Alabama lawmakers set to focus on Jobs Act and economic incentives for 2023 session
Now that the Alabama Special Session is done and ARPA funds have been allocated, leaders can focus on the 2023 regular session that begins on Tuesday. Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter explained that the Alabama Jobs Act would be one of their first priorities. “(The Alabama Jobs Act) is going to be priority No. 1 coming back after break. I think you’ll see a big push for that,” Ledbetter stated. “They’ve been very positive for our state. We’ve seen the job growth has been tremendous because of it. We’ve looked at the numbers; we got a return on the investment of 173% over a 20-year period.” Ledbetter believes legislation on this needs to be done quickly. The Alabama Jobs Act, created in 2015 and set to expire this year, has netted $256.8 million in incentives, Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield reported in 2022. This amount outpaced the department’s benchmark of $164.6 million. The Joint Study Commission on Renewing Incentives has discussed extending the Jobs Act through 2028 with a higher payout cap. Legislation has not been filed yet. The Jobs Act created two separate incentives: The Alabama Jobs Credit and Alabama Investment Credit. The Jobs Credit gives companies cash rebates on their previous year’s payroll for qualified employees, and companies can get higher rebates if they locate in rural parts of the state or hire veterans. The Investment Credit addresses a company’s capital investment and can be applied to several taxes, including income. Companies can receive incentives for up to 10 years. The incentives are currently capped at $350 million annually . Canfield said the Jobs Act has helped the state recruit 217 projects creating more than 38,000 jobs, and he believes the $350 million cap should be increased. Canfield discussed on Twitter how rural areas have benefited from the Jobs Act as much as urban areas. “We are going to continue to build on that success,” Canfield stated. “Alabama has led the Southeast in economic development, job creation, and industrial recruitment for roughly 20 years, and much of that success is the result of the incentives we offer,” Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth told Alabama Daily News on Thursday. “If we are going to continue that incredible success for decades to come, our incentives must remain competitive with those offered by our sister southeastern states, and this proposal does just that in a conservative, common sense manner. The pay-as-you-go package we have crafted also ensures taxpayers are protected from companies that are unable to fulfill their commitments.” Other recommendations from the task force in December included: Several lawmakers agreed that focusing on the Jobs Act is a priority for the Legislature. “When we come back, the economic incentive package to me is the No. 1 priority,” Rep. Marcus Paramore stated. “I want to make sure that gets done, make sure it gets out, make sure we can continue to recruit good businesses and good high-quality jobs for our constituents.” Rep. Phillip Ensler said, “But as with any bill, I want to look at the details, and having it done in a way that is equitable and making sure that we’re doing it in a way where the numbers of it make sense.” Lawmakers will meet for three legislative days next week, Tuesday through Thursday.
Troy City Council President Marcus Paramore announces candidacy for Alabama House District 89
Troy City Council President Marcus Paramore announced his candidacy today to seek the Republican nomination for the District 89 seat in the Alabama legislature, according to a recent press release. Surrounded by a crowd of approximately 70 supporters outside of Troy’s City Hall, Paramore announced he intended to run with a “focus on economic development and the protection of traditional conservative values in Pike and Dale counties.” Promising to run on a campaign centered around family, faith, and hard work, Paramore explained, “I want to work every day to make District 89 a great place to live and to raise children and grandchildren. I am so proud to live here and to have raised my family here. I know that we have so much to offer and that we can continue to grow while keeping our conservative values.” Paramore’s tenure on Troy’s City Council resulted in heavy involvement in various recruiting industries such as Kimber and Rex Lumber and a number of national retailers. Passionate about fostering the expanding labor market in District 89, Paramore is also a staunch advocate against awarding able-bodied employees incentives to not work. Currently, the District 89 seat in the Alabama legislature is held by Rep. Wes Allen (R-Troy). Allen has announced that he will not run for re-election but instead will run for the Office of Alabama Secretary of State. The Republican Primary election will be held on May 24, 2022.
Here’s everyone who the BCA has endorsed in the 2018 election cycle
The Business Council of Alabama (BCA), considers itself Alabama’s foremost voice for business. It is a non-partisan, statewide, business association representing the interests and concerns of nearly 1 million working Alabamians. The BCA works with the Alabama Legislature to promote “pro-business” reforms such as: Tax credits for small business Job creation Incentives for economic development Ethics reform Positive changes in our public education system Here are the candidates who the BCA has endorsed, who they believe will bring the best changes and initiatives for Alabama’s businesses: Statewide Races: Governor: Kay Ivey Lieutenant Governor: Twinkle Cavanaugh Attorney General: Steve Marshall Secretary of State: John Merrill State Treasurer: John McMillan Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries: Rick Pate Judicial Races: Chief Justice: Lyn Stuart Associate Justice Place 1: Sarah Stewart and Brad Mendheim Associate Justice Place 2: Tommy Bryan Associate Justice Place 3: Will Sellers Associate Justice Place 4: Jay Mitchell Court Of Civil Appeals Place 1: Christy Edwards Court Of Civil Appeals Place 2: Judge Terri Thomas Court Of Civil Appeals Place 3: Judge Terry Moore Court Of Criminal Appeals Place 1: Richard Minor Court Of Criminal Appeals Place 2: Chris McCool Court Of Criminal Appeals Place 3: Judge Bill Cole State Senate Races Senate District 2: Tom Butler Senate District 3: Arthur Orr Senate District 5: Greg Reed Senate District 7: Mary Scott Hunter Senate District 12: Del Marsh Senate District 13: Randy Price Senate District 14: Cam Ward Senate District 16: Jabo Waggoner Senate District 17: Shay Shelnutt Senate District 18: Rodger Smitherman Senate District 32: Chirs Elliott State House Races House District 3: Humphrey Lee House District 6: Andy Whitt House District 8: Terri Collins House District 9: Scott Stadthagen House District 13: Connie Rowe House District 14: Richard “Bull” Corry House District 27: Wes Kitchens House District 30: Craig Lipscomb House District 36: Randy Wood House District 39: TJ Maloney House District 40: K.L. Brown House District 41: Corley Ellis House District 42: Jimmy Martin House District 43: Arnold Mooney House District 44: Danny Garrett House District 45: Dickie Drake House District 46: David Faulkner House District 47: David Wheeler House District 48: Jim Carns House District 49: April Weaver House District 50: Jim Hill House District 55: Rod Scott House District 73: Matt Fridy House District 87: Jeff Sorrells House District 88: Jeremy Arthur House District 89: Marcus Paramore House District 96: Matt Simpson House District 102: Willie Gray
Troy City Councilman Marcus Paramore announces candidacy for House District 89
In a Monday afternoon Facebook post, Troy City Councilman Marcus Paramore announced his candidacy for the Alabama House of Representatives: District 89 seat as Republican. “I’m pleased to announce my candidacy for AL House of Representatives – District 89. Please feel free to share the video and I appreciate all of your support,” Paramore wrote in the post that accompanied a video announcement. “It would be my honor to represent the citizens of the Pike and Dale County, promoting and protecting our conservative values,” Troy said in the video. “I ask for your support and your vote, because together we can make our home a better place to work, worship, and play.” Currently serving in his second term on the City Council, Paramore is also employed at Troy University as the Director of Government Relations. He holds both a Bachelors and Masters degrees from the university. He is married to the former Leigh Ann Steltenpohl of Dothan and is the proud father of two sons, Bradley and Cody, both attend the Troy City School System. They are active members of Park Memorial United Methodist Church. Watch Paramore’s announcement below: Full transcript of Paramore’s announcement: Hello I’m Mark Paramore more this is my wife Leigh Ann and our sons Bradley and Cody. I’m currently serving in my second term on the Troy City Counsel and am proud of the positive economic growth that we’ve experienced in our city. Therefore with much consideration, thoughts, and prayers and with the guidance and council of family and friends, I am pleased to announce my candidacy for the Alabama House of Representative for District 89 as a Republican. It would be my honor to represent the citizens of the Pike and Dale County, promoting and protecting our conservative values. I ask for your support and your vote, because together we can make our home a better place to work, worship, and play. Thank you.
