Gov. Bentley to speak at Chamber Luncheon

This month, the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce is welcoming the highest in the state.

On Sept. 12 at the Hyatt Regency-The Wynfrey Hotel, Gov. Robert Bentley is attending the monthly Chamber luncheon as the organization’s featured speaker. As Bentley is fast approaching the 2014 campaign season, Hoover Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bill Powell said he expects the governor to discuss both what he’s accomplished during his term and what he hopes for the future of Alabama.

“Since [Bentley has] pretty much already announced that he will seek re-election,” Powell said in an email, “I’m sure he will tout his record, plus how much the Alabama economy has improved and what is expected to come in the next four years.”

The official website of the governor’s office, governor.alabama.gov, reminds the Alabama public of Bentley’s campaign promise that he would not accept a salary until the state reached an unemployment rate of 5.2 percent. The site states Bentley helped create more than 10,000 new jobs in his first year in office, and more than 17,200 new and future jobs were announced before the close of 2011.

Last year, according to the site, approximately 21,000 new jobs were announced, and the state’s unemployment rate had fallen from 9.3 percent in January 2011 to 6.9 percent in January 2013.

“Although, given the reduction in unemployment Alabama has seen over the past two years, [Bentley] is getting closer to receiving a paycheck,” the site reads.

Another accomplishment listed is Bentley’s response to the tornadoes that struck on April 27, 2011 – his 100th day in office.

“[Bentley] established the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund to fund unmet needs of individuals,” the site reads. “His administration is now engaged in a massive long-term recovery and the greatest reconstruction effort in the state since the Civil War.”

Born and raised in Shelby County, Bentley graduated from The University of Alabama School of Medicine and was a commissioned captain in the United States Air Force. Before being elected as governor in 2010, Bentley served two terms as the District 63 (Tuscaloosa) representative in the Alabama State House.

Powell said this will be is a special luncheon, hosted and sponsored by the Wynfrey and General Manager Andy Peters, who is also first vice president of the Chamber of Commerce. Powell said he was asked by Peters to invite Bentley as the speaker.

Powell said space is limited. To attend, make reservations no later than Monday, Sept. 9, by calling the chamber office at 988-5672 or emailing admin@hooverchamber.org. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., with the meeting starting at noon.

The luncheon is $20 in advance or $22 without early reservations. Non-Chamber members must pay in advance by Sept. 9.

The Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel is located at 1000 Riverchase Galleria in Hoover. For more on the hotel, call 987-1600 or visit hyattregencywynfrey.com.