GULF SHORES, Ala. — The Board of Directors of the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce has unanimously adopted support of the “Invest In Progress” initiative.

The vote came at the recommendation of the Chamber's Educational Affairs Council, chaired by Vince Lucido, Krebs Architecture & Engineering.

“Invest in Progress” is a countywide effort to raise awareness of the need for continuing existing one penny sales tax for the purpose of maintaining essential programs already in place at Baldwin County's public schools.

In 2010, Baldwin County voters chose to protect our schools against the effects of the worst recession in 30 years by approving an emergency one-cent sales tax.

The original tax was needed because the recession had caused an unprecedented 20 percent shortfall in state funding due to state cuts and a dramatic drop in property values.

You probably have many questions about this important issue, including:

What has the School Board already done to tighten their belt?

What did they do with the penny?

What improvements have been made?

A local non-partisan group of community leaders has put together a Fact Sheet to help answer these questions. You may view and/or download it here.

This November, voters in Baldwin County will be asked to vote on a referendum to extend this one penny tax for five years. This is not a new tax. It is an extension of the existing tax..