Economic Development Partnership of Alabama

10/07/2026

We had the honor of welcoming Hitachi to Alabama! 🎉 Hearing about Hitachi's work in energy, mobility, and industry was inspiring, and it was a joy to get to know their team and share how Alabama works in those areas.

More than 40 leaders came together for great conversation and new relationships. Our Hitachi guests called it "southern hospitality at its best." And the conversations are continuing.

Team Alabama did what it always does: showed up and met the moment. Huge thanks to our partners at Alabama Power, the Mobility and Power Center, and in Alabama - Alabama Department of Commerce, and to everyone who joined us.

10/02/2026

Save the dates! The Alabama Summit on Talent Retention & Work-Based Learning comes to Montgomery Feb. 10–12, 2027. Employers, educators and workforce leaders from across the state will share what's working to build stronger career pathways and keep talent here. Early Bird registration is open now!

Register today here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alabama-summit-on-talent-retention-and-work-based-learning-tickets-1998815934266?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/22/2026

Alabama showed up in Washington last week and made its case! The Alabama Allies Economic Exchange brought together our congressional delegation, state leadership, and private-sector partners for two days focused on one goal: strengthening Alabama's competitiveness for the industries shaping its future.

The Economic Exchange made room for candid conversation on how to keep growing Alabama's economy and attracting new investment, with closing remarks from Kevin Taylor of AIDT.

A highlight of the program: the Hadrian Project panel, featuring Hadrian's Southeast Director of Government Relations Lindsay Cline, alongside Macke Mauldin of Bank Independent and Kevin Jackson of Shoals Economic Development Authority — a great example of what's possible when Alabama's public and private sectors move as one team to bring advanced manufacturing to the Shoals.

EDPA was proud to stand alongside the Alabama Allies network in Washington this week — thank you to Miller Girvin, Bakari Miller, John Stivender, and Jordan Howard for representing EDPA, and to the full Allies network for organizing such a strong showing of Alabama's economic development community in the nation's capital.

Read the full story from Yellowhammer News: https://yellowhammernews.com/team-alabama-takes-business-recruitment-pitch-to-capitol-hill/

Alabama’s congressional delegation gathered with the Alabama Allies, a coalition of Alabama’s economic development organizations and corporate partners focused on attracting industry to the State, in Washington with one unified message: Alabama has built one of the best business environments in the country, and its representatives in Congress – Republicans and Democrats alike – are ready to work with companies willing to invest there.

Link in comments to read full piece

09/01/2026

📣 EDPA to Expand Corporate Pilots Statewide

The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) today announced that PilotAL, one of EDPA's tools for connecting growth-stage startups with established Alabama companies, is expanding through a partnership with Innovate Alabama. The funding, which runs through July 2027, will build on the momentum established in its first phase, which launched last year.

PilotAL pairs vetted startups with established Alabama corporations to run milestone-based pilots — giving early-stage companies direct access to enterprise customers and giving corporate hosts a low-risk way to test emerging technology.

"Alabama's economy grows stronger when entrepreneurs and established companies have more opportunities to work together," said Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO of Innovate Alabama. "PilotAL creates those connections, helping promising startups gain access to customers, while giving Alabama companies a practical way to explore emerging technologies. We're proud to partner with EDPA to support initiatives that strengthen our innovation ecosystem and help prepare Alabama for the economy of the future."

PilotAL is one piece of a comprehensive statewide strategy to recruit and support high-growth technology companies, developed by EDPA in coordination with the Alabama Department of Commerce and Innovate Alabama, announced in October 2025 under the banner "Alabama Puts Founders First."

Read the full story 📲 https://edpa.org/news-item/edpa-to-expand-corporate-pilots-statewide/?preview_id=23691&preview_nonce=91a02b8b49&post_format=standard&_thumbnail_id=23692&preview=true