HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A group of community leaders say they've come up with three ways to woo young professionals and recent college graduates to the area.

Joe Newberry, executive vice president at $1.8 billion Redstone Federal Credit Union, was among the graduates of the Huntsville/Madison County Leadership program called Impact, which were presented with the challenge of brainstorming strategies to encourage those in the 25-34 age group to consider moving to the Huntsville, Ala. area.

After a year of extensive research, the 15-member group came up with developing a comprehensive marketing plan aimed at young professionals, launching a Web site specifically tailored to that group, and creating a young professionals' council that would consist of representatives from the more than 20 local groups that cater to this niche. The council would then connect with city leaders on the planning commission and city council, for instance.