The Opelika Career Center wins national award
The Opelika Career Center in Alabama received the prestigious Mark Sanders Award at the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) 10th Annual Veterans Conference in Washington, D.C. NASWA’s Mark Sanders Award is bestowed each year upon one individual or group in the U.S. that provides exceptional workforce and job market assistance to veterans, especially those with significant barriers to obtaining and retaining employment. Scott B. Sanders is the President and CEO of NASWA “The Opelika Career Center has worked tirelessly to help assist veterans and military spouses transition back to civilian life,” said President Sanders. “I applaud the Opelika Career Center staff on the exemplary service they provide to the men and women protecting our country and congratulate them on earning the 2023 Mark Sanders Award!” The Opelika Career Center was nominated by the Alabama Department of Labor. In 2022, the Opelika Career Center established the Citywide Careers Skills Program (CSP) in conjunction with Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and the Opelika Workforce Council. To date, 25 businesses have enrolled in the program and are instrumental in offering internships and career opportunities for transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. The Citywide CSP also provides employers with a conduit of quality applicants for internship and apprenticeship positions in the community. Fitzgerald Washington is the Alabama Secretary of State. “Veterans are such an integral part of our workforce,” said Sec. Washington. “The skills that our veterans bring to any job are valuable, and we are working hard to ensure that while veterans transition from military service to the private sector, they are as prepared as they can be, and that they have easy access to any programs that can ease that transition. I’m proud of the staff at the Opelika Career Center for this program and the partnerships it represents.” The Opelika Career Center focuses on developing relationships with military bases, support networks, workforce boards, and businesses to enhance job opportunities for veterans. In addition to its work with the Citywide CSP, the Opelika Career Center has organized and hosted veteran hiring events for 31 businesses. It has also partnered with the county on a Second Chance Job Fair and has hosted resume and mock interview workshops. Through its numerous program and service partnerships, the Opelika Career Center has gone above and beyond to serve its Veterans. The award is named in honor of Mark Sanders, who, during his career with the California Employment Development Department and in leadership positions with NASWA, was untiring in his efforts to promote excellence in services to disabled veterans. The National Association of State Workforce Agencies is the national organization representing all 50 state workforce agencies, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. These agencies deliver training, employment, career, business, and wage and hour services. They also administer unemployment insurance, veteran reemployment, and labor market information programs. NASWA provides policy expertise, shares promising state practices, and promotes state innovation and leadership in workforce development. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Manufacturing plant to close in Opelika later this year, hundreds affected
A medical device manufacturer in Alabama has announced plans to close its plant in November, a move that will impact nearly 500 workers. Baxter International Inc., which makes dialyzers for dialysis treatment at its plant in Opelika, announced the closure Thursday. “Baxter leadership emphasized that this outcome is not a reflection on the quality employees and business climate in Opelika, but was brought on by global market conditions that have impacted demand and overseas competition,” Opelika city officials said in a news release. City officials will be working with state and nationwide contacts to help identify and recruit other potential companies to create future opportunities in Opelika, officials said. Mayor Gary Fuller expressed disappointment by the announcement and concern for the affected employees. “The City and our Economic Development team will be working closely with Baxter, the Alabama Department of Commerce, the Opelika Chamber, Southern Union, and our other workforce partners to assist these employees in finding other careers here in our area,” Fuller said. Economic Development Director Lori Huguley said the community will rise despite the news. “This is a big blow to our community and definitely not news we expected to hear, but we know we have great companies in our area that will welcome the chance to meet and interview those who are looking for other careers here,” Huguley said. Opelika is 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) northeast of Montgomery and has a population of 32,000. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
League of Municipalities disappointed with passage of legislation further limiting towns from collecting occupational taxes
On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee advanced legislation that would place further limits on cities that currently have occupational taxes. The committee gave a favorable report to a substitute version of the legislation – Senate Bill 65 (SG65). The Alabama League of Municipalities are staunchly opposed to this legislation. They released a statement following its receiving committee approval. “While the League is disappointed with today’s passage of SB65 by the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government, our advocacy efforts will not stop here,” the League said in a statement on social media. “It is our organization’s mission to protect measures that are in place which allow for local decisions to be made at the local level, one of those being the ability to maintain or implement an occupational tax.” “We appreciate the mayors and first responders that attended and shared examples of the negative impacts this legislation could cause, including: laying off first responders and other essential personnel; making cuts to infrastructure, education, and public works; and restricting economic development growth,” the League added. Senate Bill 65 (SB65) is sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Jones. Jones represents Etowah County, where several municipalities including Gadsden, have occupation taxes. An occupation tax is a tax on payrolls that goes to municipalities. Workers already owe income taxes and FICA/social security taxes to the federal government, plus the state income tax. They also pay a percentage (usually one or two percent) to the town they work in. The tax burden of working in a town with an occupation tax is onerous. An occupation tax is not a true income tax because they do not tax rental income, investment income, business profits, farm income, etc., but anyone who is a wage earner must pay the tax to hold a job in that city or town. The tax is despised by many workers Jones represents, particularly those who work in but do not live in a town with an occupation tax as they pay the tax, but receive little, if any, of the tax benefits. Workers who live in a town with an occupation tax but work in another town do not pay the tax in the town where they live, even if the town where they work does not have an occupation tax – unlike a true income tax which is already forbidden in towns and cities under Alabama law. Jones has led efforts to repeal the remaining occupation taxes across the state. The Legislature blocked Jefferson County from imposing an occupation tax ten years ago, with the state’s largest county filing for bankruptcy protection. Cities like Montgomery that don’t have an occupation tax are already blocked from imposing one without coming to the Legislature. Jones first tried to abolish the remaining occupation taxes in the state. Failing that, he has tried to phase them out or prevent cities with occupation taxes from extending that occupation tax outside the city limits to the police jurisdiction or the town annexing new property to capture more workers into Tuesday’s tax scheme. Jones said, “There is a lot of things we should be able to agree on. It is unfair that workers who have lost their jobs when a plant closes, like Goodyear, have to pay a 2% tax on their unemployment severance pay.” “We should be able to agree that is unfair that a business like a tow truck operator has to keep records on how much time their operators spend working in each town in order to calculate the occupation taxes,” Jones said. Opponents bitterly opposed this bill in the public hearing. Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said, “The citizens have the option of addressing that every four years.” “We think this is a local issue,” Mayor Fuller said. Guin Mayor Phil Segraves said that Guin has had an occupation tax since 1984. “We need to retain this tax,” Segraves said. “It has been a valuable tool for economic development.” Rainbow City Mayor Joe Taylor said, “I stand in opposition to HB65, but not to my Senator.” Taylor explained that Rainbow City wants to annex 1,100 acres of farmland on I-59 for industrial development, and they need the occupation tax to develop that site. “This is about economic development,” Taylor said. “We have a memorandum of understanding with our county on a water and sewer project. We have dedicated $2 million of our ARPA money to this project. The county has dedicated $20 million.” The ban on allowing cities with an occupation tax to extend that to newly annexed land would prevent Rainbow City from extending the occupation tax to new jobs created on the Etowah County mega site they are trying to annex. Jones agreed to amend his bill so that cities annexing a thousand acres or more parcels would be an exemption from the legislation. Gadsden Fire Chief Will Reed said that ending the occupation tax would mean he would have to cut his paramedics. “This is a horrible thing for our fire department and for the people of our community,” Reed said. State Sen. Linda Coleman Madison said, “As I listen to the people that came before us, these taxes are tied to schools, police and fire services, economic development, recreational opportunities.” Jones said, “Median household income in Alabama is about $53000, so 2% is about a thousand dollars, which is a considerable amount.” “There are only about 24 cities that have this,” Jones said. Sen. Kirk Hatcher said that for the state to prevent cities from imposing occupation taxes is excessive. “This is the definition of big government,” Hatcher said. HB65 was amended and substituted by the committee. The committee voted to give the newest version of HB65 a favorable report in a 5 to 4 vote. HB65 could be voted on by the full Senate as early as Wednesday. If passed, it would still have to go to the Alabama House of Representatives for their consideration. The Senate will go into session at 3:00 p.m. for the third legislative day of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. As of Monday, 243 bills have
Niagara Bottling to build $112M production plant, to hire 50
Niagara Bottling is planning to open a new $112 million production facility in Alabama and hire 50 employees. The California-based company will locate a bottling plant in the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park along Interstate 85. Gov. Kay Ivey announced the move Wednesday, calling it a “testament to Alabama’s strong business climate and the many advantages we can offer companies looking to energize their growth plans.” Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield called the company a great addition to the state’s business community, al.com reported. “The top-level priorities of Alabama’s economic development team are creating meaningful job opportunities for citizens around the state and bringing in new investment to invigorate communities,” Canfield said. “We look forward to seeing Niagara Bottling grow and thrive in Opelika because that perfectly aligns with our strategic economic development objectives.” Niagara Bottling has been family-owned and operated since 1963, with bottling facilities in the U.S. and Mexico. It offers bottled purified, distilled and spring water, water for infants, sparkling water, flavored vitamin water, and tea. “We value the highly competitive and attractive combination of location, infrastructure, logistics, and workforce in Opelika,” said Brian Hess, an executive vice president at Niagara Bottling. Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller said it is “truly an honor when an industry chooses to invest in our community.” “We are glad to assist Niagara Bottling in their continued success,” Fuller said. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
State opposes Mike Hubbard request for early release from prison
State prosecutors are urging a judge to deny former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s request for early release from prison, arguing his “belated apology” for his ethics conviction is not enough. In a Wednesday court filing, the state attorney general’s office opposed Hubbard’s request for release from prison after serving a year of his 28-month sentence. In seeking early release, Hubbard wrote a letter to the judge apologizing for his conviction. Several community figures, including Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson, wrote letters supporting his release. The state wrote that Hubbard’s apology is a good thing, “but it is not a basis for early release.” “It is a positive step that Hubbard recognizes that his crimes harmed society as a whole. But he is wrong to think the best way to repair that harm is for the Court to release the very man who caused it after he has served less than half his sentence. By Hubbard’s logic, a remorseful arsonist should be released early if he expresses the desire to rebuild the home he burned down,” state lawyers wrote. Several community figures wrote letters to the judge supporting Hubbard’s release, including Jackson and Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. Hubbard worked on the 1985 Heisman campaign for Jackson, and Jackson called Hubbard “one of my closest and most loyal friends.” “There is absolutely no benefit to the citizens of Alabama for Mike to be incarcerated and forced to be non-productive,” Jackson wrote. Hubbard’s attorney argued his sentence of over two years behind bars is out of line with punishments handed down to other officials convicted of violating the state ethics law. “My conviction has severely damaged and embarrassed me and my family, friends, former constituents, community, church, the legislature, and the state of Alabama. For this, I am severely sorry and respectfully ask forgiveness from everyone affected,” Hubbard wrote to Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker. The Republican was one of the state’s most powerful politicians until the ethics conviction in a corruption case ended his political career. Hubbard, the architect of the GOP’s takeover of the Alabama Legislature in 2010, was a legislator from Auburn and former chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. He was elected House speaker soon after Republicans won control of both legislative chambers. A jury in 2016 convicted Hubbard of violating the state ethics law, including using his public office for personal financial gain. Prosecutors accused Hubbard of leveraging his powerful public office to obtain clients and investments for his businesses, violating the prohibition against giving a “thing of value” to an elected official. During the trial, his defense maintained the contracts were legitimate work and unrelated to his position as House speaker. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
Inside the Statehouse: All politics is local. Most of Alabama’s mayoral races are this year.
“Folks, being mayor of a city is where the rubber meets the road.”
