EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 5

WHEREAS, many rural areas in Alabama are in tremendous need of improved education, healthcare, and economic development; and

WHEREAS, the people living in these rural areas of Alabama deserve the same education, economic and healthcare opportunities as other Alabamians; and

WHEREAS, consolidating State government efforts aimed at improving and supporting advances in education, healthcare, and economic development in rural areas of Alabama will result in less waste and overlapping efforts thereby increasing the productivity and efficiency of these efforts at less cost to the tax payers;

WHEREAS, by creating an office charged with coordinating State government resources and leadership focused on the improvement and advancement of education, healthcare, and economic development in the rural areas of Alabama, the quality of life of these and all Alabamians will necessarily greatly improve.

NOW THEREFORE, based upon those considerations, and for other good and valid reasons which relate thereto, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama, do hereby direct the consolidation of State Government efforts to improve and advance the education, healthcare, and economic development of rural areas in Alabama by creating the Alabama Office of Rural Development.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that Executive Order Number 22, issued on August 11, 2004, and Executive Order #50, issued on June 4, 2010, are hereby rescinded.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Alabama Office of Rural Development shall be managed by a Director, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Alabama Office of Rural Development shall consist of members who are appointed, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that this Office, under the leadership of the Director, shall work with existing department heads, commissioners and directors to coordinate the efforts of their State agencies, departments, and commissions that support, aid, or assist, or have the capacity to support, aid, or assist in the education, healthcare, and economic development in rural areas of Alabama.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the fiscal agent for the Governor’s Alabama Office of Rural Development shall be the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that this Executive Order shall become effective immediately upon its execution and shall remain in effect until amended or modified by the Governor.

DONE AND ORDERED this 26th day of January, 2011.

Robert Bentley

Governor

Attested

Beth Chapman

Secretary of State