House OKs $5 million one-time transfer to fund overseas trade offices, rural grant-writing staff

The Alabama House approved House Bill 526 on final passage, authorizing a one-time $5 million transfer from the Alabama 21st Century Fund to the Department of Commerce to open overseas trade offices and add rural development grant-writing staff.

Representative Bridal, the bill sponsor, told the chamber the measure would "allow for a 1 time transfer from the 20 first century fund to the Department of Commerce to establish 3 overseas trade offices in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, and to, to, staff up on the rural development side for grant writing in the more rural areas of Alabama." He said the transfer is intended to help Alabama compete with other states that maintain multiple overseas offices and to provide individualized economic development support to under-resourced counties.

Supporters argued the offices would help recruit foreign investment and assist rural counties in preparing grant…