Promote:
Find public support
The organizations that help companies export from and invest in Alabama, grouped by what you need. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
1. Where to start
Office of Global Business, Alabama Commerce and AITC: the guide’s first stops, of the 13 organizations below.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
- Get advice
State trade promotion office
Office of Global Business
Alabama Department of Commerce, Office of Global Business
Runs Export Alabama and the State Trade Expansion Program, which reimburses pre-approved export marketing costs for small and mid-sized Alabama companies.
Visit Office of Global Business (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama Commerce, State Trade Expansion Program page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
State economic development agency
Alabama Commerce
Alabama Department of Commerce
Leads business attraction and runs incentives such as the Alabama Jobs Act credits, the Growing Alabama credit and the Port Credit.
Visit Alabama Commerce (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama Commerce, tax incentives and grants page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
University export assistance center
AITC
Alabama International Trade Center
Gives Alabama small businesses no-cost, confidential export research, trade finance consultations, training and website internationalization help.
Visit AITC (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama SBDC Network, export and import assistance (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
2. Export development and market information
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
State trade promotion office
Office of Global Business
Alabama Department of Commerce, Office of Global Business
Runs Export Alabama and the State Trade Expansion Program, which reimburses pre-approved export marketing costs for small and mid-sized Alabama companies.
Visit Office of Global Business (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama Commerce, State Trade Expansion Program page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
University export assistance center
AITC
Alabama International Trade Center
Gives Alabama small businesses no-cost, confidential export research, trade finance consultations, training and website internationalization help.
Visit AITC (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama SBDC Network, export and import assistance (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
Small business advising network
Alabama SBDC
Alabama Small Business Development Center Network
Gives Alabama entrepreneurs advising, training and financing help, and hosts the Alabama International Trade Center for export and import assistance.
Visit Alabama SBDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama SBDC Network, export and import assistance (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
3. Investment and business setup
4 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
State economic development agency
Alabama Commerce
Alabama Department of Commerce
Leads business attraction and runs incentives such as the Alabama Jobs Act credits, the Growing Alabama credit and the Port Credit.
Visit Alabama Commerce (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama Commerce, tax incentives and grants page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State business filings office
Secretary of State
Alabama Secretary of State
Qualifies foreign corporations, files other business entities and authenticates Alabama documents for use abroad.
Visit Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama Secretary of State, foreign corporations (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Statewide economic development partnership
EDPA
Economic Development Partnership of Alabama
Works on business attraction and expansion, innovation, talent and business research for Alabama.
Visit EDPA (opens in a new tab)Source: Export Alabama, alliance partners page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State workforce and unemployment agency
Alabama Workforce
Alabama Department of Workforce
Registers employers for unemployment tax accounts through its eGov system.
Visit Alabama Workforce (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama Department of Workforce, new employer registration (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
4. Customs and tax
3 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
Alabama Revenue
Alabama Department of Revenue
Registers entities for state taxes in My Alabama Taxes and administers the business privilege tax and Chapter 9B abatements.
Visit Alabama Revenue (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama Department of Revenue, register a business (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Inland port and intermodal center
Port of Huntsville
Runs an international intermodal center with air and rail cargo at the center of Foreign-Trade Zone 83.
Visit Port of Huntsville (opens in a new tab)Source: Port of Huntsville, home page, 2026 news (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State seaport authority
State Port Authority
Alabama State Port Authority
Manages and develops the state’s public seaport facilities, chiefly the Port of Mobile, and directs the state docks.
Visit State Port Authority (opens in a new tab)Source: Mobile County, State Port Authority board sheet, December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 22, 2025
5. Standards and sector requirements
2 organizations. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Meet requirements
State agriculture department
Alabama Agriculture
Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries
Issues a certificate of free sale for exported products that it regulates.
Visit Alabama Agriculture (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama Agriculture and Industries, certificate of free sale (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State banking regulator
State Banking Department
Alabama State Banking Department
Charters and regulates Alabama state banks and licenses lenders through its Bureau of Loans.
Visit State Banking Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Alabama State Banking Department, home page, 2026 notices (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
6. Chambers and industry associations
1 organization. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
- Get advice
Statewide business association
BCA
Business Council of Alabama
Advocates for Alabama businesses on workforce training, infrastructure, manufacturing regulation, tax policy and labor law.
Visit BCA (opens in a new tab)Source: Business Council of Alabama, home page, 2026 news (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
7. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
- Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Alabama project.
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Promote:Alabama is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 3, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.