According to Area Development magazine’s 2026 Top States for Doing Business report, Alabama has risen to the seventh position for business friendliness in the U.S., improving from eighth place in the previous two years. Governor Kay Ivey highlighted this achievement as a testament to her administration’s focus on economic growth and corporate investment.
Ivey emphasized that Alabama’s policies, infrastructure, and skilled labor make it a great place for companies. Alabama excelled in various metrics, including property tax environment, overall cost of doing business, and labor cost competitiveness. The state also ranked high for business incentives, regulatory environment, and workforce training programs.
In the past year, Alabama witnessed significant economic development, including $14.6 billion in new investments and 9,000 jobs created. This progress led to the state receiving a Silver Shovel Award for economic growth. Key developments included the relocation of U.S. Space Command and Eli Lilly’s $6 billion investment in Huntsville.
Officials like Ellen McNair, Alabama Commerce Secretary, and Kevin Taylor, director of Alabama Industrial Development Training, stressed the importance of a skilled workforce and a supportive business environment for attracting investments and enhancing job creation.
