2006 State Agenda

Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama

.................................................... (334) 242-7100

Lucy Baxley, Lieutenant Governor of Alabama ............................................ (334) 242-7900 Seth Hammett, Speaker of the House ........................................................ (334) 242-7668

Madison County Delegation Senate Lowell Barron, President Pro Tempore ...................................................... (334) 242-7858 Tom Butler.............................................................................................. (334) 242-7854 Jeff Enfinger............................................................................................ (334) 242-7885 Hinton Mitchem .................................................................................... (334) 242-7876 Tommy Ed Roberts ................................................................................ (334) 242-7874

House of Representatives Mike Ball .............................................................................................. (334) 242-7683 Ray Garner ............................................................................................ (334) 242-7731 Albert Hall ............................................................................................ (334) 242-7727 Laura Hall .............................................................................................. (334) 242-7688 Randy Hinshaw .................................................................................... (334) 242-7733 Howard Sanderford .............................................................................. (334) 242-4368 Sue Schmitz .......................................................................................... (334) 242-7704

Huntsville/Madison County Legislative Office .......................... (256) 539-5441

Montgomery Information Senate .................................................................................................. (334) 242-7800 House of Representatives .................................................................. (334) 242-7600

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY • 225 CHURCH STREET HUNTSVILLE, AL 35801 • 256-535-2000 • WWW.HUNTSVILLEALABAMAUSA.COM

T

he State of Alabama is an essential partner in the Chamber’s efforts to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth. There are many important opportunities and threats facing our region requiring state support and leadership.

Action on these top-priority state issues will directly impact the economic development of the Huntsville/Madison County area.

Base Realignment and Closure (brac) Continued direct state support of the regional Tennessee Valley BRAC efforts will be critical as the military consolidates over 4,700 new jobs to Redstone Arsenal. Regional efforts will focus on attracting the current workforce to Northern Alabama and working with the affected Commands and our Congressional delegation to expedite the moves where possible.

Alabama Aerospace Manufacturing Initiative As the federal space and defense agencies in North Alabama expand their oversight responsibilities for significant aerospace manufacturing contracts, the region and state will become increasingly attractive to contractors as a potential site for more manufacturing work. To help the state capitalize on these new opportunities we recommend that the Alabama Development Office (ADO) proactively pursue aerospace engineering and manufacturing opportunities. ADO should work with local and federal entities to assess space and defense manufacturing facility capabilities within the State and develop a strategic investment plan to enhance these resources.

Local R&D Universities Support and fund new initiatives by local R&D universities that expand the region’s critical presence as a center of defense and space technology for the nation: ■ Establish a Technology Integration and Application Facility at Alabama A&M University, including an

enterprise incubator to nurture commercialization of related technology.

Infrastructure Continue investments in roads and other infrastructure needs required to support North Alabama’s emergence as the technology center of the South: ■ It is critical that the state begin construction of the Southern Bypass immediately. Growth on the Arsenal

■ Provide full funding for the UAH budget request submitted by the UA System Board of Trustees and

additional funding to support competitive research initiatives at UAH. ■ The Chamber strongly encourages funding to UAH to support the new workforce development initiatives

resulting from BRAC.

and in the surrounding communities will soon choke existing roads.

■ Accelerate widening of Highway 53 to four lanes ■ Widen Winchester Road to five lanes, without the requirement for matching funds ■ Extend Research Park Boulevard to Highway 431/231 to service the Toyota project and as part of the

planned Northern Bypass ■ Initiate planning for seven lane widening of US 72 from Huntsville to Athens and conversion of US 72 to

Taxation ■ The Chamber supports efforts to create a Research and Development tax credit for R&D performed

in the state.

■ The Chamber supports double weighting the sales factor in apportioning a company’s revenues,

resulting in a greater incentive for companies to base more of their operations in the state.

a limited access expressway from Huntsville to Jackson Co.

Education/Workforce Development

County Planning and Zoning

The defense and aerospace sectors continue to be a primary target for our local economic development efforts. Competition between states for these businesses and their employees is fierce. In order to capture a greater share of this industry, state investments in education and workforce development will be needed.

The Chamber supports greater “home rule” for Madison County government.

■ The Chamber endorses the creation of a commission to study the establishment of a state high school

Site Preparation Grant Program

with a curriculum that focuses on engineering and technology disciplines.

■ The Chamber urges the creation of a commission to study aerospace workforce development challenges

and to make recommendations for two and four year programs that will make the state more attractive to aerospace companies.

An important incentive to industries locating or expanding their operations in the state is Alabama’s Site Prep program. A number of local companies that were promised assistance under this program have not received their grants due to a lack of funding. The Chamber supports legislation to provide greatly needed funding for this program.

T

he State of Alabama is an essential partner in the Chamber’s efforts to prepare, develop and promote our community for economic growth. There are many important opportunities and threats facing our region requiring state support and leadership.

Action on these top-priority state issues will directly impact the economic development of the Huntsville/Madison County area.

Base Realignment and Closure (brac) Continued direct state support of the regional Tennessee Valley BRAC efforts will be critical as the military consolidates over 4,700 new jobs to Redstone Arsenal. Regional efforts will focus on attracting the current workforce to Northern Alabama and working with the affected Commands and our Congressional delegation to expedite the moves where possible.

Alabama Aerospace Manufacturing Initiative As the federal space and defense agencies in North Alabama expand their oversight responsibilities for significant aerospace manufacturing contracts, the region and state will become increasingly attractive to contractors as a potential site for more manufacturing work. To help the state capitalize on these new opportunities we recommend that the Alabama Development Office (ADO) proactively pursue aerospace engineering and manufacturing opportunities. ADO should work with local and federal entities to assess space and defense manufacturing facility capabilities within the State and develop a strategic investment plan to enhance these resources.

Local R&D Universities Support and fund new initiatives by local R&D universities that expand the region’s critical presence as a center of defense and space technology for the nation: ■ Establish a Technology Integration and Application Facility at Alabama A&M University, including an

enterprise incubator to nurture commercialization of related technology.

Infrastructure Continue investments in roads and other infrastructure needs required to support North Alabama’s emergence as the technology center of the South: ■ It is critical that the state begin construction of the Southern Bypass immediately. Growth on the Arsenal

■ Provide full funding for the UAH budget request submitted by the UA System Board of Trustees and

additional funding to support competitive research initiatives at UAH. ■ The Chamber strongly encourages funding to UAH to support the new workforce development initiatives

resulting from BRAC.

and in the surrounding communities will soon choke existing roads.

■ Accelerate widening of Highway 53 to four lanes ■ Widen Winchester Road to five lanes, without the requirement for matching funds ■ Extend Research Park Boulevard to Highway 431/231 to service the Toyota project and as part of the

planned Northern Bypass ■ Initiate planning for seven lane widening of US 72 from Huntsville to Athens and conversion of US 72 to

Taxation ■ The Chamber supports efforts to create a Research and Development tax credit for R&D performed

in the state.

■ The Chamber supports double weighting the sales factor in apportioning a company’s revenues,

resulting in a greater incentive for companies to base more of their operations in the state.

a limited access expressway from Huntsville to Jackson Co.

Education/Workforce Development

County Planning and Zoning

The defense and aerospace sectors continue to be a primary target for our local economic development efforts. Competition between states for these businesses and their employees is fierce. In order to capture a greater share of this industry, state investments in education and workforce development will be needed.

The Chamber supports greater “home rule” for Madison County government.

■ The Chamber endorses the creation of a commission to study the establishment of a state high school

Site Preparation Grant Program

with a curriculum that focuses on engineering and technology disciplines.

■ The Chamber urges the creation of a commission to study aerospace workforce development challenges

and to make recommendations for two and four year programs that will make the state more attractive to aerospace companies.

An important incentive to industries locating or expanding their operations in the state is Alabama’s Site Prep program. A number of local companies that were promised assistance under this program have not received their grants due to a lack of funding. The Chamber supports legislation to provide greatly needed funding for this program.

Bob Riley, Governor of Alabama

.................................................... (334) 242-7100

Lucy Baxley, Lieutenant Governor of Alabama ............................................ (334) 242-7900 Seth Hammett, Speaker of the House ........................................................ (334) 242-7668

Madison County Delegation Senate Lowell Barron, President Pro Tempore ...................................................... (334) 242-7858 Tom Butler.............................................................................................. (334) 242-7854 Jeff Enfinger............................................................................................ (334) 242-7885 Hinton Mitchem .................................................................................... (334) 242-7876 Tommy Ed Roberts ................................................................................ (334) 242-7874

House of Representatives Mike Ball .............................................................................................. (334) 242-7683 Ray Garner ............................................................................................ (334) 242-7731 Albert Hall ............................................................................................ (334) 242-7727 Laura Hall .............................................................................................. (334) 242-7688 Randy Hinshaw .................................................................................... (334) 242-7733 Howard Sanderford .............................................................................. (334) 242-4368 Sue Schmitz .......................................................................................... (334) 242-7704

Huntsville/Madison County Legislative Office .......................... (256) 539-5441

Montgomery Information Senate .................................................................................................. (334) 242-7800 House of Representatives .................................................................. (334) 242-7600

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY • 225 CHURCH STREET HUNTSVILLE, AL 35801 • 256-535-2000 • WWW.HUNTSVILLEALABAMAUSA.COM