Madison Mayor Troy Trulock delivered his State of the City address at Connect 2016 at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. CONTRIBUTED/STEVE BABIN

HUNTSVILLE – Connect 2016 reflected on past progress and future plans for the City of Madison.

Connect 2016’s venue was Davidson Center for Space Exploration at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on Jan. 29.

Following cocktail hour, emcee Jerry Hayes with WHNT-19 News welcomed guests. Junior ROTC from James Clemens High School presented the nation’s colors. Matthew and Whitney Trulock led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Kids to Love founder Lee Marshall performed “The National Anthem.” Winslow Davis entertained during dinner.

In his State of the City address, Madison Mayor Troy Trulock Madison aired a video “Madison, Our Growing Community,” produced by Phil Schmidt.

In the video, Madison City Council members spoke about Old Black Bear, Madison Street Festival, greenways, eight new police patrol cars, Craig’s List safety zone, cemetery improvements and Breland Companies’ purchase of 200 acres of Intergraph Corporation property for Town Madison.

Trulock said Madison’s major growth is occurring west of County Line Road in Limestone County with about 2,000 new homes under development. Construction includes 240 lots on Powell Road, 51 lots for homes starting at $400,000 at Cedar Cove off Segers Road and The Village at Oakland Springs off Browns Ferry Road, similar to Providence in Huntsville.

“A ‘West Side Master Plan’ is currently under development and will be available to city officials in 2016 to provide recommendations for the western growth of the city,” Trulock said.

In 2015, Madison opened a second interchange for I-565 at County Line Road, and the long-awaited four-landing and bridge on Old Madison Pike were completed. County Line Road construction will accommodate five-line traffic and adjacent walking paths.

For 2016, Fresh Market will open at the former Star Market site on U.S. 72, Trulock said. New construction includes retail stores at former Bruno’s site, a funeral home, Midtown Marketplace with Kroger, Rick’s Barbecue and 160 beds for assisted living and 32 beds for memory care patients.

“The city was recognized in 2015 as among the top 30 safest cities in Alabama. The fire and rescue department just received an ISO Class 1 certification, which only 133 out of 49,000 fire departments in the country have achieved,” he said.

Trulock listed Madison City Schools’ accolades, including flipped classrooms, most National Merit Semifinalists in Alabama and $46 million in scholarship offers to 57 percent of graduates.

“In 2015, the city ended its fiscal year with the highest revenues in the last eight years,” Trulock said. “The reason for this tremendous growth and success is due to outstanding teamwork and partnerships with Huntsville, Madison County, Limestone County, our state and federal officials.”

“I’m proud to be mayor and partner of a tremendous team to make this all possible,” Trulock said.

Connect 2016 also helps to fund scholarships presented by the mayor and Madison Chamber of Commerce.