Secretary of State Office Begins Business Data Collection Survey

MONTGOMERY, AL — Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill's office will begin Thursday collecting data on small businesses, minority-owned businesses and women-owned businesses. The initiative is part of Act 2021-223, passed recently, which requires the data collection process.

Merrill's office will distribute a survey consistent to every active business entity formed with the office before July 19, 2021. This will be an annual survey, so any business entities formed after the July 19, 2021 date will receive next year’s survey.

The survey will be distributed by mail to the 570,507 active domestic and foreign entities registered with the Secretary of State's office. Businesses are encouraged to complete the survey and return it within two weeks from the date of receipt.

The information collected from this survey will be used by the state’s Chief Procurement Officer to identify ways to improve the state’s business climate and ensure that eligible businesses have the ability to access available funds.

As required by Act 2021-223, the data collected by Merrill's office will be transmitted to the Chief Procurement Officer no later than January 31, 2022.