Economy

Businesses applying for aid can receive proof of existence from secretary of state’s office

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said Monday that federal resources have been made available to support businesses during the coronavirus pandemic to assist with tax relief, employee protection and benefits, loans and grants, and many other challenges that business owners may encounter during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. Merrill’s office explained that in order to … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 8, 2020

Gov. Ivey launches state guide to COVID-19 relief efforts

Governor Kay Ivey on Monday announced the launch of altogetheralabama.org, an online resource that will serve as a hub of information for the state’s response to the coronavirus crisis. The site becomes the state’s official guide to COVID-19 relief efforts, to help empower those impacted by the outbreak and those who want to offer support. … Continued

April 6, 2020

BCA partners with Alabama Public Television to help small businesses

The Business Council of Alabama (BCA) will present the Small Business Exchange on Alabama Public Television (APT) Thursday night, an event designed to help small businesses apply for federal stimulus funding under the new CARES Act. In partnership with APT, BCA will bring together experts in business, banking, accounting and law to answer phone calls … Continued

April 6, 2020

Alabama automakers contribute to COVID-19 fight

Alabama’s automakers are doing what they can to help fight the coronavirus global pandemic. Toyota’s engine plant in Huntsville engine is producing 7,500 protective face shields for local hospitals. The plant has donated 160 safety glasses to local hospitals. Toyota has also made a $25,000 to the United Way of Madison County to support COVID-19 … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 6, 2020

Alabama may need 2,500 more ventilators. It’s having to compete to get them

Alabama may need 2,000 more ventilators than it has, and it’s being forced to compete with other states to get them on the private market. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said Friday that the Alabama Department of Public Health is attempting to source its own ventilators as a number of hospitals in the state … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 3, 2020

Report: 92 percent of small employers negatively impacted by coronavirus

Thursday, the National Federation of Independent Businesses said that 92 percent of small employers surveyed report that they have been negatively impacted by the forced economic shutdown to fight the spread of the coronavirus. The NFIB Research Center’s latest survey on the current impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on small business shows continued deterioration of … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 3, 2020

Fifty major American companies join effort to fight the coronavirus

Wednesday, the White House announced that fifty major American firms have answered the White House’s call to join the national war on the coronavirus. “The private sector is responding to President Trump’s call to step up and help combat the coronavirus,” the White House said Tuesday. Many of the companies are shifting their focus and … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 3, 2020

Alabama municipalities may be left out of $2 trillion stimulus package

As the largest economic stimulus in American history flows to states and municipalities around the nation, stipulations in the two-trillion dollar emergency fund may leave Alabama cities out altogether. As enacted, the third stimulus bill, the CARE Act, directs funding for states, and local governments, the catch is that the act only allocates funds for … Continued

Bill Britt

April 2, 2020

More than 80,000 joined the unemployment rolls in Alabama last week

More than 80,000 people filed a jobless claim to receive unemployment compensation last week, the Alabama Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor say. That number is about eight times the number of claims filed the week before when layoffs began hitting the state. Alabama Department of Labor spokesperson Tara Hutchison said Monday … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 2, 2020

Department of Labor closed Birmingham unemployment office as COVID-19 spread

The number of people applying for unemployment in Alabama continues to skyrocket amid the COVID-19 outbreak, but there are fewer people handling those claims this month than last. The Alabama Department of Labor closed an office in Birmingham and let some workers go earlier this month. That staffing shortage, coupled with an onslaught of new … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

April 1, 2020