The state of Alabama is serious about economic development, and we have shown that the Mobile region has a skilled workforce that is developing every day, strong infrastructure, and an abundance of natural resources.
Considering our highly skilled workforce, our geographic resources, and the robust economic development partnerships on the state, regional and local levels, companies from all across the globe continue to look to Louisiana as a smart and strategic destination for their next business investment.
A strong, thriving workforce is necessary for our broader goals to boost economic development and I look forward to continuing our work to again be the jobs engine throughout the region.
What I hear from employers day in and day out is, 'I need to make sure I have that skilled workforce to compete.' And so we've been able to help so many people punch their ticket to the middle class by transforming our workforce development system for advanced manufacturing jobs and other critical jobs that exist right now.
The Columbia River Basin, which spans seven states in the Pacific Northwest, is one of the largest freshwater networks in North America. For centuries, the Basin has been a catalyst for economic development through the abundance of natural resources it provides.
If you're in Alabama, you're selling tax incentives - with all due respect to Alabama - because what else are you going to sell? In New Jersey, you've got location, public education, highly educated workforce, density, diversity, infrastructure.
I think you'd change Alabama fundamentally if in six years someone said, 'If you want the best education in America, you've got to live in Alabama.' you'd change economic development, change the image of this state, you'd offer these kids an opportunity they otherwise would never have had.
Apprenticeship is a proven model for developing a skilled workforce.
If we are serious about providing upward mobility and building a skilled workforce, pre-school is the place to begin.
Alabama has a great business climate with a strong workforce and a strong support of the right to work.
Recognising that the future growth of India will depend on greater skill development, the National Policy for Skill Development aims to create a skilled workforce of 500 million by 2022.
Developing skills is as important as training. A larger effort is needed to create a skilled workforce with employment potential.
For countries such as Kenya to emerge as economic powerhouses, they need better infrastructure: roads, ports, smart grids and power plants. Infrastructure is expensive, and takes a long time to build. In the meantime, hackers are building 'grassroots infrastructure,' using the mobile-phone system to build solutions that are ready for market.
A successful economic development strategy must focus on improving the skills of the area's workforce, reducing the cost of doing business and making available the resources business needs to compete and thrive in today's global economy.
The whole infrastructure of air travel was, and is, part of government policy. It is not a natural development of a free economic system - at least not in the way that is claimed. The same is true of the roads, of course.
It is important that we continue to follow through on key investments in workforce development and infrastructure.
I am committed to the safety and development of every community and region in the state.