Alabama has again been recognized as a very good place for business. A business magazine honored Alabama’s economic development activity which really shouldn’t come as a surprise. The Southern Business and Development magazine named Alabama its “State of the Year” for the fifth time in the last six years. The magazine covers economic development in 17 states and uses a point system to determine its award. Alabama has been the “State of the Year” in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and now for 2007. Governor Bob Riley and the state’s chief industrial recruiter, Neal Wade, celebrated the honor last month by visiting companies in Huntsville, Birmingham and Montgomery. Alabama announced 473 new and expanding industries in 2007. Those projects will produce at least 24,000 new jobs.

It’s good to see our state recognized as a leader in industrial development. Alabama is a good place to locate an industrial plant and also a very good place for existing facilities to expand. On a personal note, I helped create the state’s industrial training program when I was in government way back in the early 1970’s. Anybody who is familiar with industrial development efforts is well aware of the Alabama program which is recognized as having been a major factor in our state’s success in attracting new industry over the years.