Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Terri Sewell announced that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, a member of President Obama’s cabinet, will visit Western Alabama to meet representatives from key industries and promote economic development across the state.

“I am pleased that Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker has accepted my invitation to come to Alabama. Alabama is a thriving hub for agriculture and manufacturing. The purpose of the West Alabama Business Roundtable is to explore ways Alabama businesses can continue to expand and prosper, such as increased access to capital, promoting private-public partnerships, and opening new markets for exports,” said Rep. Sewell.

"I look forward to meeting with Representative Sewell and local business leaders to discuss how the Department of Commerce can support economic growth in communities across Alabama," said Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. "We will also talk about the ways in which the Obama Administration's trade agenda will benefit Alabama's businesses and workers. The state exported $19.5B in goods last year, which supported more than 95,000 jobs. New trade agreements will help Alabama companies build on that success by creating opportunities to access some of the world's fastest-growing markets, such as the Asia-Pacific region."

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