Alabama’s top legislative leaders say the state’s economy is on the move — and they’re not slowing down.
Speaking to business leaders at an Alabama Growth Alliance meeting in Fairhope, Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger and Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter credited a slate of recent initiatives like Powering Growth, Working for Alabama, The Game Plan, broadband expansion, and targeted investments in energy infrastructure and workforce.
“President Trump reminded us that putting American workers first means investing in the foundations of our economy — land, energy, and people,” said Gudger (R-Cullman).
“That’s exactly what we’re doing here in Alabama. We’ve taken that same blueprint and are applying it with Alabama solutions that are working for our people.”
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Speaker Ledbetter echoed that sentiment, noting the critical role that legislative leadership and conservative policy have played in positioning Alabama for continued growth.
“Alabama’s economy continues to gain strength, driven by a series of bold, conservative policies passed by the Alabama Legislature in recent years that are creating jobs, attracting investment, and preparing the state for long-term success,” Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said.
“Site development, energy availability, and workforce training are the top concerns of job creators today. We’ve taken decisive action on all three — and the results speak for themselves.”
Over the past several years, the Alabama Legislature has championed a number of innovative, forward-thinking economic development policies, including:
- Powering Growth – a legislative package that strengthens Alabama’s ability to attract and support major industrial projects by expanding site development funding, establishing the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank – a first of its kind initiative that aligns with federal energy policy, and ensuring the state has the energy capacity needed to compete for job-creating investments.
- Working for Alabama – established a new, comprehensive workforce development ecosystem in Alabama that expands and modernizes career and technical education (CTE), streamlines job training programs, and strengthens partnerships between industry, K-12 schools, and community colleges to better prepare Alabamians for high-demand, high-wage careers.
- The Game Plan – a legislative package that updates and extends Alabama’s core economic development incentives, giving the state more competitive tools to recruit new industries, support existing businesses, and drive long-term investment and job creation across all regions.
- Broadband – Alabama has prioritized broadband expansion by investing hundreds of millions of dollars through state and federal grants to extend high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved areas, particularly in rural communities, to support education, healthcare, and economic growth.
- The Alabama Growth Alliance – a public-private partnership established to helpguide long-term strategies around rural and economic development.
“These initiatives are about creating opportunity for every part of Alabama — from the Wiregrass to the Shoals,” said Gudger. “We’re not sitting back. We’re building a state that’s ready for the next generation of growth.”
Earlier this year, CNBC ranked Alabama #19 in the nation in its annual “Top States for Business” — a clear sign that the state’s efforts are being recognized at the national level. Legislative leaders say the ranking confirms that Alabama’s strategy is working — and that now is the time to double down.
“We’ve got the right policies in place, and we’ve proven they work,” Ledbetter said. “But we’re not finished. We’re going to keep building sites, training workers, and delivering the energy, infrastructure, and incentives businesses need to thrive in Alabama.”
While challenges remain, leaders expressed confidence that the state’s momentum will continue — as long as Alabama stays focused on the fundamentals.
“The bottom line is simple: pro-growth, conservative policy delivers results,” said Gudger. “That’s what we’ve done in Montgomery, and that’s what we’ll keep doing.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
