Dollar General announced the opening of its 18,000th store located in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The Company marked the occasion by donating $18,000 to Gulf Shores Elementary School, which aims to support ongoing literacy and education programs within the school district. Additionally, customers were provided with complimentary gift cards and tote bags filled with vendor products. Dollar General has a longstanding history in Alabama, opening its first store in 1965. The Company?s strong presence in the state currently includes the employment of approximately 8,100 employees at roughly 850 stores and at distribution centers in Bessemer and Montgomery. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation has also awarded more than $3.7 million to support adult, youth, summer and family literacy programs in Alabama, which have helped improve the lives of more than 363,000 residents since 2010.