The aerospace and defense sectors are driving economic growth in Alabama. Huntsville, home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal, has announced that U.S. Space Command will establish its headquarters there. Alabama also remains a leader in advanced automotive, bioscience and advanced manufacturing and continues to invest in its infrastructure and talent. In 2025, the state invested more than $25 million through the Growing Alabama program, which offers a tax credit for projects that stimulate economic growth
Alabama Jobs Act (Job Tax Credit and Investment Credit): Offers up to 3% cash rebates on gross payroll for up to 10 years, with enhanced rates for projects in targeted counties and sectors. The Investment Credit offers up to 1.5% tax credits on qualified capital investment for up to 15 years.
Alabama Department of Commerce
madeinalabama.com
Economic Development Partnership of Alabama
edpa.org
Alabama Power Economic and Community Development
amazingalabama.com
Economic Development Association of Alabama
edaa.org
Birmingham Business Alliance
birminghambusinessalliance.com
Catalyst, a new comprehensive economic development program developed in 2024, replaces the state’s previous framework, Accelerate Alabama, which drove $67 billion in capital investment and nearly 170,000 job commitments since its adoption in 2012. The next-generation strategic plan incorporates a broad focus, expanding beyond traditional recruitment tactics to elevate human capital, facilitate entrepreneurship, attract new talent and promote rural development.
Two Fortune 500 company HQs
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
