New hotel approved in Trussville

Trussville will soon be home to more hotel space.

The Trussville City Council in December approved an economic development incentive for a new Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel, to be constructed at 6360 Misty Ridge Drive near Service Road. The $14 million project is expected to include nearly 100 rooms and take about two years to complete, and “bring much-needed hotel space to our city,” said Councilman Ben Short.

The economic development incentive agreement calls for the city to pay the developer, Mansa-TRH, an amount equal to 80% of lodging tax revenues collected by the city from the operations of the hotel during the first five years. The city will then pay an amount equal to 50% of the lodging tax revenues from the hotel starting in the sixth year until the maturity of the term. The city assistance shall not exceed $1 million.

According to the agreement, “the renovation, development and redevelopment of the property is expected to promote and enhance the economic vitality of the city and to support tourism and hospitality which supports the public services the city provides to its restaurants and businesses.”

The project is estimated to produce taxable revenues of more than $3 million per year, lodging tax revenues of more than $180,000 per year, and approximately 25 post-opening jobs.

In other city news, the Trussville City Council in December approved a proclamation declaring the city a trafficking-free zone. In the proclamation, the city states that it is “committed to ensuring that our community is prepared to recognize signs of human trafficking.”

Risks of human trafficking increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic turmoil, financial hardship, isolation and the shuttering of schools and other programs resulted in increased opportunities for human trafficking, particularly online, and resulted in fewer places for victims to turn to report exploitation and fewer chances for the abuse to be recognized.

Trussville will combat the human trafficking of children and vulnerable adults and mitigate the associated public safety, economic and health risks to the city in collaboration with the Child Trafficking Solutions Project and other anti-human trafficking organizations by:

► Combating labor trafficking, servitude and commercial sexual exploitation through comprehensive education of city staff

► The implementation and enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy against any act that may support human trafficking

► Supporting collaborative community-based solutions including prevention, recovery of victims and prosecution

of perpetrators

Trussville encourages all residents to raise the visibility of this crime and to become more informed about ways to prevent, recognize and respond to potential victims of human trafficking.