“This special region is America at its best. Whether it’s fishing on the Bayous, spending a day with family at the beach, or visiting the Hank Aaron ball park and home place in Mobile, we must all work together to move our Gulf Coast forward,” Aaron said.
Gulf Coast Economy: Ready 4 Takeoff is a new, four-state development coalition that highlights the strength and diversity of the region’s economic and cultural assets. Comprised of public officials and organizations from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, the action-driven alliance promotes economic development projects that will revitalize the Gulf’s coastal communities, create jobs, and grow the economy.
According to a nationwide poll, conducted by YouGov/Polimetrix between August 20-23, by a wide margin of 56 percent to 44 percent, the American public wants to see the federal government undertake efforts which would encourage new jobs and industries to locate to the Gulf Coast states. Concerned about the long-term damage brought on by the recent BP oil spill, the survey of 1,083, found 75 percent of Americans believe tourism will be at least somewhat negatively affected; 76 percent believe the Gulf seafood industry will be at least somewhat negatively affected; and 85 percent believe life overall in the Gulf Coast states will be at least somewhat adversely impacted by the spill. During his endorsement of Ready 4 Takeoff, Mr. Aaron called on his fellow Americans to join him in supporting the group’s efforts.
“Our president, Congress, and other leaders must unite to help and you can too,” Aaron said. “Take two minutes and become a supporter of Ready4Takeoff. It is a way for each of us, as Americans, to say we care and support efforts to restore and rebuild the economy of America’s Gulf Coast.”