Community News

Byrne heads task force to support economic recovery

News Staff Report

Washington, D.C. – April 17, 2020 – At the request of Governor Kay Ivey, Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) has established a task force of business and community leaders from Southwest Alabama to make recommendations to state leaders on how to reopen the state’s economy. The group met virtually for the first time April 16 and will be working over the next week to prepare recommendations for the Governor.
The task force includes representatives from all six counties in the First Congressional District and from a wide range of business and other perspectives.
Among the 28 members are Bob Jones, United Bank; and Beth Whitehead, HealthActions.
Congressman Byrne said: “As we continue to navigate the public health situation, it is important we begin the process of reopening Alabama’s economy in a responsible and timely way. Our economy in Southwest Alabama has many unique components – like tourism, shipbuilding, and the seafood industry – and I want to make sure our diverse interests are taken into consideration as Governor Ivey and state leaders make decisions. This task force we have assembled includes a range of important regional, economic, and demographic perspectives. It is critically important we start taking steps to reopen our local economy, and I look forward to sharing our task force’s recommendations with Governor Ivey.”