From the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast, Alabamians share a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to individual responsibility. They go to work each day, pay their taxes, participate in the lives of their communities, and nurture their children. But for many, the promise that hard work will provide a good living for them and their families remains just that — a promise, unfulfilled. This report looks at the strengths and needs of these families who watch Alabama’s economic growth from a distance. We review the state’s investment and outcomes in workforce development and evaluate how effectively our much-heralded industrial expansion efforts, along with existing state supports and services, are bridging the gap in family self-sufficiency.