Alabama has jobs and continues to break unemployment records because leadership in the public and private sector continues to collaborate and create an environment conducive for economic growth. The workforce development initiatives created through partnerships between businesses, the Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL), and AIDT help ensure Alabamians are trained well and can fill the jobs available in a variety of areas."

I am especially impressed with Wilcox County, which historically has had numbers in the double digits - some of the highest in our state. Now, this rural Blackbelt county's rate is around 6.2%! ADOL Secretary Fitzgerald Washington and his team deserve much credit for this because of their willingness to meet the community where it was at and work with companies to design education and training programs aimed to increase skills needed to attain employment. When Alabamians are working, we all benefit.

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter:
https://www.alreporter.com/2019/10/23/state-unemployment-drops-again-in-september/

GOOD NEWS - Auto supplier Shinhwa locates in Auburn: In the past few months, Auburn has had two major automotive supplier announcements. Shinhwa is a leader in the research and development of cutting-edge technologies that serve the automotive industry. The company started in Korea in 1995 and has begun construction on its newest facility in Auburn Technology Park West, set to open in 2020. Shinhwa's decision to choose the state of Alabama to establish a presence in the US is an important component of the automotive supply chain and a testament to the creation of an environment conducive for business.

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: https://www.alreporter.com/2019/10/02/shinhwa-group-will-open-auburn-operation-with-42-million-investment/

Today we climbed 110 stories in memory of fallen 9/11 firefighters along with over 350 firefighters and supporters from around our state.
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This is the eighth annual event with a record turnout. Each participant chose to commemorate the life of a fallen hero. To the families of Thomas O'Hagan and Captain Thomas C. Moody, I will climb annually in your honor. #Our67 #Honor911

​(More photographs soon)

Remembering 9/11 Today: To all who lost loved ones as a result of 11 September 2001, You Are Not Forgotten. 🇺🇸
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
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Lamentations 3:20-23

GOOD NEWS 🌟 #al200: Economic development is a team effort. We are making history in the state of Alabama. When members of a community have the opportunity to collaborate, cities and towns are built. Young people are part of the team. It is important for students to be engaged because they will be more likely to continue to serve their communities as adults.

Congratulations to all of the schools that received grants from Governor Ivey. Schools will use the funds to facilitate student-led community engagement projects, which will take place throughout our state. What a special way and time in our state's history to showcase the heart of Alabamians.

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: https://www.alreporter.com/2019/09/04/ivey-announces-alabama-bicentennial-schools-of-excellence/

GOOD NEWS - More jobs for rural Alabama 🌟: Forestry and paper products is one of the state of Alabama’s targeted industries. Alabama has the second largest timberland base in the nation, which includes over 23 million acres dedicated to forestry. Recent data shows that Alabama exported 1.3 billion dollars of forestry products annually, and the industry contributes a total of over 23 billion dollars annually to Alabama’s economy. These numbers continue to attract companies (and more jobs) to our state.

Abbeville Fiber is a win for rural Alabama. The sawmill currently employs 65 people and is estimated to increase employment to approximately 115 by this time next year, which will bring continued economic benefits for Henry County.

More here: https://www.alreporter.com/2019/09/03/state-of-the-art-sawmill-opens-in-henry-county/

Another Alabama project makes national news! Vuteq, a global automotive supplier, along with Governor Kay Ivey, announced last week that the company would invest $60MM in a manufacturing facility to serve the Mazda Toyota plant. 🚗

More here via Autobody News: https://www.autobodynews.com/index.php/southeastern/item/18326-automotive-supplier-vuteq-to-create-200-jobs-in-al.html

More GOOD NEWS: Vuteq is a respected automotive supplier with an extensive overseas network that includes locations in Asia, North America, and South America. The company plans to create interior and exterior plastic-injected parts as well as a myriad of subassemblies for vehicles manufactured at the Mazda Toyota plant in the Huntsville-City annexed area of Limestone County.

Suppliers are a vital component of the supply chain. The project will yield an estimated 200 jobs and is a testament to Alabama’s leadership in the automotive industry.

More here in Alabama Political Reporter: https://www.alreporter.com/2019/08/26/auto-supplier-vuteq-to-create-200-jobs-in-alabama/

GOOD NEWS - DaikyoNishikawa breaks ground on first US plant in Alabama 🚗: Through collaborative efforts between the public and private sector, our state has positioned itself as a national and global leader the automotive industry. The state of Alabama continues to unveil major automotive industry-related announcements, which translates into more jobs in our area. DaikyoNishikawa's decision to establish its first US presence at the Mazda Toyota plant in north Alabama is an important component of the automotive supply chain and is a testament to the creation of an environment conducive for business.

Photo Credit: Alabama Department of Commerce

More here in the Alabama Political Reporter: https://www.alreporter.com/2019/08/23/ivey-attends-daikyonishikawa-u-s-groundbreaking-in-huntsville/

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/