BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The inaugural Alabama Economic Forum was held in Birmingham on Feb. 16 to discuss the state’s need to continue growing its sustainable job market as it looks to the future. A key voice at the forum was Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman.
Gudger was named chairman of the Alabama Senate’s Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee earlier this year after serving as vice chair since 2019. A supporter of the Alabama Jobs Act, passed in 2015 to stimulate and encourage economic growth through the creation of new jobs and capital investments, Gudger said, he motivated legislators, economic developers and state leaders to work as a team for the betterment of Alabama’s people.
“Being the chairman of Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development for the Alabama State Senate, I feel it is important to help start the conversation on the state’s incentive package and the renewal of the Job Act so that the legislators and our state partners produce the best results for the taxpayers of Alabama,” said Gudger. “This forum allowed legislators, House and Senate, to have open dialog and ask questions to before we arrive in Montgomery on March 7.”
Continuing its efforts to target economic growth in smaller and rural areas, the Jobs Act seeks to grow Alabama’s job market and increase its available workforce through bipartisan efforts. The summit provided an opportunity for the state leaders to ask questions and have meaningful conversations ahead of the 2023 Legislative Session.
Gudger was joined by Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth; Helena Duncan, president of the Business Council of Alabama; Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO of Innovate Alabama; and Lee Lawson, president of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance.
“This inaugural Economic Forum completed its goal of sparking conversations and making this information to be transparent, allow interaction, and hopefully come to a common consensus of what is best for the state of Alabama and its people,” summarized Gudger.
