Petition: Launch a Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for Madison County Residents
To: The Madison County Commission, Mayor Tommy Battle (Huntsville), and Mayor Ranae Bartlett (Madison)

From: The Residents of Madison County

The Issue
Madison County is a hub of innovation, technology, and manufacturing. We are proud of our rapid growth and our status as an economic leader in Alabama. However, as technology advances, the nature of work is changing. The rapid automation of jobs in manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors is not inherently bad—it signals progress—but it creates a critical need to ensure our citizens are not left behind.

While automation improves efficiency, it also risks displacing skilled workers who now face an uncertain future. As existing jobs are automated and the cost of living rises, we must proactively secure the financial stability of our community. We believe that a Guaranteed Income (or Universal Basic Income) pilot program is the essential next step for Madison County.

Why This Matters Now

• Automation is Accelerating: Madison County is home to advanced manufacturing facilities. Research using Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that manufacturing and office/administrative jobs—two important sectors in our region—have some of the highest exposure to automation. We need a safety net that evolves as fast as our technology does.
• Economic Stability: A guaranteed income ensures that even as the job market shifts, families can cover basic necessities like rent, food, and utilities. This allows residents the security to retrain for new opportunities or transition to jobs that require a human touch, while the money flows directly back into our local businesses.

Proven Success:

• Cook County, IL: The Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot was so successful that the county is transitioning it to a permanent program. This historic move proves that county-level governments can and should effectively manage permanent economic safety nets for their residents.
• Birmingham, AL: The Embrace Mothers pilot has already demonstrated that direct cash assistance in Alabama leads to better stability and health outcomes for families.
• Alaska: The Permanent Fund Dividend has proven for decades that sharing resource wealth with residents strengthens the entire state.

Our Request
We, the undersigned, call upon the Madison County Commission and the Mayors of Huntsville and Madison to:

• Establish a Task Force: Form a committee to study the feasibility of a Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for Madison County.
• Secure Funding: Identify funding sources, such as public-private partnerships, federal grants, or budget allocations, similar to successful models in Birmingham and Cook County.
• Launch a Pilot: Implement a pilot program that provides monthly cash payments to a representative group of Madison County residents to measure the economic and social benefits.

We urge you to lead Alabama in preparing for the economy of the future. Let us ensure that in Madison County, technological advancement translates to prosperity for all residents.