Bill > HB354

This bill establishes a workforce talent recruitment grant program administered by the Department of Economic and Community Affairs (DECA) to incentivize households from outside Alabama to relocate to municipalities within the state. DECA will award grants to eligible applicants, which include municipalities, counties, or nonprofit organizations focused on economic or community development, to fund these recruitment programs. To receive a grant, applicants must submit a detailed plan outlining program costs, their target number of relocated households (the "household goal"), the estimated cost per relocated household, and the projected economic and tax impact. Applicants must also contribute at least 20% of the program's total cost through local investments or in-kind donations, and previous grant recipients must have met their household goals to be eligible for further funding. Grant funds will be disbursed in two installments: 50% upon contract signing and the remaining 50% upon the recipient demonstrating they have met half of their stated household goal. Recipients must submit semiannual reports detailing household applications, approvals, costs, household demographics, and economic impact. Households are eligible for incentives if they reside outside Alabama, have an individual income of at least $55,000, and apply for the program. A dedicated "Talent Recruitment Program Grant Fund" is created in the State Treasury to hold all monies for these grants, with unexpended funds rolling over to the next fiscal year. The bill also defines "household" as one or more individuals living together and "household goal" as the total number of households a program aims to incentivize to relocate. This act will become effective on October 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

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