AGP Executive Report

Rare Earth Supply Push: REalloys secured preferential access to Appalachian rare earth feedstock tied to Pentagon deadlines, aiming to boost domestic supply of magnet metals like neodymium and dysprosium. Agriculture & Land-Use: Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture runoff candidate Christina Woerner McInnis pledged a comprehensive review of data centers and solar farms’ impacts on farmland, water, and energy demand. Tax Policy: John Wahl urged immediate Alabama income-tax elimination, arguing it would help recruit industry and jobs. AG Enforcement: Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall threatened legal action against six companies over advertising and distribution of abortion-inducing drugs. Fiber Expansion: GoNetspeed broke ground on a 100% fiber build in East Brunswick, part of a $13.6M regional investment. Small Business Pressure: NFIB reported small-business optimism fell while uncertainty rose amid fuel costs and labor shortages. Construction Labor Probe: A $350M U.S. consulate project in Milan is under investigation after migrant workers alleged exploitation by an Alabama-based contractor. Infrastructure Access: Rickwood Caverns State Park opened a new access road and replaced an aging playground.

Workforce Training: Drake State and Huntsville Utilities are rolling out an underground utilities class that puts students behind excavation equipment, teaching pipe-laying, jobsite safety, and confined-space/OSHA 10 skills for utility careers. Aviation Career Tech: Gulf Shores City Schools’ aviation program is set to get statewide visibility on Alabama Public Television, timed with the program’s first flight training milestone. Food & Agriculture Risk: Federal officials are urging vigilance after a New World screwworm detection in South Texas, even as Alabama producers say the immediate risk remains low. Health & Consumer Protection: Alabama AG Dan Rayfield announced a $4.87M multistate settlement with GS Labs over overpriced, delayed COVID-19 tests and improper administrative fees. Logistics & Trade: Mobile’s deepening and widening is drawing new business—Ray-Mont Logistics is building an export-focused transloading facility for resin packaging, forest products and more. Transportation Updates: ALDOT is resuming resurfacing on Tuscaloosa’s Skyland Boulevard, adding left-turn lanes at key intersections to improve safety and flow. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports show diesel prices dipping in Monroe County, with the lowest station price at $4.85 for the week ending May 30. Manufacturing Education: Northwest Shoals Community College’s FAME team placed second nationally at the 2026 conference, building on a state championship. Public Safety/Infrastructure: Gulf State Park opened a new RV resort with 103 premium campsites, expanding the park’s capacity to meet demand.

Abortion Enforcement: Alabama AG Steve Marshall issued cease-and-desist letters to six companies accused of illegally advertising and selling chemical abortion-inducing drugs to Alabama consumers, warning of investigations and consumer-protection penalties. Healthcare Costs: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide—including Alabama-area facilities in the AP list—to improve public price transparency or face steep penalties, putting more pressure on hospital billing practices. Data Centers in Birmingham: Birmingham City Council approved a data center zoning ordinance after a contentious hearing, with residents criticizing changes that removed special exception requirements for some hyperscale projects. Workforce & Industry Growth: Fine-art logistics firm Atelier 4 added industrial executive Stuart Sherrill to its board as it targets expansion in specialized transportation, storage, and installation services. Agriculture Education: North Alabama Agriplex hosted its 26th annual Touring Farms for Kids, bringing children ages 7–13 to local farms and producers to learn where food comes from. Local Politics & Jobs: North Alabama’s labor council says it will actively engage Huntsville municipal races, arguing local leadership will shape economic development, schools, infrastructure, and wages. Energy & Transportation: Gas prices updates showed a low premium price in Butler County at $4.59/gallon for the week ending May 30, reflecting ongoing regional volatility.

Alabama Entrepreneurship & Retail: Alabama A&M alum Dr. Ashley Hunt-Poole’s alcohol-free wine brand, HELLO MAMÁ, is expanding into Walmart and Sam’s Club across multiple states, growing from a pregnancy-era kitchen experiment into a nationally distributed, Black woman-owned beverage company. Aerospace & Defense Research: Alabama A&M researchers briefed U.S. Space Command as the command builds its permanent Redstone Arsenal presence, with Dr. Chance Glenn Sr. presenting lab work aimed at generating spacetime-distortion and gravitational-wave-like effects. Workforce & Conservation Education: AAMU and the U.S. Forest Service will host the 11th Annual Forestry Fair for more than 200 youth June 17, with hands-on forestry, wildfire prevention, and conservation career learning. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Leeds approved a one-year moratorium on new data center campuses and similar high-impact facilities while officials study impacts on utilities, infrastructure, and growth. Healthcare Costs & Transparency: The Trump administration warned 500+ hospitals nationwide, including multiple in Tennessee, to provide clearer pricing or face penalties up to $2 million annually. State Legal Action: Alabama AG Steve Marshall issued cease-and-desist letters targeting companies accused of illegally advertising and selling mifepristone to Alabama consumers. Small Business Relief: SBA announced low-interest disaster loans for Mississippi small businesses and private nonprofits hit by drought, with Mobile County in Alabama included. Food & Travel Retail: everbowl opened its first airport location at Huntsville International Airport, bringing its superfood-based menu to travelers. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported several county-level “lowest price” updates across Alabama for the week ending May 30, reflecting continued volatility tied to global oil and refinery conditions.

Industrial Investment: U.S. Steel says it will invest up to $2.5 billion to upgrade Mon Valley Works, aiming to preserve about 3,000 jobs and support thousands more through construction and supply-chain work. Energy Supply Chain: Virginia Transformer plans a 600,000-square-foot plant at the Shoals Research Airpark in Colbert County, targeting a critical grid bottleneck for power transformers. Auto Manufacturing: Kamtec Auto USA will open a manufacturing operation in Auburn with a $9.2 million investment and about 50 jobs, making hybrid-vehicle engine control and electric management components. Workforce Development: Meta launched America’s Workforce Academy, a $115 million program to train paid workers for AI infrastructure roles tied to data centers, grids, and power generation. Real Estate & Housing Markets: Huntsville’s Realtors association named Tiffany James as CEO, betting on continued growth in North Alabama’s defense, aerospace, tech, and housing demand. Local Infrastructure & Resilience: Sen. Katie Britt secured $2.063 million for Foley to bury vulnerable downtown utilities to improve storm recovery. Road Safety: Rep. Shomari Figures and others introduced “Our Roads, Our Safety Week” to push road-safety education nationwide. Manufacturing Training: Northwest Shoals Community College FAME students earned second place nationally after winning Alabama’s talent retention and work-based learning summit.

Shipbuilding Leadership: Austal USA confirms Gene Miller as president and expands its executive team, aiming to keep operational discipline and workforce focus at its Mobile operations. Engineering Education: UAH names Srinath Ekkad as next dean of the College of Engineering, bringing thermal-sciences leadership from NC State and a push for stronger industry ties. Paper & Manufacturing Jobs: Domtar appoints John Graves general manager for its Sanford, Florida mill, with deep experience from Domtar’s Coosa Pines operation in Alabama. Construction Workforce Pipeline: Caliber 1 Construction marks 10 years of its “Building My Blueprint” internship program, selecting West Georgia Technical College students for field superintendent roles. Energy & Utilities: Prichard’s court-appointed water expert reports a 12% drop in water loss last year, crediting earlier leak-fighting efforts while noting a long-term fix likely requires merging with MAWSS. Public Safety & Weather: A Flood Watch remains in effect for parts of Alabama, including Tuscaloosa County, as heavy downpours raise flash-flood risk. Fuel Prices Snapshot: GasBuddy reports show premium gas lows across Alabama counties in the week ending May 30, with volatility tied to global oil and refinery conditions.

Workforce & Business Growth: Huntsville cybersecurity firm MAD Security made Inc.’s 2026 Best Workplaces list, a boost for recruiting in Alabama’s defense and government contractor talent market. Tourism & Trade: Travel South USA named Germany’s Global Communication Experts as its in-market rep for the new DACH (Germany/Austria/Switzerland) push, with Alabama among the participating states. Agriculture Education: Alabama Farm-City events highlighted “Grow Alabama,” tying classroom contests and tours to the state’s farm and forestry economy. Local Environment: Tuscaloosa hosted Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day with Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa support, giving residents a safe way to drop paint, batteries, pesticides and more. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reported Alabama premium and diesel prices easing in the week ending May 30, with multiple counties seeing low points for drivers. Civic & Community: Port Alberni’s HGTV “Home Town Takeover” bid shows how national visibility can help small-town business districts—an angle Alabama communities can watch as they pursue growth.

Hazardous Waste & Recycling: Tuscaloosa held its annual Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day at the Public Safety Logistics Building, partnering with Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa to let residents safely drop off items like paint, batteries, pesticides, pool chemicals, and propane. Coastal Resilience & Grants: Gulf Shores applied for up to $6.98M in GOMESA funding to upgrade its beachfront district, including bike/ped paths, boardwalks, and safety-focused intersection work. Storm-Proofing Utilities: U.S. Sen. Katie Britt secured $2.063M for Foley to bury vulnerable downtown utility lines, aiming to speed recovery after tropical storms. Military Training Conversion: Birmingham Southern’s campus got a ribbon cutting as the Coast Guard begins transitioning the site into a military training facility, with lawmakers citing major local economic impact. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported the lowest premium gas in Morgan County at $4.39 and diesel lows across multiple counties (including $4.95 in Chilton), while statewide averages stayed near $4+ regular and about $5.11 diesel. Wildlife Conservation: In Baldwin County, developers and ADCNR relocated gopher tortoises after burrows were found during planning for a residential project. Public Safety/Health: A 124-bed Life Care Center of Morgan County is set to begin construction within 30 days after final site preparations. National Policy: The Senate blocked extending FISA Section 702, with Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville among Republicans joining Democrats. Local Tragedy: Auburn student Weston Higginbotham was found dead near Kyoto, with authorities still withholding cause of death.

Diesel Prices Watch: Escambia County hit the week’s low diesel price at $4.99 (week ending May 30), with Alabama’s diesel average down to $5.11. Local Parks & Grants: Foley approved new restrooms, a pavilion, and trail signs at Graham Creek Nature Preserve and Wolf Creek Park, and is pursuing a grant for a boardwalk overlook. Alabama Workforce & Industry: Alabama’s commercial construction sector is reported at an 18-year high for worker demand, while a separate report highlights the state’s commercial construction output topping $20B for the economy. Public Health Regulation: The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners warned doctors about “increased interest in peptides,” reiterating restrictions on non-FDA-approved substances. Coast Guard Training: DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin joined a ribbon cutting for the new U.S. Coast Guard Training Center at Birmingham-Southern. Energy & Infrastructure: ALDOT plans daytime I-85 lane closures in Montgomery starting June 8 for shoulder reinforcement work. Mining Permit Notice: McWane, LLC filed a public notice to revise its Burton Bend Mine No. 2 permit in Walker County, changing a sediment basin’s post-mining land use to fish & wildlife habitat. Tragic Local Loss: Auburn student James “Weston” Higginbotham, missing in Japan near Kyoto, was found dead; authorities have not released a cause of death.

Public Safety & Infrastructure: ALDOT is seeking public input on proposed I-459 improvements in Hoover, including replacing aging pavement and adding auxiliary lanes between I-65 and Acton Road; construction could mean long-term lane closures, with bids targeted by end of 2026. Roadwork Alerts: Montgomery drivers face intermittent I-85 lane closures starting June 8 (9 a.m.–3 p.m.) for shoulder reinforcement work. Health Regulation: The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners warned physicians about “increased interest in peptides,” reiterating restrictions on non-FDA-approved substances. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reports show Alabama fuel prices easing in late May, with multiple counties posting lowest regular gas deals around the high-$3 to low-$4 range. Local Environment: Alabama and a developer coordinated to relocate gopher tortoises in Baldwin County to a protected habitat before construction began. Human Interest: Auburn University student James “Weston” Higginbotham, missing in Japan near Kyoto, was found dead in mountainous terrain outside the city.

Energy Costs & Equity in Alabama: A Sierra Club dashboard shows low-income Alabama households pay far more of their income toward utilities than the national average, with the tool mapping energy burden alongside health impacts and redlining history. College Sports Policy: The U.S. Senate is weighing the Protect College Sports Act, with Alabama’s Nick Saban among witnesses urging limits on transfers and eligibility to “bring order” to athletics. Workforce & Training: Alabama’s Academy of Craft Training Central Alabama is targeting an Aug. 10 opening, building hands-on pathways in construction, plumbing, HVAC and welding as local demand rises alongside data center growth. Local Infrastructure: ALDOT plans major weekend closures on U.S. 280 for the Pump House Road bridge project, adding capacity with a center turn lane and sidewalk. University Leadership: UA named retired Maj. Gen. Parker H. Wright as the inaugural dean of its new School of Leadership and Policy, starting Aug. 1. Small Business Relief: SBA announced low-interest disaster loans for drought-impacted small businesses and private nonprofits across Georgia and parts of Alabama. Energy Market Watch: GasBuddy reports the week ending May 30 saw Clarke County’s lowest regular at $4.07, while Shelby County’s lowest premium hit $4.35 and Butler County’s lowest diesel reached $4.99.

Workforce & Training: Alabama’s Academy of Craft Training Central Alabama is targeting an Aug. 10 opening for a new North Montgomery campus, feeding students from five counties into hands-on pathways in construction, plumbing, HVAC and welding—aimed at filling gaps as data centers and other major projects expand. Construction & Resilience: Super Roofers is rolling out Alabama FORTIFIED roof certification for Mobile and Baldwin homeowners, positioning wind-resistant upgrades as a way to manage both storm risk and rising insurance costs. Health & Biotech: New Phase 2 data on petrelintide—an amylin-based, once-weekly obesity drug—shows up to double-digit weight loss by week 42 with fewer GI issues than many GLP-1s, with Phase 3 planned for later in 2026. Energy & Infrastructure: Gadsden received a $690,000 Innovate Alabama grant to fund engineering and design for a pedestrian bridge over the Coosa River, part of a broader riverfront connectivity push. Local Business & Growth: Austal USA added senior leaders across surface ship and submarine programs, signaling continued momentum in Alabama’s defense manufacturing ecosystem. Economy Watch: An AP analysis says inflation is squeezing budgets nationwide, including Alabama, driven by higher gas, shipping and other cost pressures.

USDA Grants for Alabama Meat Processors: Alabama agriculture officials are urging eligible meat processors to apply for the USDA Rural Development Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP 4), offering $60M nationwide to expand beef processing capacity; Alabama’s application window runs through Aug. 7, 2026. Energy & Costs Watch: GasBuddy reports diesel prices easing in Alabama—Clarke County’s low hit $5.29 (week ending May 30) and Lee County’s low was $4.49—while premium and regular prices also shifted across counties. Alabama Construction Impact: A new ABC of Alabama study says commercial construction drives more than $20B in economic activity statewide, supporting 223,000+ jobs and $13.5B in earnings. Defense & Advanced Manufacturing: PDW Holdings agreed to acquire Pittsford-based Vanteon Wireless Solutions to boost communications and software-defined radio capabilities for military drones, aligning with Alabama’s growing defense-tech footprint. Workforce & Infrastructure: The Alabama Public Service Commission will hold a natural gas rate case for Spire Alabama/Gulf, the first in decades, after rate negotiations stalled. Local Industry Development: Auburn’s economy gets another lift with a new auto supplier investment bringing 50 jobs and $9.2M. Missing Auburn Student Update (Japan): Kyoto police say it’s highly probable Weston Higginbotham left intentionally after a dispute over ChatGPT, but the search continues amid heavy rains.

College Sports Policy: A Senate hearing on the Protect College Sports Act featured major testimony from Nick Saban, Pac-12’s Teresa Gould, Notre Dame’s Pete Bevacqua and others, warning the system is broken and pushing to protect women’s and Olympic programs. Alabama Workforce & Manufacturing: Kamtec Auto USA plans a $9.2M Auburn facility and about 50 jobs to make hybrid-vehicle engine control and electric management components. Construction & Infrastructure: ALDOT is in the final stretch of a two-mile I-59/20 resurfacing in Fairfield, with brief striping disruptions, while a wider project is set for later. Housing Compliance: Alabama’s Home Builders Licensure Board is cracking down on unlicensed home builders and unlicensed advertising, warning consumers to verify license numbers. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports the lowest regular gas in Winston County at $3.89 (week ending May 30), with Alabama’s average regular price around $4.02. Public Health Watch: The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners warns doctors to avoid non-FDA-approved peptides amid rising social-media demand. Local Economy & Growth: Barberitos earned Fast Casual’s Movers & Shakers nod, citing a Southeast footprint plus a pipeline that includes new Birmingham and Tuscaloosa openings. Tourism: Colbert County’s tourism economy topped $122M in 2025, supporting more than 1,000 direct jobs.

Corrections & Health Care: NaphCare pushed back on recent coverage of its Alabama Department of Corrections healthcare work, saying it’s built to handle the tough realities of inmate medicine. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show diesel and regular gas deals vary sharply across Alabama counties in the week ending May 30, with the lowest regular in Hale County at $3.99 and diesel lows as low as $4.49 in Shelby County. Housing Stability: A new look at court eviction practices highlights how landlord-tenant cases can destabilize families even when evictions don’t end in moves. IVF Legal Risk: Lawsuits challenging embryo disposal could complicate IVF in states including Alabama, where fetal personhood and wrongful-death claims may collide. Rare Earths & Mining: REalloys signed a Letter of Intent with Patriot Exploration & Mining to pursue priority access to rare earth production tied to magnet metals. Economic Development: Foley secured nearly $3.33M in SEEDS funding for a new 121-acre industrial site. Defense & Industry: Lockheed Martin is expanding next-generation interceptor production in Alabama, reinforcing the state’s defense manufacturing momentum. Medical Cannabis: Alabama’s first medical cannabis store opened in Montgomery, with patients buying approved products after years of delays. Local STEM: Foothill students won a national Lockheed Martin Mars Challenge for a power concept aimed at a sustainable human presence on Mars.

Defense & Manufacturing: Anniston Army Depot marked completion of a $44M combat vehicle welding facility, part of Organic Industrial Base modernization to keep production ready in Alabama. Space & Engineering: UAH won NASA’s 2026 Student Launch competition, with Auburn also placing, highlighting Huntsville’s growing aerospace talent pipeline. College Sports Policy: Former Alabama coach Nick Saban testified in Congress urging a national framework for NIL and the transfer portal, warning the current system is pushing schools toward a pro model. Utilities & Infrastructure: Phenix City is moving to a $7.5M Advanced Metering Infrastructure upgrade, replacing aging water meters with AMI for better data and lower operating costs. Public Safety Tech: Washington National Guard showcased counter-drone training and partnerships, signaling how unmanned threats are shaping readiness programs. Healthcare Access: Alabama’s first medical cannabis dispensary opened in Montgomery, with the first patient receiving treatment for MS. Workforce Transition: Appalachian Regional Commission awarded Accelerate MS a $100K POWER grant to connect coal communities to advanced manufacturing careers. Local Economy: Riverchase Galleria in Hoover was listed for sale after 40 years, a major retail real-estate moment for the Birmingham metro.