Mecca Musick

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber has opened nominations for its 2026 Small Business Awards, recognizing businesses and individuals making an impact across the Huntsville and Madison County community. Nominations are open through 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, with winners to be honored during the Chamber’s annual Small Business Awards ceremony on Nov. 19.

Two of Huntsville’s prominent design firms are joining forces. Matheny Goldmon and Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) announced Wednesday that they have merged following nearly two years of collaboration, a partnership that began while pursuing the new Madison County Courthouse project. The firms said working together on plans for the new Madison County courthouse demonstrated how their expertise complemented one another, ultimately leading to the decision to combine operations.

DeKalb Regional Medical Center has launched its new robotic-assisted surgery program with the successful completion of its first procedure using the da Vinci Xi Surgical System, bringing advanced minimally invasive surgical technology to patients in northeast Alabama. Hospital officials said the inaugural robotic-assisted surgery was performed June 29 by  Dr. Kristopher Weemes, marking what they described as a significant expansion of specialized healthcare services available locally.