As the calls to reopen Alabama’s economy intensify, businesses have begun to consider the steps they will have to take to operate in what could be an entirely new world of commerce. On Friday, Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth and State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) set forth their Reopening Alabama Responsibly Plan which called for an […]

In Montgomery, the Chamber of Commerce is bringing together Air Force innovation specialists, manufacturers and students to produce 3D-printed personal protection equipment (PPE) for healthcare providers. TechMGM, an economic and workforce development initiative of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Air University’s MGMWERX innovation center and a group of local makers, Montgomery Fighting COVID, are partnering in a […]

Despite recommendations from a task force led by Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth and State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) seeking the immediate rollback of economic restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, state officials at the executive level are not giving any indication that they are willing to budge on the end of the month […]

The reopening of Alabama’s economy may have to wait two more weeks based on comments from Alabama State Officer Dr. Scott Harris, who has the statutory authority to make judgments about reopening businesses forced to close as part of the response to the coronavirus outbreak. That seems to contradict the recommendations of Lt. Gov. Will […]

As health care providers and patients adjust to new procedures with the appearance of the coronavirus COVID-19, the Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy’s Dr. Spencer Durham, who was named to Gov. Kay Ivey’s Coronavirus Task Force, offers some tips and practices. Q: What are some best practices for pharmacists to secure their pharmacy and protect […]

Jefferson State Community College provided much-needed respiratory ventilators to East Alabama Medical Center to help patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ventilators are being provided from Jefferson State’s Respiratory Therapy Program. The program uses these ventilators in simulated health care laboratories, where students learn and train for health care careers. The equipment from these student labs is the same […]

Serial entrepreneur Drew Honeycutt will serve as chief executive officer for Innovation Depot beginning May 1. Honeycutt has successfully started, operated and sold multiple businesses in various industries, including software, real estate, construction and facilities management. “Drew’s drive to help others succeed in launching their businesses aligns with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Innovation Depot’s partnership to […]

The entire planet, more or less, is fixated on the greatest pandemic in modern memory. Claire Elliott is already preparing for the next one. Elliott, a junior from Franklin, Tennessee, is part of UAB’s Undergraduate Immunology Program, one of a handful of such programs at universities in the United States. In high school, where she was […]

As the country continues to practice social distancing and other guidelines to prevent the spread of the COVID-19/coronavirus, America’s supply chains have been thoroughly tested as many people are opting for home delivery of goods they may have once traveled to a store to purchase. That transition has increased the burden on American trucking, which […]

If there is any consensus from the right and left on what will have to be done post-COVID-19, it pertains to the United States’ relationship with China in minimizing domestic manufacturing reliance on the Asian superpower. Should the federal government pursue policies requiring or incentivizing production back stateside, former State Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), a […]

On Friday, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth alongside State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) unveiled the Alabama Small Business Commission Emergency Task Force’s “Subcommittee to Reopen the Economy” report, which offers a roadmap for getting the state’s economy back up and running after a shutdown to stem the spread of the COVID-19/coronavirus. The task force’s efforts have the […]

Medical and administrative leaders within University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital gathered in early March to address what — at the time — seemed like more than an imminent threat. It seemed to be a foregone conclusion. Some personal protective equipment, or PPE, was going to run out, and it was going to run out fast. N95 […]

Even before the Easter Sunday storms rolled through causing widespread damage across Alabama, the state’s linemen knew they would likely be in for a tough week. “Being a lineman for 25 years, I’ll tell you, we watch the weather religiously,” remarked Casey Shelton. Shelton, business manager for IBEW System Council U-19, started with Alabama Power […]

Command Sergeant Major Bennie Adkins, who received a Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War before returning home to his native Opelika and becoming a pillar of the community, died on Friday after a struggle with COVID-19 at the age of 86. Adkins’ death was confirmed to media outlets by members of […]

Specially trained teams of Alabama National Guardsmen are being sent to help the state’s nursing homes, several of which are experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks. The servicemembers will be tasked with disinfecting the nursing homes where coronavirus has been identified, and will also train staff in how to properly used personal protective equipment. “The Alabama National Guard […]

Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday participated in a phone meeting led by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence regarding the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and how to get states across the country back to work. Gina Maiola, press secretary for Ivey, advised that “Governor Ivey participated in the phone meeting with the Trump […]

AUBURN, Alabama – Auburn University says more than 100 of its innovative emergency ventilators – converted from CPAP machines – have been assembled and may soon join the fight against COVID-19. Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering said today that it has teamed with defense contractor Integrated Solutions for Systems (IS4S) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville to begin assembling the […]

In a press conference at the White House briefing room on Thursday evening, President Donald J. Trump gave a special shoutout to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and Tuscaloosa’s Bryant-Denny Stadium. A reporter, apparently leading up to asking the president a question, mentioned a “new normal” of lower occupancies being allowed in public venues […]

Formed by Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (R-AL) and chaired by State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), the Alabama Small Business Commission Emergency Task Force’s “Subcommittee to Reopen the Economy” on Friday released its plan to begin getting Alabamians back to work. Entitled “Reopening Alabama Responsibly Phase One,” the plan was unveiled in a press conference by […]

Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth is recommending that many businesses in the state, including all restaurants and retailers, should be allowed to open immediately if they employ proper safety precautions to protect against the spread of COVID-19. The recommendations were made as part of a plan put together by the lieutenant governor’s subcommittee on reopening […]

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) on Friday released its “Legislative Plan for the Survival of America’s Small Businesses.” The proposal includes 10 prescriptive recommendations to help ensure more small businesses survive the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis and more quickly return to normal business operations once restrictions are rolled back. Recommendations for improving the […]

As Alabama nears the completion of its second full week of having a stay-at-home order in place, an element of restlessness has set in, particularly with employees and owners of small businesses that have been deemed non-essential. A growing sense of urgency to get back open has shown up on social media and even from […]

The nation’s small business relief fund ran out of money on Thursday, and immediately calls for replenishing the fund began. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is part of the $2.2 trillion stimulus package known as the CARES Act. Congress had appropriated nearly $350 billion toward PPP, however that well has now run dry. This happened […]

Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Amazon in recent weeks welcomed new associates inside its 855,000 square-foot Bessemer fulfillment center for the first time to celebrate its “Day One” of operation. According to a release from the company on Thursday, the facility currently employs more than 1,500 full-time associates who will pick, pack and ship essential […]