This week, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to discuss the importance of trade and exports to the state’s economy with Representative Terri Sewell and local business leaders. 

In their roundtable discussion, Secretary Pritzker highlighted the importance of exports to economic growth. In 2013, there were about 4,000 Alabama companies that sold their goods to overseas markets, 81 percent which were small- and medium-sized businesses. Goods exports from Alabama reached $19.5 billion in 2014, supporting 95,000 American jobs.

Secretary Pritzker talked about the opportunities for Alabama businesses that will result from opening new export markets. Last week the Senate passed Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation, which was a critical step toward enabling the U.S. to negotiate modern trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific and Europe that will level the playing field for American businesses and workers and support more high-paying American jobs.

Ninety-six percent of the world’s consumers live outside of our borders and overseas middle-class markets are continuing to grow at a rapid rate. For example, the Asia-Pacific region is currently home to 570 million middle class consumers; by 2030, that number is expected to reach 3.2 billion. New trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will give Alabama businesses the opportunity to access these markets so they can grow and hire at home. 

Later in the day, Secretary Pritzker attended the ribbon cutting at the National Water Center at the University of Alabama. The National Water Center, which is the first center in the nation dedicated to water forecast operations and research, will help create a safer, more secure, weather-ready nation. Secretary Pritzker was joined at the ceremony by NOAA Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan and Senator Richard Shelby, who were instrumental in opening the Center.

Secretary Pritzker highlighted the need for an integrated approach to measuring, managing, and planning for water. The risks and challenges of managing the water supply have a direct impact on U.S. businesses and the economy; on key industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, and energy; on natural resources; and on the lives and safety of all Americans.

The center will work with partners in federal government,community leaders nationwide, and the University of Alabama to deliver solutions to one of the most pressing environmental challenges. By bringing experts together, this new center provides an unprecedented opportunity to improve federal coordination and collaboration in the water sector to address 21^stcentury water resource challenges, such as water security, and analysis and prediction of hydrologic extremes, like droughts and floods.