Tag: Economy
Increasing Popularity of Alabama’s Pinhoti Trail Sparks Economic Opportunity
A growing number of hikers are tackling Alabama’s longest continuous footpath and trail communities are welcoming the growth. Read more.
Advocates Warn of a ‘Dollar Store Invasion.’ Researchers Are Still Figuring Out the Consequences
A recent report from the Institute for Local Self Reliance laid out 17 problems with dollar stores, but some researchers said there isn’t a consensus yet. Read more.
Old Carraway Complex to be Demolished All at Once Under New Deal With City
The city of Birmingham has revised its plans for the former Carraway Hospital complex to give developers more up-front money for demolition.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the Birmingham City Council, councilors approved revision of a 2-year-old funding agreement with Corporate Realty (doing business as Northside Redevelopment LLC), which is redeveloping the former Carraway Hospital site into a mixed-use development, Star at Uptown, which is to include residential, retail, office and dining spaces, as well as a 9,000-seat amphitheater.
Under the original incentives package, the city would have remitted $9.1 million in future sales, use and property tax revenues to Northside Development; Tuesday’s revisions cut that number in half to $4.55 million. In return, developers will now receive $3.7 million from the city for demolition right away. Read more.
Alabama Coal Miners Begin Their 20th Month on Strike
Hundreds of coal miners in Brookwood reached a milestone Thursday: They’ve spent 20 months on strike.
That’s well past the six-week average for strikes, according to Bloomberg Law. The miners believe it’s the longest strike in Alabama’s history. They have continued demanding their employer, Warrior Met Coal, restore the pay and benefits that were cut in 2016 as a cost-saving measure to keep the mines from shutting down.
Out of the 900 miners who started the strike a year and a half ago, 500 remain, according to United Mine Workers of America. Read more.
6 Ways the Conversation Around a Guaranteed Income in the US Has Changed
A guaranteed income conference held in Atlanta shows how the movement has progressed since 2017, with more than 50 pilots currently handing out cash. Read more.
These 3 Black Moms Receive a ‘Guaranteed Income.’ Here’s What They’re Doing With It.
As payments roll in, guaranteed income recipients in Birmingham, Atlanta and New Orleans reflect on what it means for their lives. Read more.
Taxi Rates Increased to Offset High Gas Prices
The Birmingham City Council has approved an increase in taxi rates to offset rising fuel costs. The decision, which passed unanimously after a public hearing yielded no speakers, will add a $1 surcharge to every taxicab ride in the city through at least the end of the year. It’s the first time taxicab rates have been raised in a decade. Read more.
With Vanpooling, Workers and Employers Find a ‘Win-Win’ Amid a Tight Labor Market, High Gas Costs
As 2022’s economic woes continue, more people are using vanpools as a cost-effective way to get to work. It’s also helping out their employers. Read more.
Record-high gas prices are cutting into Alabama drivers’ budgets. Here’s how they’re coping.
The added expense affects people in Alabama’s Black Belt differently, including road trippers, commuters and even those who can’t drive. Read more.
Why Gulf South Oil Producers Can’t Protect the Region From Rising Gas Prices
Experts say activating unused oil wells could temper the rising costs of gas, but consumers should not expect prices to get anywhere near their COVID low. Read more.
