Business Advocacy

2023 STATE public policy agenda

Education & Workforce Development

• We support Project 208, which would include a minimum increase of 10 million dollars to the University of North Alabama's base appropriation.
• We support improved funding and support for Northwest-Shoals Community College.
• We support continued state funding for the AlabamaWorks system of regional workforce councils, including increased funding for competitive community grants.
• We support funding mechanisms that are sustainable regardless of economic conditions.
  
• We support expanded access to high-quality Pre-K programs across the state.
  
• We support state funding for workforce-focused scholarship programs.
  
• We support legislation to creating workforce development opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals.
  

Economic Development

• We support bills that simplify state regulations affecting small businesses and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses.
• We support existing economic development agencies, including but not limited to the Shoals Economic Development Authority, the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments, and Shoals Chamber of Commerce and their unified efforts to positively impact the economy, job market and quality of life of the Shoals region.
• We support bills to update regulation regarding breweries to reflect the modern business environment.

Infrastructure 

• We support maintaining the state’s funding mechanisms for local infrastructure improvements.
• We support public-private partnerships including both state and local entities to improve broadband access.
• We support the exploring the development of a limited access highway connecting the Shoals to the Huntsville/Madison market.
  
• We support the reutilization of the former Colbert Steam Plant site and adjacent port.
  
• We support state funding for public transportation as a means of increasing workforce participation.
  

Employment & Labor

• We support legislation to eliminate the suspension of a worker’s driver license or driving privilege in certain circumstances related to minor traffic offenses.
• We support policies that preserve Alabama's status as a "right to work" and "employment at will" state.
• We support tort reform legislation to protect employers from frivolous lawsuits through modifications to existing law.
  

Taxation

• We support a tax code that taxes all businesses fairly without placing undue burden on particular industries or types of businesses.
• We support legislation to provide for a Research and Development tax credit parallel to the federal R&D credit, with an extra incentive if a qualified research institution performs the work.
• We support expansion of the Growing Alabama Tax Credit to allow for more than $20 million to be utilized annually for economic development projects in the state.
  

Health Care

• We support enhanced funding for mental health services.
• We support expanding Medicaid to cover working Alabamians who do not have access to healthcare coverage.