Economy

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Economic developers seek expanded immunity from ethics law

Leaders of the state’s economic development community want a blanket exception to the state’s ethics laws that allow them to give and receive things of value to and from corporations — solicited tax dollars from state and local government all under a cloak of secrecy. Not only do they want this indiscriminate sanction for site … Continued

February 5, 2019

Brooks applauds 304,000 new jobs in January

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Alabama) praised the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics January jobs report on Friday. “On the plus side, the economy produced 304,000 new jobs in January and 2.2 million new jobs over the past year,” Brooks said in a statement. “Both are excellent numbers. Similarly, the monthly labor participation rate … Continued

February 4, 2019

State needs to invest at least $600 million annually in infrastructure, study finds

A report from the University of Alabama’s Alabama Transportation Institute and Alabama Transportation Policy Research Center found that the state needs to invest between $600 million and $800 million annually for the next 20 years to meet infrastructure needs. The report — “Addressing Alabama’s Transporation Infrastructure: Roads and Bridges” — found that Alabama needs to … Continued

February 1, 2019

CHIP program changes will cost Alabama an estimated $1 billion over the next decade

Recent changes to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) means that the state of Alabama is going to have to shoulder substantially more of the cost for the program. An estimated 220,000 children receive their health insurance through the CHIP program, which is managed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (BCBSAL) and marketed under … Continued

January 31, 2019

Canfield: Alabama Jobs Act will help grow payroll by $10.7 billion over the next 10 years

Monday the Joint Legislative Advisory Committee on Economic Incentives met in Montgomery to hear the annual required report on the performance of economic incentives that the state has offered under the Alabama Jobs Act. The joint committee holds a minimum of two meeting a year. Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield reported that from July 2, … Continued

January 30, 2019

Blue Origin breaks ground on rocket engine factory in Madison County

Gov. Kay Ivey attended the formal groundbreaking of the Blue Origin rocket engine production facility in Huntsville. “Blue Origin is a welcome addition to Alabama’s roster of world-class aerospace firms, and its new rocket engine facility in Huntsville will expand the state’s already robust capabilities in space flight,” Ivey said. “Blue Origin is making a … Continued

January 28, 2019

Study: Nurses, truck drivers, retail are the most sought-after employees in Alabama

Nurses, truck drivers and retail workers are among the most highly sought-after employees in Alabama, a new report found. The study conducted by the Alabama Department of Labor’s Labor Market Information Division looked at online help-wanted ads placed during December 2018. The Help Wanted Online data compiled for the state of Alabama showed out of a … Continued

January 24, 2019

High death rate, low immigration levels leave Alabama with one of nation’s lowest growth rates

New numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Alabama has one of the nation’s lowest growth rates. “As Alabama approaches its 200th birthday, the state is still adding population but at a slower rate than most of its Southeastern neighbors,” analysts wrote in a Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama analysis of the Census … Continued

January 23, 2019

Alabama tax revenues are up but still below pre-Great Recession levels

Last year was a great year for most state governments, with a few notable exceptions. In Alabama, tax revenues are soaring, but have not entirely recovered from pre-Great Recession levels. According to a new study by the Pew Charitable Trust, 36 states collected more tax revenue than they did at their pre-Great Recession peaks, after … Continued

January 23, 2019

Ivey awards first broadband accessibility grants

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the first ever grants from Alabama’s Broadband Accessibility Fund. Residents in seven Alabama communities will be afforded access to high-speed internet thanks to the grants, totaling almost $1.1 million. The fund was created by the Alabama Legislature and signed into reality in March 2018 by Gov. Ivey. “These grants may … Continued

January 23, 2019