Alabama honored for export program
Alabama garnered an award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week for its work to expand its exports the past five years.
The Chamber's TradeRoots program helped the state development office launch overseas export offices and an educational campaign in 2004.
Alabama's exports increased 75 percent between 2002 and 2007 and another 10 percent in 2008 to $15.8 billion.
The Chamber called Gov. Bob Riley's trade education program the most successful in the country.
Exports support almost 300,000 manufacturing and 6,800 agriculture state jobs.