Most commonly know as the state agency for economic development, the Alabama Development Office (ADO) has one mission – to help companies create jobs for the people of Alabama. ADO is led by Greg Greg Canfield, a member of Governor Robert Bentley's cabinet. Governor's Bentley, his staff, and ADO work through a combination of efforts identifying prospects to grow and broaden Alabama’s industry base. The agency markets Alabama to the world, identifying companies who could have an expansion project in the Southeast over the next three to five years. ADO also works closely from site consultants who are hired by companies to find a location for their latest projects.

ADO also works with companies who have facilities in the state and want to expand. As part of project, ADO may assemble an incentive package including statutory incentives, or those approved by the state legislature, and potentially non-statutory incentives that require governor’s approval and are offered based on the number of jobs, the salary range for the jobs and the overall investment the company plans to make.

An economic development strategy. Accelerate Alabama, was recently announced highlighting the state’s marketing efforts. In order to successfully compete for the jobs of tomorrow. the state must diversify its economic development efforts through a balanced emphasis on recruitment, retention and renewal. Each recommendation is designed to accelerate the state’s economic development efforts with each tactic providing a path to success. The three areas of concentration are:

• Recruitment: Programs that focus on the attraction of new business and industry.
• Retention: Programs that focus on the retention and expansion of existing business and industry.
• Renewal: Programs that focus on job creation through innovation, entrepreneurship, research and development, and commercialization.

Another area of responsibility for ADO is small business advocacy. The agency holds small business exchange forums around the state and invites small business owners. These meetings are planned to introduce small businesses to federal, state and local agencies that can help them expand.

The Alabama Film Office, another division of ADO, promotes the state of Alabama to the film and video industry as a site for on-location production for feature films, television, music videos, industrial and corporate training films and commercials. In addition to scouting locations for specific project needs, the film office maintains a file of more than 20,000 photographs of potential sites.