Governor Kay Ivey kicked off the Alabama Legislature’s 2026 regular session with a message of demonstrable wins for Alabama’s economy and people on Tuesday morning.
Speaking at the Business Council of Alabama’s Tuesday Morning Briefing, Ivey credited BCA, lawmakers, and economic development officials for partnering with her administration on long-term strategy.
“While there’s a tendency to focus on yearly progress, my administration has always played the long game,” Ivey said.
Governor Ivey previewed top-line items expected to be featured prominently in her annual State of the State address later today.
As she did this morning with business leaders, Ivey is expected to share a message to Alabama tonight: As the state enters the final year of the current quadrennium with momentum, there still remains an ambitious to-do list in the next 30 legislative days to keep it going.
“Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair informed me that 2025 was the best year on record for capital investment in Alabama history,” Ivey said. “Over the last 12 months, a landmark $14.6 billion has been invested in Alabama… spanning 234 projects and creating more than 9,000 new jobs.”
“Let me be clear, it’s no coincidence that both record investment years have occurred during that administration. Alabama’s on a roll. These historic gains are no coincidence, no fluke.”
She credited McNair’s leadership and placed the state’s recruiting success in the context of Alabama’s modern industrial transformation — from Mercedes to today’s next wave.
“A month ago, we announced a monumental economic development victory for Alabama: Eli Lilly’s over $6 billion — billion with a ‘B’ dollar investment and an advanced manufacturing operation in Huntsville.”
“This was a national competition and a huge, huge win for the state.”
Lilly’s announcement in December confirmed a plan to invest more than $6 billion in a Huntsville facility producing active pharmaceutical ingredients, with about 450 jobs expected. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
Ivey said workforce development is a necessary companion to economic development.
“Alabama’s most recent unemployment rate is 2.7%… and we have more people working today than ever before… however, still, too many Alabamians are choosing to sit on the sidelines.”
“The new Alabama Department of Workforce, under the direction of Secretary Greg Reed, is laser focused on reversing the persistently low workforce participation… in our state.”
The 2.7% figure matches Alabama’s most recent seasonally adjusted rate for November 2025, which ranked fifth-lowest among states, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Alabama Department of Workforce.
Ivey closed by urging business leaders and lawmakers to keep the pace by viewing the last session in the long-time, dilapidated Alabama State House building, originally built in 1963, as a pivotal year into the next.
“In closing, I’m excited for Alabama’s future… I challenge each of you and our legislature to join me in maintaining our forward momentum.”
“Next year, the legislature will call a beautiful new state house their home. Let’s hope they put it to good use.”
“People of Alabama deserve our very best, so let’s not waste a moment. Let’s get to work.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
