What We Do
A good municipal financial advisor (far left) on closing day.
Alabama's local governments face increasingly complex financial challenges—from funding critical infrastructure and schools to supporting economic development — all the while maintaining fiscal stability. Rice Advisory serves as an independent financial advisor to cities, counties, school systems, public authorities, utilities, and other governmental entities, helping municipal leaders make informed financial decisions with confidence.
As an Independent Registered Municipal Advisor, we represent the interests of our governmental clients throughout every stage of the financing process. Our advice is objective, independent, and tailored to each client's unique financial objectives, capital needs, and long-term strategic goals.
Whether evaluating financing alternatives, developing capital improvement plans, or negotiating with underwriters, banks, and developers, Rice Advisory provides the financial expertise and market knowledge needed to protect taxpayer interests while delivering practical solutions.
Rice Advisory currently serves as Financial Advisor to the Alabama Department of Education, performing this work since 2015. At various times in the firm’s history, Rice Advisory has served as Financial Advisor to the Alabama Department of Finance, the Alabama Public School and College Authority, Alabama Department of Transportation, Alabama Department of Corrections and others. Since 2014 (and not including work done for the Alabama Department of Education), Rice Advisory has completed 15 financings for the State of Alabama and its agencies totaling more than $3.2 billion.
Communities in Alabama compete aggressively for quality economic development opportunities, while developers seek predictable, transparent partnerships with local governments. Rice Advisory helps bridge these interests by assisting both public and private clients in structuring economic incentive packages that are financially sound, legally defensible, and designed to achieve long-term community objectives.
Our professionals have extensive experience helping municipalities evaluate development proposals and negotiate public-private partnerships, while also assisting developers in understanding the financial, political, and operational considerations that influence local government decision-making. This balanced perspective allows us to facilitate transactions that are equitable, practical, and worthy of broad stakeholder support.
Rice Advisory is nationally recognized for its expertise in financing solid waste and environmental infrastructure projects. While our municipal advisory practice is centered in Alabama, our solid waste practice serves clients throughout the United States, providing specialized financial advisory services to an industry that is often underserved by traditional capital providers. We have extensive experience in this hard-to-finance sector, not only as financial advisers, but also as owners and operators of solid waste companies in the private sector.