Economy

Gov. Kay Ivey sends bill seizing CARES Act funds back to Legislature without a signature

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday refused to sign a controversial piece of legislation that would have taken spending authority over most of the $1.9 billion in CARES Act funds for Alabama away from the governor and given authority to the Legislature instead. “I have reviewed Senate Bill 161 and believe that all federal CARES … Continued

Chip Brownlee

May 14, 2020

Polls, talk radio push attacks on Ivey, but is she worried?

Since Gov. Kay Ivey made known the existence of the “wish list” of spending items the Legislature proposed for the approximate $1.8 billion in federal relief money, some lawmakers have been up in arms. But the “wish list” wasn’t a hastily drawn-up inventory of hypothetical projects as some have suggested. The Legislative Services Agency formatted … Continued

Bill Britt

May 14, 2020

Alabama ranks as 4th most open state despite rise in COVID-19 cases

Gov. Kay Ivey’s decision Friday to reopen more state businesses and relax more of her safer-at-home order starting Monday put Alabama as the fourth most open state in the nation, according to a state and local government lobbying firm’s analysis. The Alexandria, Virginia-based Multistate Associates lobbying firm on Monday moved Alabama from the 22nd most … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 11, 2020

Ivey’s response to controversy surrounding “wish list,” CARES Act

Suspicion and controversy surround the recently passed General Fund Budget, which includes around $1.8 billion given to the state to combat the economic ravages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Money appropriated by the U.S. Congress under the CARES Act and signed into law by President Donald Trump was directly sent to the State Treasurer by … Continued

Bill Britt

May 9, 2020

State finance director recommended waiting to debate state budgets

Alabama’s finance director said that he recommended to Gov. Kay Ivey and to the Alabama Legislature that they wait to debate the state’s budgets until there was more information about the impact COVID-19 was having on Alabama’s economy and the government’s tax revenues. But lawmakers made the decision to move forward with the budgets. Most … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

May 6, 2020

Small businesses finally receiving financial help from PPP loan program

The NFIB Research Center released a survey today on the small business loan programs. Small business owners were asked about the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. The PPP is very popular among small businesses, with 77 percent of owners reporting they have successfully submitted an application. The full … Continued

May 6, 2020

AlabamaWorks business survey shows pandemic’s impact

Nearly 1,800 business owners across the state participated in the Alabama COVID-19 Workforce Response Survey. Developed by AlabamaWorks, the survey results provide an in-depth look at the pandemic’s impact on Alabama’s employers and will, ultimately, help determine how private industry and state government together can best support the economy and get people back to work. … Continued

May 5, 2020

Alabama to receive over $2 billion in COVID-19 relief funds

Alabama is in line to receive more than $2.47 billion from the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act, according to estimates by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA). The CARES Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 27. A supplemental act passed Congress on April 23. The … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

May 4, 2020

Ranchers group supports president’s order to keep meatpackers operating

Thursday, rancher group R-CALF-USA announced that they were in support of President Donald J. Trump’s (R) executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to declare meatpacking operations critical infrastructure that must remain open. R-CALF USA said in a statement that, “Trump’s action was necessary to prevent further collapse of the United States’ meat supply chain.” … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 1, 2020

HomTex switches to making face masks in Alabama

Due to the coronavirus crisis, HomTex Inc., a Cullman based manufacturer of bed liners and other items, has shifted its focus to making cotton face masks for businesses and individuals. The family owned company also plans a major investment at its facilities in Cullman County to manufacture the pleated, 3-ply surgical masks used in hospitals … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 29, 2020