MONTGOMERY — In her final State of the State address on Tuesday in the Old House Chamber at the State Capitol, Gov. Kay Ivey touted past achievements while defining her goals for the current legislative session.
During her remarks, Ivey noted Space Command's hard-fought relocation to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.
"In 2019, we saw another opportunity when President Trump officially formed Space Command," said Ivey. "We immediately got to work promoting Huntsville to become its home. Now, finally, it's official: Space Command Headquarters is coming to Sweet Home Alabama!"
Ivey spoke of the substantial increase in infrastructure across the state made possible by the passage of Rebuild Alabama.
"But y'all, you can't have Lilly Medicine, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, First Solar, Meta, Novelis or even Space Command without a strong plan…one that includes reliable infrastructure," Ivey stated. "Since 2019, Alabama generated more than $2 billion dollars, paving the way for 500 vital road and bridge projects in all 67 counties."
Progress in statewide high-speed internet was another major topic for Ivey.
"In my experience, making the hard decisions often pays off for our state. …Like when we first decided to invest in high-speed internet. Alabama ranked near the bottom when it came to broadband connectivity. Today, we are 24th. And with our state plan, 100 percent of Alabama will soon have access through an internet service provider."
The Governor touted the positive impact of the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education Act of 2024 (CHOOSE Act) on students and families across the state.
"Our education savings account program, the CHOOSE Act, is already supporting more than 23,000 students," Ivey said. "That number will only grow as more folks learn about the program, as student athletes feel more confident in the rules and when it becomes fully universal in year three.
"For the 27-28 Academic Year, I am proposing we increase funding for the CHOOSE Act to $250 million dollars. This will help even more families receive the education that best suits their child," added Ivey.
Ivey closed the address with a call to action for lawmakers in the chamber.
"The people of Alabama deserve our very best. Future generations of Alabamians deserve our hardest work today."
"This is our opportunity. So, let's not waste a moment," Ivey concluded.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every day.
