Alabama’s congressional delegation gathered with the Alabama Allies, a coalition of Alabama’s economic development organizations and corporate partners focused on attracting industry to the State, in Washington with one unified message: Alabama has built one of the best business environments in the country, and its representatives in Congress – Republicans and Democrats alike – are ready to work with companies willing to invest there.
The Alabama Allies Economic Exchange, held at the Rayburn House Office Building, brought that message to the room directly.
U.S. Reps. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), Dale Strong (R-Huntsville), Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) joined a panel billed as “Advocates for Alabama’s Growth,” making the case for why Alabama should be at the top of any company’s list when it comes to expansion.
U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Mike Rogers (R-Saks) also visited with the Allies and their out-of-state prospects during a related event Monday night, further demonstrating a collaborative delegation that supports Alabama’s economic growth.
Alabama’s economic development leadership was in the room to back that message up.
Miller Girvin, president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, opened the program. Alabama Finance Director and Innovate Alabama Chairman Bill Poole walked industry leaders through the state’s recent investments in education, infrastructure, and economic development, and Kevin Taylor, executive director of AIDT and Deputy Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce closed out the morning giving companies looking at Alabama a direct line to the people who help close deals in for the State.
“One of Alabama’s greatest strengths is the diversity of the companies that choose to invest here – from advanced manufacturing and aerospace to life sciences, technology and everything in between,” said Girvin.
“But what really sets Alabama apart is Team Alabama. Companies don’t have to figure out our state on their own; we work together across organizations, communities and regions to make it easy to navigate Alabama and turn opportunity into investment. This week in Washington was a great example of that – our congressional delegation showed up alongside us, and that kind of support makes all the difference.”
“Companies considering Alabama should know they are not coming here alone,” said Taylor. “Team Alabama is ready to work alongside industry to provide the full range of resources and support needed to succeed.”
There may be no better recent example for why companies should consider Alabama than advanced manufacturing company Hadrian.
Bank Independent CEO and Alabama Growth Alliance board member, Macke Mauldin, Hadrian Southeast Director of Government Relations Lindsay Cline, along with and Shoals Economic Development Authority President Kevin Jackson, joined the Alabama Allies Economic Exchange to discuss the company’s massive investment in Northwest Alabama and the opportunity it represents for the state and the country.
Earlier this year, Hadrian announced the opening of a 2.2-million-square-foot Factory 4 facility in Cherokee, a highly automated manufacturing operation that will produce components for the U.S. Navy’s Virginia and Columbia-class submarine programs.
The project represents more than $2.4 billion in combined public and private investment – including $900 million in Navy funding and $1.5 billion in private capital – and is expected to create up to 1,000 high-paying manufacturing jobs.
The Navy has described the facility as a “factory of the future” that will help address critical bottlenecks in the nation’s submarine industrial base.
That investment did not happen by accident.
For Alabama’s congressional delegation and the Allies, Tuesday wasn’t about any one deal. It was about making sure prospective industries in that room left Washington knowing Alabama wants their business and that the state’s representatives in Congress, along with its economic development leadership, are ready to roll up their sleeves and provide opportunity for businesses to land in Alabama.
That’s the pitch Team Alabama carried into this week’s meetings, and one it plans to keep making as it looks for the next companies ready to call Alabama home.
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
