According to city leaders, Huntsville's economic windfall from U.S. Space Command may take years.

"Remember, it was a six-year process when we were in the competition for this," Battle said to the City Council at a meeting on Thursday night. "A four-year runway is now more in our sights. However, be aware that there is a ramp-up phase.

District 4 Councilman Bill Kling's pertinent inquiry on whether a formal announcement about the headquarters could act as a financial lifeline prompted the discussion. Citing lower-than-expected sales tax receipts for the current fiscal year, the city has requested a 1% budget cut from agencies.

Davis replied bluntly, "No one at City Hall has a crystal ball." But the work has been done by us. We had a strong call for proposals, or RFP. For the last five years, Huntsville has been "ready" for Space Command.

However, Davis advised against anticipating a sudden change.

"You will not see pieces airlifted and plugged in right away since this is a combatant command," he stated. "Before beginning a large-scale relocation, infrastructure needs to be developed, particularly on Redstone Arsenal."

Put another way, while the short-term effects might seem more like a whisper than a roar, the long-term benefits might be significant.

According to a recent estimate by U.S. Representative Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), the relocation might create 3,000 spinoff jobs in north Alabama, from local services to defense contractors, in addition to 1,700 direct jobs. Such an inflow might change the city's identity and the labor market in an area with strong ties to aerospace and defense research.

What about the timing? During a recent Huntsville-Madison County Chamber trip to Washington, D.C., city officials say members of Alabama's congressional delegation expressed their hope that an announcement may be made before the end of the month. That schedule has been reiterated by U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, who have indicated that the decision may come after the Senate confirms President Trump's candidate for Air Force Secretary.

Although no formal announcement has yet to be made, Davis pointed out that the mere prospect of Space Command arriving in Huntsville might have more subtly negative effects on the local economy.

"Consumer confidence is fostered by such news," he stated. Even prior to the arrival of a single employment, it changes the discourse regarding our future.

Credit rating agencies would probably see such a move as a long-term positive for the city's financial condition, Kling concurred.

He predicted that bond rating agencies would view Huntsville as a growing city if we were given the go-ahead.Huntsville is still in a balanced position, ready to take off yet grounded in reality. It takes time, after all, to construct a command center for the universe.