Welcome to Wednesday!

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 79 and a low of 47.

Today’s newsletter is 917 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Titomic is getting a boost from Washington for its Huntsville operations.

Why it matters: The $10.3-million loan will help Titomic expand, and is expected to support dozens of new jobs in Alabama while bolstering domestic supply chains.

Zoom in: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) approved the loan to support Titomic's advanced manufacturing capabilities in Huntsville.

• The financing will support purchasing an integrated high-pressure cold-spray production cell, helping the company expand its capacity to make, repair and restore high-performance metal components, per the announcement.

Context: It's part of the Bank's Make More in America Initiative, aimed at financing export-oriented manufacturing projects, especially in national security sectors.

• "The project will help reduce reliance on overseas production, improve industrial resilience and support U.S. technological leadership in next-generation manufacturing," the announcement says.

What they're saying: Jim Simpson, Titomic CEO and managing director, says in the release that the financing is "an important milestone in Titomic's transition from advanced technology development to industrial-scale production."

• He said it will accelerate production capabilities in Huntsville, "create highly skilled American jobs, strengthen domestic supply chains, and expand our ability to serve commercial aerospace, space, energy, maritime, and other industrial markets."
• John Jovanovic, EXIM chairman, said the initiative "ensures that strategically important production capabilities, like those at Titomic remain in the United States for years to come."
• "We have the workforce and expertise to lead in this industry, and we need to keep building on that strength here at home," U.S. Rep. Dale Strong said in the release.

Alabamians registered to vote this year in a big way.

Why it matters: The uptick comes as local registrations also continue to grow, with Madison County adding nearly 28,000 registered voters since the 2022 midterms.

The latest: Vote.org reports that registrations through its website more than doubled 2022's totals and exceeded 2018's total, with a big surge in the days leading up to Monday's deadline.

• A total of 12,285 Alabamians used the site to register through Oct. 19, according to nonprofit Vote.org, which aims to simplify voter registration and increase turnout nationwide.

By the numbers: The 12,285 new registrations through Vote.org more than doubled the site's 2022 midterm cycle's 5,901 and was 63% higher than its 7,538 during the 2018 midterms.

• Residents used the site to check registration status nearly 37,000 times, about 90% higher than in 2022 and 68% higher than in 2018.
• During the last three days of registration, Alabama residents were registering through Vote.org at more than eight times the normal rate.

Zoom out: Most states are seeing higher voter registration numbers than this time four years ago, per Vote.org, but only Alabama and Mississippi (47%) have surpassed their 2018 registrations on the site.

• Compared with 2022 levels, Alabama's 108% increase is second in the country, behind Texas's 131% increase as of Monday night.

Zoom in: As of Oct. 20, Madison County has 336,964 registered voters, Donny Shaw, chairman of the Madison County Board of Registrars, told Axios.

• There are about 250 more applications to process, too, he said, bringing the total once all the paperwork is done to about 337,200.
• The county's website still lists 333,775 registered voters as of Sept. 4, meaning roughly 3,400 or so registered within about the last six weeks of registration.
• Those totals are up from 309,420 during the 2022 midterms and 268,389 for the 2018 midterms.

🦠 Alabama health officials identified 195 contacts tied to a confirmed measles case in Huntsville. (FOX54)

🏃‍♂️ The Rocket City Marathon, set for Dec. 13, is aiming to raise funds to buy a new ambulance for Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children. (WAFF)

🎾 Huntsville Parks & Recreation is inviting veterans to Serving for Service Nov. 9, a free, open-play pickleball event, offering veterans a chance to connect. (City of Huntsville)

If you envision tiptoeing through tulips or dancing among daffodils next spring, it's almost time to get those bulbs in the ground.

Why it matters: Spring-flowering bulbs need cool soil but also enough time to establish roots before the ground freezes. Planting too early or too late can hurt their chances for a strong bloom.

Zoom in: The timing largely follows climate, according to Axios' analysis of information from the Cooperative Extension, a nationwide network of state university-based programs that provides research-backed local advice.

• In warmer states like Alabama, gardeners might need to wait for the soil to cool below about 60 degrees.

Case in point: November to early December is prime bulb-planting time in North Alabama, where a plethora of bulbs can be successful, per the Alabama Cooperative Extension.

• Bulbs prefer acidic, nutrient-rich, well-draining soil, so till in some compost or work castings to make sure the bulbs don't get soggy and rot.
• Plant bulbs in holes three times the size of the bulb, with the narrow — or nose — end up. Cover with 2-3 inches of soil, add a mulch-like pine bark and water it in.

Zoom out: Based on variety, you can follow up with more bulbs in mid-March to early April and even as late as early June to keep a steady stream of blooms.

The bottom line: Just because it's getting colder out doesn't mean you have to stay out of the garden.

🧳 Derek is steadily overpacking for his upcoming vacation.

Thanks to Crystal Hill for editing this newsletter.