Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is the 2021 chair of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (TTW) Development Authority, the organization announced Monday.

The TTW Development Authority, created by a congressionally-ratified compact during the waterway’s construction, now “promotes the development of the Waterway and its economic and trade potential,” according to its website.

The chair position Ivey is assuming for 2021 rotates among the governors of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee — the four states that make up the compact that created the development authority.

“I look forward to serving the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authority as Chair for 2021. The Tenn-Tom Waterway is a vital link in our nation’s transportation infrastructure and is a great asset to Alabama and the southeast,” remarked Ivey on Monday.

The authority pointed to Ivey’s support of Pinnacle Renewable Energy in Demopolis, and Enviva Biomass in Epes as evidence of the governor’s commitment to industry that is related to the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

The respective governors of each of the four states in the compact appoints five members to the TTW Development Authority. One of Alabama’s appointees, Martha Stokes of Carrolton, will serve as the board’s vice-chair for 2021.

“There are wonderful possibilities for increasing its economic and trade potential, in addition to furthering industrial and recreational opportunities. I am excited about assisting our forward progress on all these fronts, while also keeping the Authority’s stated mission at the forefront of all we do,” Ivey concluded.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.