From Infrastructure to Recruitment: Tallassee Prepares for Its Next Industrial Opportunities

A “Damn Yankee” Who Made Tallassee His Home Dr. Steve Burak’s Steadfast Leadership and Love for Tallassee A self-described “Damn Yankee” has been the glue holding the Tallassee Redevelopment Authority (TRA) together since 2010. The quiet, steady man from New Jersey, Dr. Steve Burak, has spent decades dedicating his time, expertise, and heart to making Tallassee a wonderful place to live. As a student at Rutgers University, Steve first came to Tallassee for a summer job — with every intention of heading west after graduation to pursue a career in forestry. But fate had other plans. He met his wife Pat here, and from that moment, his compass never pointed west again. After earning a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Cook College, Rutgers Univ., Steve continued his education at Duke University, where he received a Master of Forestry, and later at Auburn University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Forest Economics. He began working for Sizemore & Sizemore, Inc. in 1979, was named president in 1992, and only recently retired from the company after decades of leadership and success. Dr. Steve and his wife raised three daughters in Tallassee — one of whom is now raising her own family here, continuing the Burak legacy of community roots. His dedication has been evident through his involvement in numerous organizations, including forest industry boards, the Montgomery Symphony, McCraney-Cottle Arts Council, Tallassee City Schools, and Camp ASCCA (Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults), where he received the camp’s prestigious Gold Award for his contributions. He is also the recipient of the Chamber of Commerce’s Francis Wagnon Award.  Recently, Dr. Burak was honored with the Distinguished Leadership Award for a Friend of Planning from the Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association. The award recognizes volunteers who help communities develop strategic growth plans — something Dr. Burak has been doing for Tallassee for years. Building Momentum for Tallassee’s Future The Tallassee Redevelopment Authority was established in 2010 by Judge Dale Segrest, who envisioned a nine-member board of citizens dedicated to spurring local economic development. Over the years, board members have come and gone, but one constant has remained — Dr. Steve Burak. Today, the momentum is growing. After a Main Street presentation last May, several community members stepped forward to get involved. From that meeting teams were formed to focus that local potential, and plans for progress are now taking shape. “Tallassee has so many positives — the lake, the river, and our historic charm,” Steve said. “One of our goals is to improve water access and make the old railroad bridge walkable again.” TRA is actively pursuing grants, meeting with business owners, and developing a brand identity to highlight the unique character of the “Treasure on the Tallapoosa.” The TRA works in partnership with the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce, Elmore County Commission, ECEDA, and other public and private entities to secure funding, organize community events, and promote downtown businesses. Projects currently in motion include: Cleaning up and preparing the old Mill property for future development through a Brown Field grant Creating waterfront access, parks, and community gathering spaces Continuing downtown beautification with new street banners, lighting, picnic benches, flower boxes, and signage. TRA also offers a façade grant program for downtown businesses, matching up to $1,000 toward exterior improvements. More details can be found at TallasseeRedevelopment.com. A Lasting Legacy So, the next time you see Dr. Steve Burak around town, take a moment to thank him — for his quiet leadership, tireless service, and unwavering belief in Tallassee’s potential. And if you are inspired by his example, consider getting involved yourself. Together, we can continue building a brighter, stronger, and more vibrant Tallassee for generations to come.

Meet Tallassee Redevelopment Authority board member Michael Kilgore and learn how his deep family roots, decades of business experience, and vision for economic growth are helping shape a stronger future for Tallassee.

Cleanup is underway at Tallassee's historic 1852 Mill after the City Council allocated $8,000 to the Tallassee Redevelopment Authority for tree and brush removal. The work marks another step in preserving and preparing the West Side Mill site for future redevelopment.

When asked what she most loves about our community, Nancy Wiginton immediately and enthusiastically responds, “The people!” Nancy and her husband, Tallassee mayor Joey Wiginton, are passionate about helping others and wanting to make things better for residents of our town. That was a key reason Nancy was drawn to accept a position as TRA Board member: to help bring new opportunities and activities to Tallassee, so families will enjoy living and spending time in our community. Some of the ways Nancy hopes the TRA and City can accomplish this is through increasing and improving the green spaces in Tallassee, developing walking and biking trails throughout the city, promoting kayaking on the river, creating a splashpad, and adding additional picnic areas. Nancy also has high hopes for the revitalization of the downtown area, with the attraction of new retail shops and restaurants for residents to enjoy. Along with her husband, Nancy has a great deal of experience running retail businesses, and currently the couple owns Simply Southern Outdoors (on Hwy 229) and are co-owners of the Mt. Vernon Theatre. Nancy’s desire is to use her unique skills and knowledge as a business owner to directly help others open, grow and prosper their own businesses here in Tallassee. She believes that if we all work together to make Tallassee a better place, we can accomplish a lot! In addition to serving on the TRA Board, Nancy also sits on the Board of Tallassee’s Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Talisi Historical Preservation Society, and attends the East Tallassee Church of Christ. She and Joey have five grown children, and 12 grandchildren, whom she adores. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, fishing, cooking, and entertaining people in her home. Her love for others absolutely shines forth when she speaks: “I want to make lives better. It makes me happy when I see other people happy.”

Though he grew up in Montgomery, Michael Bird was introduced to Tallassee on family excursions to the Hotel Talisi for Sunday lunch and remembers falling in love with the town’s Mayberry-like charm and laid-back lifestyle. After being offered a job as Southside Middle School Band Director, Michael moved his family to Tallassee and knew he would stay here the rest of his life. His 20 years of service at SMS were followed by 8 years as THS Choral Director, during which time he was heavily involved in the creation and promotion of music education, including the Capital City Classic show choir competition and Tallassee Jazz Festival. In 2024, “Mr. Bird” retired from Tallassee City Schools to become Assistant Professor of Music at Faulkner University in Montgomery. A ready fixture in Tallassee, you have likely encountered Michael in Super Foods (where he has been employed since college), heard his voice as a radio host on WACQ (15 years), or read his weekly column in the Tallassee Tribune (over 20 years). In his free time (!), he has also served our community in various capacities: City Council representative, McCraney Cottle Arts Council member, and now as Tallassee Redevelopment Authority Board member. For many years, Michael has felt we are sitting on a gold mine. Tallassee is halfway between Montgomery and Auburn, close to Lake Martin, and located partly in one of the fastest-growing counties in Alabama (Elmore). Our town can boast of a rich history, including being the site of Tukabatchee, capital of the Creek Nation in the 1800s. What Michael feels is Tallassee’s greatest treasure, however, is its picturesque setting on the Tallapoosa River and its two lakes, which have huge potential for recreational development. Michael hopes that his work with the TRA will help promote Tallassee’s assets, highlighting the many retail opportunities available to prospective businesses and drawing visitors from throughout the state and region to our town. Michael and his wife Sena, a professional musician, have seven children and two--soon three!—grandchildren, and are members of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

Having lived in Tallassee for over 40 years, Abe Rigsby is deeply rooted in the community he proudly calls home. For the past 21 years, he has served as a Customer Success Manager at Neptune Technology Group, building strong relationships and helping customers succeed. His long-standing commitment to both his profession and his hometown reflects a genuine passion for service and growth. Abe is actively involved in several Tallassee-based organizations, including the Tallassee Redevelopment Authority, Tallassee Kiwanis Club, Tallassee Chamber of Commerce, and Project 4:12 Tallassee. His decision to serve on the TRA Board stems from a lifelong desire to make Tallassee an even better place to live and raise a family. Inspired by the positive momentum in the community, he is especially excited about opportunities to enhance the downtown area and further utilize the Tallapoosa River—one of the city’s greatest treasures. He values Tallassee’s small-town feel and the strong partnership between the school system and the community, which together create a meaningful experience for families. In his spare time, he enjoys supporting his children’s activities and staying active. Abe and his wife, Brooke—who owns Studio B Dance Center—will celebrate 22 years of marriage in June. Together, they have three children: Bryson, Braylon, and Hamilton. In addition to the dance studio, they also own The Corner Room, an event space that serves and supports the Tallassee community.

Auburn University Archives continues its interest in the historic Tallassee Mill as preservation efforts advance at the West Side Mill site and THPS discusses plans.

My name is Dylan Carr. I am a lifelong citizen of Tallassee. I am married with 3 children (7 yo, 15 yo, and 19 yo). I own my own technology business in Tallassee (inTouch Home Technology, LLC). We do everything from low voltage wiring, electronic security, cameras, wireless network solutions, and anything media related including audio, video, and automation for homes and businesses. I am a very passionate and on-the-go outdoorsman in my free time and enjoy activities like whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, and camping. I'm extremely active in the whitewater community and travel often to explore different parts of the southeast, and the rivers and creeks the area has to offer. I think Tallassee has a lot to offer to people who also enjoy outdoor activities and would love to help bring those activities to Tallassee as I think it would be great for our community and economy. We have an incredible river that runs through our city that I would love to see more people take advantage of, and the natural landscape we have here would also support trail systems for hiking and biking. My goal for being a part of the TRA is to help bring these types of activities to Tallassee.

Support the Tallassee Tigers under the Friday night lights