CNBC story gives major props to Huntsville’s amazing decade
A new era for aerospace and defense has been emerging — and Huntsville is capitalizing on it. The highly educated and highly skilled workforce that Huntsville, Alabama’s aerospace roots have helped establish have also become a selling point to other industries. From 2000 to 2017, the Huntsville metro area grew employment by 32%, or twice the rate of the broader U.S., according to the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. Wage growth has also kept pace, increasing at nearly twice the rate of the country over that same period. – CNBC
Industry source says Creek Indians putting new offer on table
An Alabama tribe that operates three Native American casinos in the state is on the defensive from a group arguing it should be required to pay taxes on its gaming revenue. Now, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PBCI) is moving all-in with a plan to obtain exclusive rights to all forms of gambling other than the lottery. The Creek Indians released its “Winning for Alabama” plan this week. The tribe says it supports legislation that would authorize a “clean, traditional lottery.” What’s the tribe want? Authorization to build two new gaming resorts with blackjack, craps, and a sportsbook. In exchange, the tribe is willing to share 25 percent of its gaming revenue with the state. – Casino.org
Federal appeals court rules against former Alabama One CEO
A federal appeals court affirmed a lower court’s ruling that dismissed a complaint by former Alabama One Credit Union President/CEO John Dee Carruth who claimed the state’s ex-governor and his lawyer conspired with others to place the cooperative into conservatorship and led to the former executive’s dismissal. “Carruth has pled no facts plausibly establishing that the Governor and Byrne made the decisions causing Carruth harm,” the U.S Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta ruled last week. – Credit Union Times
Public Service Commission to hold hearing on solar fee next week
The Alabama Public Service Commission will hold a hearing Nov. 21 about Alabama Power’s monthly fee on solar power customers and the utility’s attempt to increase that fee. The hearing will be open to the public interested in learning more about the challenge, but only the parties involved in the legal challenge will testify. Currently one of the highest backup fees, or “standby charges” of any regulated utility nationwide, Alabama Power’s monthly charge has impeded the state’s solar progress for the past six years. – Solar Power World
Social posts blame election results on unsubstantiated fraud
As election results came in last week from Kentucky and Virginia, social media posts offered an unsubstantiated explanation for Republican losses: voter fraud. The messages seized on small-scale voting issues or pushed inaccurate reports to question all the results, including the defeat of Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and the victory of Democrats who won control of the Virginia Legislature. – AP
Alabama Launchpad coming to Troy on Thursday
Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, will have its Cycle 4 finale event Thursday at the Emporium in downtown Troy beginning at 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend the event, during which seven finalist companies compete in one of two stages of competition: those in the concept stage, who are usually pre-revenue, and those in the early seed stage, who are looking to accelerate the growth of their existing business. According to Pitchbook, Alabama Launchpad is the state’s most active early seed funding source.
BCA names Kellie Hope as director of regional affairs
The Business Council of Alabama today announced Kellie Hope has been named director of regional affairs. Her primary focus will be to better serve its membership in south Alabama. Her responsibilities will span from membership services to governmental affairs and will include creating opportunities for elected officials to learn more about the unique needs of the business community in this region of the state. She will also be working closely with chambers of commerce in south Alabama. – AL Political Reporter
Porsche, Buick doing dealership experience right, new study says
Buying a new car has historically been kind of a lame experience, for the most part. The internet has helped remove a few of the pain points in the process, but there’s still a lot of back and forth with dealership employees. The results of the Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) survey, which includes responses from 28,867 buyers who bought or leased a new vehicle from April to May of 2019, are in one way similar to what you’d expect. – CNET
