Alabama Shatters Economic Records with $14.6B Investment and 9,388 New Jobs in 2025

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency on January 22 for 19 northern counties, including Madison, Cullman, and Lauderdale, ahead of icy conditions from a winter storm that brought flurries, snow showers up to a quarter-inch deep, and frigid temperatures in the teens and 20s, according to ABC3340 and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. Gusts hit 71 miles per hour in Montgomery amid the broader North American winter storm, ABC3340 reports. Officials urged residents to stay weather aware as cold persists through the weekend. In politics, the 2026 legislative session accelerated in its second week, with over 500 bills filed covering taxation, education, public safety, and local government boundaries, per the Alabama Reporter. Notable advances include homestead exemption hikes for seniors, deer feed tax exemptions, and app store age verification mandates. Committees tackled elder abuse, custody revisions, and vaping bans. Economically, Alabama shattered records in 2025 with 234 projects investing $14.6 billion and committing 9,388 jobs, led by Eli Lilly's $6 billion Huntsville facility creating 450 positions, ArcelorMittal's $1.2 billion Mobile plant for 200 jobs, and Owens Corning's $325 million Prattville shingle factory adding 89 roles, Governor Ivey's office announced. Unemployment held at a low 2.7 percent in December, with employment hitting a record 2.3 million, fueled by construction and hospitality gains, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. Huntsville approved deals with Blue Origin for 105 jobs via $71 million expansion. Communities saw progress too: Governor Ivey awarded $40 million in Rebuild Alabama grants for 25 transportation projects. Wallace State Community College secured $2.5 million for a tiny home village and childcare for student families. Opelika greenlit a $40 million Fox Run School expansion starting May 2026 to handle enrollment growth. Looking Ahead, legislators return next week, weather permitting, as budget proposals advance and winter conditions linger. Watch for economic momentum with rural investments like Georgia Pacific's $800 million mill upgrade. Thank you for tuning in, listeners. Please subscribe for more. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.