Alabama Resources Page
Inward Investment Guides

Hot United States FDI Sectors: Advanced Manufacturing

Mark Crawford (Location USA 2012)
Foreign companies are finding plenty of opportunities to invest in manufacturing across the country, including steel fabrication, advanced materials, information systems, semiconductors and electronics, alternative energy, chemicals and plastics, heavy equipment, appliances, and rubber products. More

Top Site Selection Factors: Tax Rates, Exemptions, and Incentives - Keeping an Eye on the Competition

Mali R. Schantz-Feld (November 2011)
Developing a new facility is an expensive endeavor. Depending upon the size and scope of a business, start-up costs can make a difference between getting a project off the ground and seeing it fall flat. After opening, the costs continue to accumulate. Low tax rates, tax exemptions, and tax incentives can lift a big burden off of all phases of a company’s budget. In fact, in Area Development’s 2010 Corporate Survey, respondents ranked these three factors among their top-six site selection criteria. More

2011 Top States For Doing Business Survey Results

Area Development Magazine Special Presentation (Fall 2011)
For the second year in a row, Area Development has conducted a survey of a select group of highly respected location consultants who work with a nationwide client base. We asked the consultants to name their top-5 state choices in 12 site selection categories. More

Regional Report: Southern States Receiving Their Fair Share of Foreign Direct Investment

Mali R. Schantz-Feld (July 2011)
ThyssenKrupp in Alabama and Mitsubishi Electric Power in Tennessee lead a charge of FDI super projects that are helping to buoy cautious optimism and steady but slow economic gains in the southern states. More

The ThyssenKrupp Promise: Core Value of Social Responsibility Put to the Test in Alabama

Robert Hess, Partner Strategic Consulting, Newmark Knight Frank (Spring 2011)
With completion of it's $3.7b, 7 million square-foot Calvert, AL complex, ThyssennKrupp met and exceeded environmental compliance standards while achieving it's goal to come on-line by the end of 2010 while overcoming numerous obstacles. More

2011 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Recognizing Individual States for Excellence in Economic Development and Job Creation

Area Development Magazine Special Presentation (Spring 2011)
This year , three states, Indiana, Michigan, and South Carolina, are being awarded Gold Shovels in recognition of projects undertaken in 2010 creating a significant number of high value-added new jobs as well as investment. More

Area Development Announces Recipients of 2011 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Celebrating State Success in Job Creation and Investment

Area Development Magazine Special Presentation (4/15/2011)
This year, three states — Indiana, Michigan, and South Carolina — are being awarded Gold Shovels in recognition of projects undertaken in 2010 creating a significant number of high value-added new jobs as well as positive economic development impact. More

fDi: American Cities of the Future 2011/12

FDI Magazine (4/12/2011)
fDi magazine ranks its U.S., Canadian, and Latin American cities of the future. Here are rankings for large, small, and micro metros. More
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Studies/Research
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Studies/Research

Alabama at a glance

POPULATION: 4,708,708 (2009 estimate)

LABOR FORCE: 1,885,700 (2009 prelim. estimate)

RIGHT TO WORK: Yes

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES: Agriculture, forestry, metalworking, chemicals, machinery

EXPANDING INDUSTRIES: Transportation industries, information and biotechnology, research and development, aerospace, distribution and logistics, services, tourism

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 27.4%

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Corporate Income Tax: 6.5 percent of net income; deductions allowed for federal income tax paid or accrued for a lower effective rate of 4.5 percent

Secretary of State Qualification: Before transacting business in Alabama, a foreign corporation(corporation incorporated outside of Alabama) must qualify with the Alabama Secretary of State; foreign corporations must file an application for certificate of authority (form CD-2) with the Alabama Secretary of State along with a certified copy of the articles of incorporation and must pay a $175 qualification fee

Alabama Business Privilege Tax: The tax base is the taxpayer's net worth apportioned to Alabama; the rate ranges from $0.25 to $1.75 for each $1,000 of net worth in Alabama; minimum privilege tax is $100; maximum is $15,000, except for financial institutions, financial institution groups, and insurance companies, which have a maximum privilege tax liability of $3 million; an electing family limited liability entity is capped at $500 Sales and Use Tax: 4 percent on gross proceeds of sales of tangible personal property and gross receipts of amusement businesses; 1.5 percent on manufacturing machinery and farm equipment; counties may impose additional tax

Property Tax: State rate of 6.5 mills is based on 20 percent of fair market value of property not otherwise classified (including industrial); 10 percent of agricultural, forest, and residential property; 30 percent of fair market value of utility property; additional taxes levied by local jurisdictions; inventories, goods-inprocess, and pollution-control equipment are exempt from property tax

BUSINESS INCENTIVES
Alabama Industrial Development Training

Industrial Development Grant(Site Preparation) Program

Industrial Access Program

Infrastructure Grant Program

Public Works and Facilities Grant

Regional Revolving Loan Funds

Appalachian Regional Commission Grants

Delta Regional Commission Grants

Industrial Development Revenue Bonds

Enhanced Capital Tax Credit

Sales/use tax abatements

Property tax abatements

Small Business Administration 504 loans

Small Business Administration 7-A Program

REA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program

Reemployment Act of 2010

Principal Manufacturing industries

  • Transportation Equipment
    19.0%
  • Food
    12.8%
  • Fabricated Metal Products
    10.5%
  • Primary Metals
    6.3%
  • Computers & Electronic Products
    5.5%
  • Wood Products
    5.3%
  • Plastics & Rubber Products
    5.3%
  • Paper
    5.2%
  • Machinery
    4.4%
  • Furniture & Related Products
    4.1%
  • Chemical
    3.7%
  • Apparel
    3.2%
  • Nonmetallic Mineral Products
    3.1%
  • Other Manufacturing Industries
    11.7%