Jim Byard, Jr, Director, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Development (ADECA) introduces Gov. Robert Bentley at the Alabama Association of Regional Councils (AARC) annual conference in Montgomery, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2016. Gov. Bentley discussed Alabama's unemployment rate, which has remained steady at 5.4 percent for two months, job development and improving healthcare and infrastructure in rural Alabama. Bentley also praised the work of ADECA and Director Byard for partnering with AARC in awarding Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) totaling $17.5 million in investments this fall. (Governor's Office, Jamie Martin)