Calling all small businesses developing research and technology with potential for commercialization: Innovate Alabama, BIO Alabama, Innovation Depot, Innovation Portal, HudsonAlpha and Southern Research are hosting a free virtual workshop where you will learn how to submit an application for federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to consult with the experts on application best practices. Register here: https://bioalabama.com/event-4914264.

Essential Work in Unprecedented Times

A virtual webinar for grocery workers & employers in the Southeast region

Please join the Wage and Hour Division and OSHA for this virtual webinar
as we discuss what compliance looks like in the pandemic
environment and beyond.

June 30th 1:00-3:00pm

Register Now

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The Governor’s March 13, 2020 Proclamation of Public Health Emergency and subsequent Supplemental Proclamations, in particular the Supplemental Proclamation of March 20, 2020, will expire July 6, 2021

Accordingly, the April 6, 2020 memorandum “State of Alabama Public Health Emergency, COVID-19 Movement of 90,000 lbs. Gross Weight on Five and Six Axels **REVISION No.2** March 24, 2020 Version and All Earlier Versions are Superseded” will also expire on that same date.

After July 6, all five-axle and six-axle vehicles must comply with the applicable weight requirements of Title 32 of the Code of Alabama (1975).

Read the Advance Notice of Expiration and Associated Documents

News Release
For Immediate Release: April 22, 2021

ADOL Encourages Alabamians to Protect Information, Report Unemployment Fraud

MONTGOMERY – Alabama, like most states across the country, has been experiencing an increase in recent fraudulent activity related to unemployment insurance. This includes claims filed using stolen identities or unauthorized access to an individual’s account, as well as computer-generated claims from a single employer that exceeds the number of employees, or claims filed on behalf of employees that never worked at the business they are being filed against. Unemployment insurance fraud is a national issue, and ADOL is working closely with the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and other states around the country to share information regarding known bad actors or methods of attack.

It’s important to note that ADOL has not been compromised and personal information is not being obtained via the agency. Criminal organizations are using highly sophisticated algorithms and programs to attack states’ unemployment systems. Fraudsters are obtaining identity information from many sources, such as from fraudulent phishing scams or recent large-scale private sector breaches that included private information from millions of individuals. Social media and text scams have also been used to obtain information as fraudsters portray themselves as agents of ADOL.

ADOL is constantly developing new technology and methods to combat fraud and to prevent it from happening. This week, ADOL will roll out a new sign-on system designed to protect claimants’ identities. It will allow users to login using existing global provider sign-in information from Google, Apple, and Microsoft, and will provide a dual-authentication login.

ADOL is encouraging claimants to protect their personal information, sign-in credentials and passwords. Establish PIN and passwords that are difficult for an outside person or computer to generate (for example, avoid using the last four digits of your social security number or date of birth).
Please be on the lookout for any suspicious activity related to unemployment claims. Indicators of fraudulent activity can include:

• Mail from ADOL notifying you of a claim in your name when you have not filed an unemployment insurance claim.
• A 1099-G from ADOL stating you have income from unemployment insurance when you have not filed for or received unemployment insurance during the last calendar year.
• Text messages from ADOL asking you to verify your account. ADOL does not communicate via text message.
• Employers receiving claims notices on employees that do not exist, or never left the job.
• Anything you may suspect as fraudulent banking activity.

If you suspect fraudulent activity, please report it to ADOL via the website at www.labor.alabama.gov.
Additional information is available online from the United States Department of Labor.

Read on ADOL’s Website

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Members of the media seeking more information should contact Communications Director Tara Hutchison.

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MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday issued her twenty-sixth supplemental emergency proclamation transitioning the state from an amended Safer at Home Order to a new Safer Apart Order, the third phase of COVID-19 pandemic health orders. Masks will no longer be mandated statewide, but individuals are strongly encouraged to wear a mask or other facial covering when in public and in close contact with other people. This order goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 9, 2021 and extends until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

Read on Governor’s Website

• Safer Apart Order
• Safer Apart Spotlight
• Twenty-sixth Supplemental Emergency Proclamation

Mask Signage

• Mask Preferred
• Mask Required for Service
• Please Wear a Mask
• Thank You for Wearing a Mask
• Thank You Gradient

MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Monday revealed signage for business owners to encourage employees and patrons to wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The current health order mandating statewide mask-wearing will end at 5 p.m. on April 9, 2021.

“After April 9, masks will no longer be a mandate, but they remain one of the most successful tools we have to keep folks safe from COVID-19,” Governor Ivey said. “I hope these are helpful to businesses around the state as they set their own protocols to operate safely. Masks are soon to be a memory but until then, let’s wear them out!”

Read More

On February 26, 2021 the U.S. Department of Justice issued a Fraud Alert for Unemployment Insurance claims after the issuance of erroneous forms 1099-G. See Issuance of Erroneous Forms 1099-G due to Fraudulent Unemployment Insurance Claims

The link provides information about fraudulent claims and links to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and state UI offices.

Fraud has become a significant issue not only for the temporary federally funded programs (e.g. PUA, PUCA and PEUCA) but also as the volume of regular unemployment compensation claims increased due to the COVID-19 recession. Increased fraud and overpayments are now being reflected in 1099-Gs sent to individuals with amounts recorded as having been paid to the individuals that were actually claimed and paid to others through fraud.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is sending a cyber warning alert to loan applicants seeking federal aid in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Email phishing campaigns where malicious actors are impersonating the SBA and its Office of Disaster Assistance to collect personally identifiable information (PII) for fraudulent purposes have surfaced.

The SBA is particularly concerned about scam emails targeting applicants of the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program asking them to verify their accounts using a third-party online platform to collect personally identifiable information.

It should be noted that any email communication from the SBA will come from email accounts ending in sba.gov, and nothing more. Loan applicants are being advised to look out for email scams and phishing attacks using the SBA logo. These may be attempts to obtain PII, access personal banking accounts, or install ransomware or malware.

Applicants are also advised to help protect their identity and privacy by never providing their full name, date of birth, social security number, address, phone numbers, email addresses, case numbers, or any other PII in public-facing comments or responses to third-party emails.

The SBA will not use a third-party platform to:

• Actively seek PII
• Search a third-party platform for or by PII
• “Follow” public users proactively without a waiver

Borrowers who are in the process of applying for an SBA loan and receive email correspondence asking for PII are cautioned to ensure that any application numbers referenced in the email are consistent with their actual application number. Loan applicants and borrowers are also advised not to click on any links or open any attachments, which are often used in phishing email scams.

Additionally, federal agencies that provide disaster recovery assistance will never ask for a fee or payment to apply for financial assistance, and government employees do not charge for any recovery assistance provided.

An SBA logo on a web page does not guarantee the information is either accurate or endorsed by the SBA. Loan applicants and borrowers should be vigilant in protecting their personal information and data assets. Visit https://www.sba.gov/COVIDfraudalert to learn more about scams and fraud schemes.

If you suspect an email is associated with a fraud scam targeting the SBA, report it to the Office of Inspector General’s Hotline at 800-767-0385 or online at https://www.sba.gov/COVIDfraudalert.

Loan applicants who have questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program may call the Disaster Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Read More

Birmingham, Ala. – Alabama residents may soon be able to show their commitment of supporting local businesses with a distinctive car tag. The Shop Local Support Small Business tag will be produced if at least 1,000 complete an online application and pay a $50 fee by July 31, 2021.

Main Street Alabama, the benefitting organization, will use proceeds to support workshops and small business grants.

Casey Middlebrooks, Hoover City Councilman, explained that a group of Jefferson County Councilors meet regularly to discuss impending issues and wanted to find a way to support local businesses after the pandemic hit in March.

“We felt Main Street Alabama had the statewide presence and resources to facilitate support to small businesses throughout the state,” said Middlebrooks.

“Small businesses keep it local by consistently sponsoring the local baseball team, providing gift baskets for the local charity drives and creating jobs in their community,” said Mary Helmer, Main Street Alabama State Coordinator. “With this program, individuals can show their dedication to their favorite small businesses, who in many cases are their friends and neighbors, with a tag that gives back to them with workshops and grants focused on strengthening their business.”

Darrell O’Quinn, Birmingham City Councilor, commissioned Chris Seagle, graphic designer in Birmingham, to create the artwork for the tag. Seagle’s other work includes the Market at Pepper Place in Birmingham and City of Talladega.

To learn more about purchasing the Shop Local Support Small Business tag, visit Main Street Alabama’s website, www.mainstreetalabama.org.

Main Street Alabama is a private non-profit and state coordinating program of Main Street America. The National Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is an over 40 year model that focuses work in four areas: organization, design, promotion and economic vitality with strategies unique to the community and based on market-based outcome.

To pre-commit, click on the “learn more” link and enter information. Tags will be produced if 1,000 pre-commitments are made by July 31, 2021 and will be made available after that date.

For more information, contact trisha@mainstreetalabama.org.

Learn More