By AMY JONES / Associate Editor

COLUMBIANA — The Shelby County Commission approved a $1 million loan to the city of Pelham to help the Summer Classics furniture company redevelop the former Moore-Handley property.

During a public hearing June 10 before the Commission approved the loan, Pelham City Council President Rick Hayes said having Summer Classics occupy the property would give Pelham a “fantastic” economic opportunity.

“This opportunity is fantastic for us and what we need from that retail corridor,” Hayes said.

According to previous reports, the current plan calls for Summer Classics to occupy the entire former Moore Handley building and warehouse, and construct a 10,000-square-foot showroom on the front of the building.

The proposed plan also calls for a 9,000-square-foot possible retail outparcel to be constructed between U.S. 31 and the former Moore Handley building and an 18,000-square-foot strip mall-type development to be constructed slightly southeast of the former Moore Handley building.

According to the resolution accepted by the Commission, Summer Classics officials expect to bring at least 100 jobs to the city through the project.

Hayes told the Commission that he expects the first round of renovations to be done within 12 months, and the retail locations to be completed within 18 months to two years.

In more news from the County Commission meeting:

— County Manager Alex Dudchock announced that Standard and Poor’s, a financial rating service, has given the county a continued rating of AA+, which is the highest rating the county can have.

Commissioner Lindsey Allison said less than 1 percent of counties in the nation have a rating of AA-plus.

— The Commission agreed to give county employees Friday, July 5, off. Employees will have a long July 4 weekend as a result of the decision.

“This is a small, small token of our appreciation, and something small we can do,” said Commissioner Corley Ellis.

— The Commission appointed Dr. Melissa Galvin, a professor in the School of Public Health at UAB, to the Community of Hope Clinic Board of Directors.