October 2019 Group Watch: Tweet of the Month
Oct 14
RT: ABC 33/40 News
@abc3340
Please RT so that everyone sees this.. Maybe someone can help get Cupcake home safe!
October 2019 Group Watch: Prison Special Session
Many forecasted the governor would call a special session during October to address the crisis in the Alabama Department of Corrections. but it is now apparent that the governor and legislature will wait until the regular session in early February to tackle head on the problems that will be an Alabama Solution. We will likely see a replay of 2019 session, where upon the start of the 2020 regular session, the governor will push the pause button and call the legislators into special session to solely focus on solutions to the problems in prisons. Many believe it will be a winning formula again as it was in 2019 on the infrastructure legislation.
October 2019 Group Watch: Manufacture Alabama Announces COO
Manufacture Alabama has named Garrett Jemison as the organization’s first Chief Operating Officer. Jemison recently served as a consultant in both Montgomery and Washington D.C., representing energy companies, higher education institutions, chambers of commerce and other organizations. Jemison served as state director for U.S. Senator Richard Shelby from 2011-2014, managing offices in Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Tuscaloosa. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and he and his wife, Emily, live in Montgomery. He began work in this position on October 7.
October 2019 Group Watch: Go Gene!
Congratulations to The Bloom Group principal Allen Sanderson’s father Gene Sanderson. As part of the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of College Football, he was named to The University of North Alabama football All Decades Team. The university will recognize the members of its seven All-Decade teams prior to UNA’s home game against Campbell on November 2 at Braly Stadium. Read more here.
September 2019 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
Positive economic news and appointment announcements top the news in Alabama politics this month.
- Gov. Ivey Replaces Chris Elliot on ATRIP-II Committee: Governor Kay Ivey appointed State Senator Vivian Davis Figures to serve on the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II Committee replacing State Senator Chris Elliot. Ivey pointed to Figures track record of seeking progress and bringing people together, along with being the most senior senator from the Mobile/Baldwin County Delegation. Elliot is a freshman legislator from Baldwin County and Figures has served in the state senate since 1997. This committee is charged with reviewing and awarding of grants for eligible road and bridge projects.
- BIO Alabama Names Exec Director: BIO Alabama announced that healthcare executive Sonia Robinson has joined the statewide bioscience trade association as its first full-time executive director, leading efforts within the sector to grow employment, increase research development and expand international trade. The biosciences industry contributes $7.3 billion in economic impact to Alabama annually. Robinson’s career in healthcare marketing and public relations, plus her experience with startups are all very relevant to the issues BIO Alabama is addressing. Birmingham-based BIO Alabama is the state partner of the international life sciences trade organization Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO).
- Alabama High on Area Development magazine’s 2019 “Top States for Business” List: Alabama earned a No. 4 ranking and Top-10 marks in 11 different individual categories in Area Development’s 2019 survey, underscoring the state’s business-friendly environment, leading job-training programs and other advantages for economic development. The ranking follows a record year for Alabama’s economic development team. In 2018, companies announced projects involving $8.7 billion in new capital investment in the state, the highest total for a year, according to an analysis by the Alabama Department of Commerce. Alabama trailed Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina in the magazine’s rankings. North Carolina rounded out the Top 5.
September 2019 Group Watch: Tweet of the Month
@thebloomgroup
Sept 11
They sacrifice for us.
“She thought she was going it alone, until her husband walked through the door.” Watch the video.
September 2019 Group Watch: AL Hospitals Sue Opioid Makers
A group of 21 Alabama hospitals have filed a lawsuit against opioid makers and distributors, taking the battle over the epidemic to the courts. The 21 plaintiffs filed suit in the Circuit Court of Conecuh County that Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family, CVS, Walmart and Walgreens fueled the nation’s deadly opioid crisis. The complaint states that overdose deaths in Alabama sharply increased from 2013 to 2017 and caused staggering financial, operational and emotional expenses for hospitals. Dozens of hospitals in Arizona, West Virginia and Texas have filed similar lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors.
September 2019 Group Watch: Legislation Boosts Rural Biz
Alabama’s unemployment is at an all-time low and with many companies relocating to its business-friendly environment, our state’s economy is strong. Unfortunately, rural counties have lagged behind their urban neighbors in infrastructure development, job creation and revenue growth. The Alabama Incentives Modernization (AIM) Act, passed earlier this year by the legislature is a step in the right direction. It provides incentives for businesses creating as few as 10 jobs in rural areas. It also expands the number of rural counties eligible for incentives under the 2015 Alabama Jobs Act and enhances incentives within federal Opportunity Zones.
September 2019 Group Watch: Bloom Group Adds to Its Team
We here at The Bloom Group are thrilled to announce an addition to our team. Sara Elizabeth Burnham has joined the company and will be a valuable asset to our present and potential clients thanks to her political and business experience and strong, longstanding relationships. Burnham is currently a real estate agent with Bell & Corwin and will remain active in real estate. Welcome, Sara Elizabeth!
September 2019 Group Watch: CEO of Republic Services, Inc. Honored
Republic Services, Inc. recently announced that Chief Executive Officer Donald “Don” W. Slager was recognized on Forbes’ 2019 America’s Most Innovative Leaders list. Slager ranks #43 of the top 100 innovators and visionaries and is the sole recycling and solid waste services executive on the inaugural list. As Chief Executive Officer since 2011, he has shaped the company into a unified American brand that stands for customer-focused simple solutions, reliability and environmental responsibility. Republic’s industry-leading safety program reflects his commitment to ensuring safety for 36,000 employees and 14 million customers, a successful model that has raised the bar across the industry. Forbes’ 2019 America’s Most Innovative Leaders list measures four essential leadership qualities: media reputation for innovation, social connections and capital, track record for value creation and investor expectations of future value creation.
