The area's strong infrastructure and solid work ethic were among the many reasons Honda chose the Lincoln site, say company officials. "We believe the state of Alabama has what we need to continue our success in America -- an outstanding community of people, excellent transportation systems and the necessary infrastructure to support our industry," says Koichi Amemiya, president of American Honda Motor Co. (For more on Honda's decision, see "How Honda Chose Alabama" in the January 2000 issue of Site Selection.)

But the Honda announcement did more than add another name to the high-caliber roll call. It also added a dollop of cream atop the proverbial pudding in that it represented a shift in the way decision makers look at Alabama, says Steve Sewell, director of marketing with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (www.edpa.org). "For years we worked very hard to earn a place on the consideration list for world-class companies that had big projects," he explains. "Honda had conducted a search and had placed Alabama on the short list before we even knew they had a project."

With Attitude to Boot

Over the past several years, Alabama has taken major steps to create the friendliest possible atmosphere for both new and existing industry. Last year, for example, the state legislation passed a six-bill economic development package that covers everything from a 21st Century fund for issuing bonds to the creation of multi-county industrial development authorities.

The state also lets inquiring companies know that it is ready for business. In fact, Boyd says, Alabama's greatest asset is its can-do attitude. And despite party changes in the Governor's office, he adds, the state always maintains that commitment to growth and a positive business climate.

However, Boyd throws one wrench into the Alabama economic development machine, and that is its tort laws. Tort laws are the biggest downside he can see to locating in Alabama. In the past, he explains, "Alabama had become known as a litigious state, a state that was a magnet for lawsuits against industry with juries that were disposed to making very high punitive awards toward corporations."

But, he also acknowledges that some of the problems were handled during last year's legislative session. Gov. Don Siegleman signed into law two tort bills sponsored by the Business Council of Alabama, which were designed to limit the ability of lawyers to file lawsuits in counties with plaintiff-friendly juries and to make it more difficult for lawsuits to become class actions. Later in the year, Gov. Siegleman also passed a bill that puts a cap on punitive damages in civil lawsuits.

Alabama is also moving forward in education reform. And although it "already contributes more resources to K-12 public education than most states," says Robert Sutton, manager, public information, with the Alabama Development Office, "in some areas there is not as much local support. But the present legislature is considering laws to require more local support for schools. The legislature is also considering a college scholarship program for all high school students making required grades in core subjects."