PRACTICE AREAS

Massey Development Group offers a comprehensive offering of federal, state, and local government relations services including but not limited to the following:

governmental marketing

In recent years Alabama's public employee workforce has decreased drastically through attrition and reduced hiring.  Coupled with increasing and ever constant federal mandates and the need for states to do more with less there has been a dramatic increase in competitive bidding / outsourcing for services traditionally provided by federal and state government.  The rapidly growing influx of technology has created a steep learning curve for procurement officers and policymakers which has created the need for strategic "differentiation of products and services" advocacy.  Massey Development Group offers a full-service Governmental Marketing Practice that assists our clients throughout the procurement process in pursuit of government business and public-based business opportunities.  The procurement process can be overwhelming to even those familiar with federal/state/local-specific policies and procedures -- and certainly to those unfamiliar with them.  Our job at Massey Development Group is knowing the process in detail, gathering the applicable information that is relevant to desired outcomes, knowing and having direct access to the key decisionmakers, appropriatelyleveraging the assets available to us and our clients, and in turn equiping our clients with the resources and knowledge to succeed on a consistent basis in an ever-changing political environment.  With this well-proven approach and our federal/state/local government marketing professionals we have secured multi-million dollar procurements for Massey clients with multiple federal/state/local agencies.

PUBLIC POLICY

Whether the challenge is administrative rule making, site selection for an economic development project, the direction of legislative policy, concern relative to a proposed regulation, or the drafting of or opposition to federal/state/local legislation, Massey Development Group assists our clients execute a prescribed strategy for success.  Our staff has served as legislative and policy advisors to Members of Congress, Governors, Attorney Generals, state agencies, and educational institutions around the country.  Massey Development Group's professional staff apply their skills to implement our clients' federal/state/local policy agendas.        

Focus areas: 

Agriculture, Appropriations, Board & Commissions, Business/Small Business, Community Development, Corrections, Defense, Economic Development, Education, Elections/Campaign Finance, Energy/Natural Resources, Environment, Financial Services, Health Care, Homeland Security/Emergency Management, Human Resources, Insurance, Judiciary, Labor, Local Legislation, Public Safety, Taxation, Telecommunications, Technology, Tourism, Transportation, and Workforce Development.  

appropriations

The Constitution of Alabama authorizes the state legislature to determine the spending priorities for the majority of state revenues and various federal allotments made to the state.  Each year the Alabama Legislature holds an annual session whereby the legislature appropriates funds to each of the state agencies as well as certain non-state agencies.  (It is not uncommon for one or more special legislative sessions to be called by the Governor each year.)  The year-round appropriations process is highly competitive.  The process culminates each year with a three and a half month session of intense advocacy by the firm on behalf of our clients.  Massey Development Group helps our clients participate in the year-round appropriations process and helps to develop funding partnerships with state/local government and non-governmental entities.  Massey Development Group is recognized by lawmakers, executive and agency officials, and businesses alike as a leader in the appropriations consulting area.  (Massey Development Group provides similar appropriation services at the federal level and in select states.)

INFORMATION SERVICES     

• Legislative and regulatory tracking of federal/state/local government activities, • Request for Proposal (RFP) / Invitation to Bid (ITB) tracking of federal/state/local government, •  Political and issue polling/research,  •  Federal/state/local candidate and referendum campaign finance reporting/tracking, • Advice and counsel regarding the Federal Lobbying Disclosure Act, the Alabama Ethics Commission, the Alabama Fair Campaign Practices Act, and other federal/state/local statutes and regulations, • Coordination and assessment of federal and state lobbyists/consultants, • and coordination of national and regional procurement lobbying teams.

economic development 

In recent years the State of Alabama has been consistently recognized as a leading state in the area of economic and workforce development.  Since the 1990's Mercedes, Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai have all located manufacturing plants in the state.  What has followed has been phenomenal growth in automotive-related industries that have in turn fueled other manufacturing, retail, and service industry growth to unprecedented levels in the state and region.  The State of Alabama has enticed this economic growth by offering companies some of the most aggressive economic development incentives in the nation.  Massey Development Group assists clients considering a location to Alabama with the following:  identification of qualifying economic incentives, site selection, earned media, negotiations with governmental agencies and other stakeholders, coordination of agency action items, and assistance with vendor/contractor selection, and project managment capabilities.  Massey Development Group also assists municipalities and economic development entities recruit private/public companies and governmental entities.  Massey Development Group has helped multiple companies secure multi-million dollar incentive packages from the State of Alabama and local governments.

Grant Writing 

The federal government and the State of Alabama award millions in grant funds each year.  Massey Development Group offers full-service grant writing assistance, program development, and program management to select clients.

ethical / regulatory compliance 

Governmental affairs firm, businesses, non-profit organizations, individuals, and others are regulated in Alabama by the Alabama Ethics Commission relative to legislative advocacy and other activities.  Organizations and individuals may be uncertain as to when in their efforts to pass or defeat legislation  or otherwise when they come under the requirements of the state ethics law.  Massey Development Group is a registered "lobbying" organization in good standing with the Alabama Ethics Commission.  Our firm assists clients with awareness of the state ethics law and other applicable statutes related to "lobbying" and legislative/agency advocacy, registration with the state ethics commission and other regulatory bodies, quarterly and annual reporting/disclosure to the commission and other licensure/regulatory organizations, and termination procedures for all corresponding agencies.

"We clearly DETERMINE, agressively PROMOTE, and consistently PROTECT our clients' vital interests."