Increasing access to healthcare in Alabama's rural areas has always been important to me. As technology has advanced, helping folks understand the connection between rural broadband and telemedicine has been an essential part of that mission.
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Today I would like to highlight Alicia Winkle, LPC, a client skilled in her craft who the Wall Street Journal recently featured for using telemedicine to help patients diagnosed with mental illness. Keep up the great work, and thank you for helping people in Alabama's rural communities. #Our67

A team effort between the Economic Development Association of Alabama, Alabama Department of Corrections, and Board of Pardons and Paroles: we had an informative discussion about the correlation between stable employment and reduced recidivism.

Learn more here in the Alabama Political Reporter: https://www.alreporter.com/2019/07/31/economic-developers-examine-prison-situation/

GOOD NEWS: Business Facilities Magazine is a respected publication in the field of economic development and this year, recognized Alabama’s achievements in several areas: business climate, manufacturing, workforce training leaders, automotive manufacturing, and foreign trade zone export activity.

Economic development is a continuous process of cultivating relationships, investing in human capital, and working with communities to find their hidden talent within. Governor Ivey, the Alabama Department of Commerce, and thousands of members of the business community collaborate daily to foster an environment conducive for economic growth. We work together as a team to recruit and retain business and industry, and ultimately, it is the heart and the quality of life people experience in Alabama that solidifies every project.

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: https://www.alreporter.com/2019/07/30/alabama-ranked-no-3-in-business-climate/

GOOD NEWS: The United States is in the space race again. And what an appropriate and nostalgic time in history as this week, we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of man on the moon. Whether you are from here or just passing through, a drive along I-565 clearly depicts the role Huntsville, Alabama played in space exploration.

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: https://www.alreporter.com/2019/07/16/ivey-to-speak-at-dinner-commemorating-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-launch-of-apollo-11/

GOOD NEWS - Rural Broadband Grants Administered: Access to broadband is a request that almost every large-scale employer makes when choosing a site within our state. As a response to the growing need for connectivity, in March 2018, Governor Kay Ivey signed the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Act into law, which authorized the creation of a broadband accessibility grant program. The bill, sponsored by Senator Clay Scofield and Representative Donnie Chesteen, created the Alabama Broadband Accessibility Fund. This is a great start to achieving the goal of accessibility in all areas of Alabama.

Many rural counties do not initially have the tax base or level of population to fund the infrastructure needed for high-speed internet. The Broadband Accessibility Fund provides financial assistance in the form of grants for service providers to supply high-speed internet services in rural areas with 25,000 residents or less. Under the law, awards shall not exceed 20 percent of the total project cost.

A team effort is needed to help achieve the goal of broadband accessibility, which includes state assistance for the infrastructure administered by ADECA, federal assistance through the USDA, and private sector investments. High-speed internet is needed for jobs, health care, public safety, and education - all which are integral to Alabamians' quality of life.

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: 
https://www.alreporter.com/2019/07/16/ivey-awards-grants-to-provide-high-speed-internet-to-several-communities/

GOOD NEWS: Gerhardi, Inc. Plant Now Open - Alabama has positioned itself as a leader nationally and globally in the automotive industry. Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield announced at the ceremony that our state currently ranks at number five for automobile production, with an anticipated rise to number two by 2024.

Gerhardi’s investment in Alabama will create an anticipated 235 direct jobs in the River Region. Gerhardi, a supplier, supports the automobile industry through innovative technologies related to plastics that include injection molding, electroplating, and assembly. Gerhardi executives shared that currently, the company has contracts with BMW and Mercedes and is seeking to do business with additional brands. Gerhardi’s decision to locate in the United States, and specifically, Alabama, is an important part of the supply chain and a testament to the creation of an environment conducive for business.

Gerhardi has been in existence almost as long as the United States has been a nation and has a reputation for creating innovative, world-class components. Thank you, Gerhardi, for choosing Montgomery, Alabama as the site of your first plant in the US.

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: 
https://www.alreporter.com/2019/07/12/gerhardi-opens-auto-parts-plant-in-montgomery/

​Over the past two weeks I have spent time in 15 Alabama counties. A favorite included Monroeville (Monroe County), where we stood in awe as we gazed upon the recreation of the famous scene in To Kill A Mockingbird. #Our67 #MonroeCounty

GOOD NEWS: It was a joy for my son and I to witness the camaraderie and sportsmanship on the field and in the stands of Nationals Park. We are proud of our friend and Congressman Mo Brooks for his bravery when he assisted a fallen comrade during a senseless act of domestic terrorism two years ago. Mo remained steadfast and took the field along with his colleagues for the subsequent games.
The 2019 Congressional Baseball Game raised over 1.3 million dollars for children's charities. It was a beautiful evening to celebrate America's pastime with thousands on and off the field who banded together to help others.

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: 
​https://www.alreporter.com/2019/06/28/brooks-starts-at-first-base-in-congressional-baseball-game/

My son and I spent a beautiful evening in DC with watching our friend Mo Brooks play in the Congressional Baseball Game. The event yielded over 1.3 million dollars for children's charities. #TeamBrooks #CBG2019 #Our67