Virginia Martin

JeffCo Commission Announces $1.1 Billion Deal With Smucker’s

The Jefferson County Commission announced Thursday the largest economic development project in the history of the region. J.M. Smucker Co. will build a manufacturing facility in McCalla at the Jefferson Metropolitan Industrial Park to support its growing Smucker's Uncrustables line. The $1.1 billion capital investment will bring 750 high-wage jobs to the community. The development will be about 1½ miles from the Jefferson-Tuscaloosa counties line on old U.S. 11 between exits 100 and 104 of Interstate 20/59. Smucker’s project manager Brad Borkowski said excavation will begin Nov. 29, and the first sellable products are to roll out in May 2024. The McCalla plant will be one of three the company has producing Uncrustables, a fruit and peanut butter pocket pastry. “Smucker’s is coming to Jefferson County,” Commissioner Steve Ammons said in the announcement. “Now I can tell you it’s a sweet deal.” Read more.

Biden Budget Plan Could Close ‘Coverage Gap’ for 300,000 Alabamians

MONTGOMERY — A provision of the massive budget proposal being considered in Congress this week would offer as many as 300,000 low-income, uninsured Alabamians tax credits to pay for health coverage. Billed as President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan, the far-reaching proposal would spend $1.75 trillion on long-sought Democratic priorities, including universal pre-school, an expanded child tax credit, measures to combat climate change, low-income housing and reduced prescription drug costs. As written, the budget also extends tax credits for the uninsured in the 12 states that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, including Alabama. The White House estimates that will allow 4 million Americans to afford private insurance through the healthcare.gov exchange, including 300,000 in Alabama. Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma, has pushed for expanded health coverage in the bill and worked with colleagues in other non-expansion states to see the provision included in the final House bill. “Alabama has over 300,000 people that fall in that gap, where they make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but too little to afford health insurance premiums,” Sewell said in an interview. “We just made this our No. 1 ask. In every room that I’ve sat in, whether it’s at the White House or smaller tables here in Congress, health care is just my No. 1 issue. Read more.

An Unlikely Place, Lowndes County, Has the Highest COVID-19 Vaccination Rate in Alabama

At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, Lowndes County was one of the hardest hit places in Alabama. So when the vaccine became available, doses were rushed to Lowndes and other Black Belt counties by the federal government. Churches and other community groups encouraged the vaccine, and as of November, more than 50% of Lowndes County residents are immunized. That’s higher than the state’s vaccination rate of 45%. Read more.

Medical West Begins Work on McCalla Hospital

Medical West Hospital Authority broke ground Wednesday on a 200-bed hospital with a five-story medical office building. The facility, on 4501 Bell Hill Road in McCalla, is expected to open in 2024 and will replace the authority’s current hospital. Read more.

Marshall Sues to Stop Biden Health Care Worker Vaccine Mandate

MONTGOMERY — Attorney General Steve Marshall filed a lawsuit Monday against the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all health workers. It is the third lawsuit brought by the state challenging federal vaccine mandates. Read more.

Labor Shortage Hitting State Agencies

The labor shortage that is stressing the private sector nationwide has made its way to the Alabama state employee workforce. Agencies and departments are experiencing a higher than normal employee turnover rate and more job vacancies. Read more.

JeffCo Commissioners Excited to Talk Smack After Thursday Development Vote

Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons was very careful when asked if a “sweet” deal was on its way to Jefferson County. “I’m not going there,” he said following Tuesday’s commission committee meeting. “I can neither confirm nor deny.” Commissioners moved to Thursday’s agenda three resolutions related to a business development that plans to come to Jefferson Metropolitan Industrial Park in McCalla. “I'd say it's a very good deal for everybody,” he said following today’s commission committee meeting, adding that while there has been some press about the development, identified on the agenda as Project 6449, county officials are under a non-disclosure agreement until the deal is done on Thursday. Ammons was referring to a Birmingham Business Journal article that said public records show 6449 LLC shares an address — One Strawberry Lane in Orrville, Ohio — with the corporate headquarters of J.M. Smucker Co., a major producer of jam, jelly, peanut butter and other food and drink products. “It's gonna be a good day,” Ammons, the chair of the commission’s economic development committee, said of Thursday’s announcement. “I am so stinking excited. I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for Thursday for the last three or four months, excited about what this means for Jefferson County.” Read more.

Birmingham Council Revokes Crestwood Boulevard Motel License After Crime Complaints

The Birmingham City Council has revoked the business license of a crime-ridden Crestwood Boulevard motel. The USA Economy Lodge had been given eight weeks to fix its numerous issues — including drug trafficking, prostitution and damage to neighboring properties — which had led to 151 calls to police between Feb. 2 and Aug. 8. Read more.

In Teacher Shortage, Advocates Stress Better Benefits

Alabama’s salaries and benefits for K-12 teachers are on par with what surrounding states offer and better in some instances, including out-of-pocket health care expenses, according to a recent report to lawmakers. But educators and some lawmakers say the state must do better, particularly with retirement packages, to attract a shrinking pool of young teachers. “We absolutely have a shortage of teachers, but I don’t think you can point a bright light to any one of these things as being the reason for that,” Kirk Fulford, deputy director of the Legislative Services Agency, told a panel of lawmakers earlier this month during a presentation on Alabama’s pay and health and retirement benefits for educators. Read more.

Goodbye to Ensley High; Demolition Making Way for New Housing

Demolition has begun on the old Ensley High School and should be complete in about four months. Redevelopment of the derelict property is aimed at making way for a 244-home mixed-used neighborhood at 2301 Avenue J for people earning between $16,000 and $45,000 annually. “Neighborhood revitalization is our top priority,” Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said in a statement. “For many years, Ensley High School provided the educational foundation for this community. As the next steps are taken, this site will provide a new foundation for vibrant and livable space for our residents.” Read more. Previously:

Project to Turn Old Ensley High Project Into Apartment Complex Moves Forward