As former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Sam Rayburn once said, and I’ll paraphrase, “Any fool can kick down a barn, but it takes a good carpenter to build one.” In our political landscape today, from Washington, D.C. down, we have plenty of folks kicking down barns, but not nearly enough carpenters building […]

Innovate Alabama plays a crucial role in fostering small business growth across the Yellowhammer State. To continue those invaluable efforts, the organization is set to receive nearly $98 million in additional funding. The dual-component program, LendAL and InvestAL, will finance loan and venture capital initiatives intended to enhance lender and investor confidence in Alabama and […]

A South Korean auto supplier has opened its first U.S.-based production facility in Tuskegee, Alabama. Samkee Corp. reportedly invested $128 million to build the factory. At full capacity, it is expected to employ over 170 people. “Samkee is a first-class addition to Alabama’s dynamic auto industry, and the opening of this state-of-the-art facility in Tuskegee […]

Since assuming office, President Biden and his SEC regulators have initiated measures that could potentially disrupt the digital assets industry. These actions have far-reaching implications, as they could drive the burgeoning cryptocurrency industry out of the country and compromise America’s competitiveness in the coming decades.  Congressional Republicans have been working diligently to pass legislation preventing […]

National business publication Area Development has selected Alabama for its Silver Shovel Award in recognition of major economic development project wins during 2023. “Being awarded the Silver Shovel Award is a strong testament to Alabama’s pro-business environment and to the capabilities of our workers, who can rise to meet any challenge,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “This honor […]

The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition (ACFC) is highlighting a new analysis showing Birmingham ranks second nationally in daily private vehicle miles traveled. ACFC noted that the high mileage presents significant fuel savings opportunities for Birmingham motorists switching to electric vehicles (EVs). The analysis by Replica, a mobility analytics firm, studied private, weekday car trips in […]

Junior Achievement of Alabama (JA) announced an ambitious $20 million capital campaign to construct downtown Birmingham’s McWane Economic Education Center. With a lead gift of $4 million from Will and Kaitlin McWane and the McWane Family, this transformative project will house two flagship experiential learning facilities: JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. These centers aim […]

State Rep. Mike Shaw (R-Hoover) is hoping that cryptocurrency will have a place to thrive in the Yellowhammer State. The lawmaker put forward a bill in the last session that would prohibit the state from restricting the use or storage of digital assets, levying additional taxes on digital assets, restricting digital asset mining, or enacting […]

After the union’s unsuccessful attempt to organize the Mercedes-Benz Plant in Vance, Alabama, president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Shawn Fain is under investigation for allegedly contributing to significant corruption within the organization. Fain, who has only been President of the UAW since March 2023, has been accused by union members of retaliation after […]

Auburn University is initiating a project aimed at extending its support for the state’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, the school announced in Monday’s Board of Trustees June recap. Late last week, the Board approved the construction of an Analytical, Innovation and Manufacturing Laboratory at the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. According to the release, the lab […]

Innovate Alabama has launched SEEK AL, a digital campaign dedicated to showcasing the rich variety of outdoor recreational assets the state has to offer to its citizens and to innovators looking for a place to play, work, and put down roots. “Alabama is home to a wealth of natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities,” Innovate Alabama […]

Ground was officially broken last week on a new amphitheater for Birmingham at an event with city leaders and development partners excited for the vision to become a reality. On track to host its opening act about one year from now, the amphitheater will be the anchor for The Star Uptown, a mixed-use development on […]

Governor Kay Ivey joined the leaders of Alabama Mineral Springs LLC today to celebrate the company’s ambitious five-year project to sustainably distribute mineral-rich water from a free-flowing spring in Chilton County. Alabama Mineral Springs LLC is officially starting production today at a $6 million bottling plant at the location where natural spring water was first discovered […]

The Toyota powerplant manufacturing facility in Huntsville has turned into an engine powerhouse. And, it continues to help drive the area economy. Toyota Alabama is expanding once again, the company announced, with a $282 million investment project that will create more than 350 high-quality jobs with long-term stability. The growth project pushes the total investment […]

For Alabama’s economic future, the pivotal moment came on Sept. 30, 1993, when executives of Mercedes-Benz arrived in Tuscaloosa with an announcement that shocked the global business community. In the months leading to that day, a Mercedes team had explored potential sites in at least 30 states as a home for the automaker’s first U.S. […]

The Alabama Iron and Steel Council (AISC), an affiliate of Manufacture Alabama, named Phil Goodwin as its new chairman. The group also extended its heartfelt appreciation to Maury D. Gaston for his dedicated service as chairman since 2017.  Goodwin, the Director of Sales Operations and Government Affairs for U.S. Pipe & Foundry Co., brings 28 […]

On Tuesday, the Alabama Fiber Network (AFN), a coalition of eight electric co-ops and partners throughout the state, announced the hiring of Terry Metze as its Chief Executive Officer. AFN provides critical middle-mile connectivity to last-mile providers and community anchor institutions in the state of Alabama. “We are excited about Mr. Metze’s hiring and welcome […]

Alabama has become a home for innovation and excitement in recent years. From aerospace to automobiles to agriculture, Alabama has found itself in a unique position to lead the nation in any number of important industries that will define the rest of this century and beyond. One such industry is the booming digital asset market, […]

Lockheed Martin, Department of Defense, state and local officials celebrated the opening of the company’s $18 million engineering facility, labs and demonstration center at Redstone Gateway in Huntsville. The 122,000-square foot facility has space for 500 employees who will advance national security capabilities and drive innovation in North Alabama.    “The crucial work being done here […]

Alabama House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen says his recent legislation will effectively keep the United Auto Workers (UAW) and large union interests away from Alabama, because when employees cast secret ballots, they do so without coercion or fear of retaliation. Earlier this month, an vote among workers at the Alabama Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facility resulted in […]

On Wednesday, community leaders and residents lined up around the block of three new modern homes in Bessemer’s Northside neighborhood to witness a milestone that has been a long time coming for those involved in the area’s vitality and growth. The Bessemer Redevelopment Corporation, the Regions Foundation, state lawmakers, city officials and a host of […]

It was thrilling to be part of the recent groundbreaking of the Wiregrass Innovation Center in downtown Dothan. The Wiregrass Innovation Center will be a place for visionaries to shape the future of the Wiregrass and the world. The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is excited to be part of this journey, and honored to work […]

One of our nation’s first astronauts, who later became a much-beloved resident of Huntsville, Alabama, was launched from Cape Canaveral on a historic space flight mission 65 years ago today. On May 28, 1959, an 11-ounce squirrel monkey named Miss Baker flew 360 miles into space on a 16-minute, suborbital flight aboard a Huntsville-built Jupiter-C […]

Last week, state legislators representing the Wiregrass region presented the Industrial Development Board of Dothan, Alabama with a $3.94 million check from the State Industrial Development Authority to assist in the acquisition of the 446-Acre Westgate Supersite. The funds were made possible by the Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act (SEEDS) legislation passed in […]