boat show.

The list also included UAB preparing to locate a free-standing emergency department; OPAC’s largest season ever; and new leadership for the fire and police departments.

Craft also praised the efforts of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council and its executive director, Don Hopper, as well as the success and growth of the CREATE Workforce Development Center.

All of the mayors spoke of the extraordinary level of cooperation among the municipalities, especially when assistance with public safety is needed.