The Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA) honored State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, as its Legislator of the Year at their annual legislative appreciation luncheon in Montgomery on March 19.

“EDAA presents this award annually to a legislator who has aided the economic development community in its mission to grow the economy of Alabama through job creation and capital investment,” said Valerie Gray, current EDAA Board President. “To remain competitive we must work closely with the legislature to evaluate and improve our economic development incentives.”

Jeremy Nails, president of the Morgan County Economic Development Association, presented the award to Orr and praised his “active participation in recruiting projects and recent efforts in sponsoring and successfully passing new legislation to make Alabama more competitive.”

“I am honored to be named EDAA’s Legislator of the Year,” Orr said. “I would also like to recognize and thank Governor Bentley, the other members of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Department of Commerce for working together towards the common goal of creating new jobs for the citizens of Alabama.”

Orr represents Alabama Senate District 3, which encompasses Morgan County and portions of Limestone and Madison Counties. He was first elected to the Legislature in 2006 and ran unopposed for re-election in 2010.

Founded in 1968, the Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA) is a network of Alabama economic development professionals.