On the heels of the bad news came some good news, too. A new company will be opening up shop soon in nearby Theodore, with the potential for up to 300 new jobs for area residents. The Bredero Price Co., which applies coatings to steel pipe used by deepwater oil drillers to transport oil and natural gas, is building a new plant in Mobile. And with U.S. government reports showing deepwater drilling in the Western Gulf waters up 55% between 1992 and 1999, there seems to be optimism that Mobile will continue to grow.

That’s good for people like Rick True, Jane Harmon, and Ronnie Head Sr. All three are at the helm of hvacr companies, and they see a bright future for the local business climate. True, general manager for Batchelor’s Mechanical Contractors, Inc./ Comfort Systems USA and Harmon and Head, co-owners at Head’s Heating & Air Condition-ing Service, typify the resilience and optimism of the area and their industry.