Department of Numbers report (Birmingham, Mobile: credit, tax credit, safe)

[Tourian]

It is interesting. Rebekah Mason did a crappy job of running this state. Hopefully the next administration will do a better job of recruiting business to the metro.

[jdawson1237]

Rebekah didn't run much of anything except her reputation in the ground. I trust everyone drew themselves a nice warm bath, poured their favorite glass of wine, and lit candles before reading the texts?

[Tourian]

Hopefully Project Sunrise hasn't been lost in the reshuffling.


http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...secretary.html

Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield will continue to lead the Alabama Department of Commerce under Kay Ivey's administration.
Canfield met with Ivey on Tuesday, the first full day of her administration, and briefed Ivey on the status of several potential new projects and expansions in the works for Alabama. The Department of Commerce did not disclose which projects Ivey and Canfield discussed, citing confidentiality agreements, but Birmingham leaders have previously hinted the metro area is on the verge of landing multiple projects – including Project Sunrise, an undisclosed project expected to create more than 700 jobs and bring along a number of suppliers.

[GotLuv4Bham]

Originally Posted by Tourian

Hopefully Project Sunrise hasn't been lost in the reshuffling.


http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...secretary.html

Judging by this article below, our economic development leadership is predicting 2017 to be our best year in a long time. They sound very optimistic, and kinda like they know something that we don't. I think things are about to start falling into place.

Birmingham Business Alliance shares 2016 progress, outlines plans for Innovate Birmingham - Alabama NewsCenter
http://alabamanewscenter.com/2017/04...te-birmingham/

[Tourian]

I hope so. That Hilson guy talks a good game, but has yet to deliver. Might need to send him back to Huntsville.

“I think we made substantial progress in areas that don’t show up in the numbers for 2016,” Hilson said. “I’m talking about technology-based business growth. If you look at all of the things that we worked on during the year – and at the top of that list, of course, is Innovate Birmingham and the physical development of the Innovation District – but also the workforce development plans for Innovate Birmingham.” - See more at: http://alabamanewscenter.com/2017/04....TvykpGTw.dpuf

[GotLuv4Bham]

Originally Posted by Tourian

I hope so. That Hilson guy talks a good game, but has yet to deliver. Might need to send him back to Huntsville.

You know, I was thinking the exact same thing about him. I never really trusted him with his deep Huntsville ties. We need a Birmingham business guy leading the BBA. We also need a governor from this area, or at least one that respects us. We definitely need to use our votes wisely in this year's city elections, and next year's election for governor. Will probably be the most important elections in our lifetime.

[steveklein]

lol... Robert Bentley was from Shelby County.

[Tourian]

And lol, I'm sure growing up in Columbiana in the 40s and 50s he felt he had deep ties to Birmingham (not), even if he did get his MD from UAB.

Regardless, the guy's track record clearly shows he had did not have growing the Birmingham metro anywhere in his game plan.

[Tourian]

Originally Posted by GotLuv4Bham

You know, I was thinking the exact same thing about him. I never really trusted him with his deep Huntsville ties. We need a Birmingham business guy leading the BBA. We also need a governor from this area, or at least one that respects us. We definitely need to use our votes wisely in this year's city elections, and next year's election for governor. Will probably be the most important elections in our lifetime.

The Senior VP of Economic Development, Rick Davis used to manage Cummings Research Park.

Loren Traylor, VP of Investor Relations had the same position for many years in ... guess where...

And... they just hired a woman from Mobile.

http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingha...t-manager.html

[Tourian]

The Entertainment Industry Incentive Act of 2009 is in danger. Seems like it has mainly been a benefit for Birmingham and Mobile as it seems most films created here have utilized those metro areas the most. So it comes as no surprise that...

The bill, filed by Rep. Phil Williams (R-Huntsville), comes after an impact study of the incentives gave the program a "D" grade and recommended its termination.

I would have hoped that perhaps the Incentive Act could be revised to earn a better grade as opposed to killing it entirely. Hopefully there will be some movement to replace it with something else if it is killed.