As the Working for Alabama legislative package moves through the process, Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter addressed the wide range of Alabamians the bills stand to serve. “Session after session, the men and women of the Legislature come together and pass pro-business legislation that helps Alabamians thrive,” Ledbetter said. “We’re not hanging our hats […]

Alabama is a great place to do business, but we can be even better by helping employers address what they continually describe as their biggest challenge: finding workers with the right skills to get the job done. Businesses can’t thrive and grow if they can’t find qualified workers. Individuals can’t thrive without good jobs that […]

State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) is worried about the future of automobile manufacturing in Alabama because of the effort to unionize a Mercedes Benz factory. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that workers at the Mercedes Benz factory in Vance, Alabama will vote between May 13 and May 17 to unionize. The concern comes […]

I grew up in a textile town that was once called “The Sock Capitol of the World.” So, if you had told me 20 years ago that Alabama would be the top automotive exporter in the country, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Everything changed when Mercedes planted roots here in 1997. In the last […]

Alabama is on the map of the most innovative companies in America — thanks to Regions Bank. This week, FORTUNE magazine recognized a slate of 200 companies in the second-annual installment of their America’s Most Innovative Companies list for 2024. In the ranking analysis and selection, FORTUNE and Statista evaluated three core pillars: Product innovation, process […]

One component to the seven-bill Working for Alabama legislative package awaits a vote from the Alabama Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education related to an aspect of the state’s low workforce participation rate that hits close to home: Childcare. Champions of the bill, including Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, State Sen. Garlan Gudger, […]

On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation to prohibit businesses from receiving economic development incentives if union elections are not held through a secret ballot. The bill is sponsored by State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and carried in the House by House Majority Leader Brett Stadthagen (R-Hartselle). “SB231 gives the employees the opportunity […]

The Alabama Community College System introduced three new programs designed to address employment, child care, and recidivism. Supported by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, the Youth Summer Employment Program, Child Care Training Program, and Transition to Employment Program were announced on Tuesday, April 23, at Trenholm State Community College. Each program will serve to […]

RTX, a subsidiary of defense and aerospace giant Raytheon announced on Tuesday the company has officially broken ground on the expansion project of its Redstone Arsenal based Missile Integration Facility. The expansion will draw an estimated 185 new jobs to the area, growing RTX’s employee footprint in the state to over 2,200 people. It will […]

Birmingham-based sporting goods retailer Hibbett Inc. has officially been acquired by a former rival. JD Sports Fashion, the largest sporting retail company in England, has reportedly purchased all of the outstanding shares of Hibbett for $87.50 per share in cash.  That translates to an aggregate enterprise value of approximately $1.1 billion. “Today’s announcement is a […]

As the Working for Alabama legislative package moves through the legislature to address a range of workforce and economic development opportunities currently faced by the state, the Business Council of Alabama is rolling out a statewide campaign complete with digital advertising, billboards and video endorsements from leaders. The first video features a leader who has […]

Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security was awarded a $10 million Department of Energy grant in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to create a pilot regional cybersecurity research and operations center to protect the electric power grid against cyberattacks. The total value of the project is $12.5 million, with the […]

This week, both chambers of the Alabama Legislature advanced bills to address a vulnerability in Alabama’s workforce and economy: Almost half of the state’s working-age individuals are neither employed nor seeking to participate in the workforce, reflected by one of the lowest labor force participation rates in the nation.  A seven-bill package entitled “Working for […]

Innovate Alabama has announced recipients for the fourth round of the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program, awarding nearly $4 million to 22 small businesses. 17 of the 22 recipients are currently based in Alabama and received an average of more than $175,000. For the first time, the Supplemental Grant Program has expanded beyond the borders […]

On Tuesday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, along with the governors of Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, issued a joint statement amid a coordinated organizing push by the United Auto Workers (UAW) across the Southern United States. On Monday, it was reported that UAW’s top official, Shawn Fain, made comments ambitious about the prospect […]

Inflation may be one of the biggest challenges facing Alabama’s small businesses, but frivolous lawsuits make a bad situation even worse. Many lawsuits are legitimate. If you’ve been wronged, you have a constitutional right to seek justice. However, some lawsuits are brought for the wrong reasons. They’re filed because someone sees a chance to make […]

A state-of-the-art sawmill is coming to Coosa County, thanks to a recent $115 million investment from Demopolis-based Two Rivers Lumber Co. The new operation in Kellyton will be the business’ second location in Alabama and will reportedly create 130 jobs. “This growth project will have a significant impact on Coosa County and cast many economic […]

A Chicago-based billionaire is buying small business properties throughout the country with plans to combine many of them into larger chains. In a recent profile by Forbes, Justin Ishbia, a founding partner of Shore Capital Partners, said that some of those properties are in Birmingham, Alabama — and will remain in Birmingham “We’re buying businesses […]

Crypto based currency has experienced a massive global increase in popularity over the past several years. The growth of the digitized form of payment has transformed markets the world over. Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States in terms of trading volume, is a product of that rapid growth. A Mobile-based podcast, Beyond […]

Alabama House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen addressed the Business Council of Alabama on Tuesday regarding the looming UAW threat to Alabama’s “crown jewel” industry. During his remarks, Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) drew on personal experience to illustrate the severity of the situation currently confronting the automotive manufacturing industry within the state. “I truly feel passionate about this,” […]

The business community is united in its belief that expanding access to quality affordable childcare is essential to alleviating some of the burden caused by the skilled labor shortage we experience today. Currently, parents in Alabama make up 35% of the workforce. We know that when parents have access to high-quality, affordable childcare, employers benefit […]

As part of a $91.3 million contract, Mobile’s Austal USA has commenced work on three landing craft for the U.S. Navy. The contract also includes options for nine additional craft and associated support efforts. Ongoing production of the boats, known officially as U.S. Navy Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels, is being conducted at the company’s […]

Alabama has become the nation’s No. 1 auto-exporting state, with international vehicle shipments surging past $11.2 billion in 2023 to overtake long-time leader South Carolina, according to new trade data. Alabama’s auto exports have climbed 45% in value since 2021, when they totaled $7.7 billion, according to figures from the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Alabama’s […]

As Mayor of Mobile, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges Alabama faces in attracting and retaining a strong workforce. Local businesses are eager to expand, and others are interested in locating to Alabama. However, our state’s critical shortage of affordable housing often stands in the way. In the Mobile area alone, 6,362 new jobs are […]