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Here is today's summary of economic development news, presented by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.
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Economic Development Partnership of Alabama shifts from marketing and research to put development at core of its mission
Published: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 5:30 AM
Michael Tomberlin -- The Birmingham News
Bill Taylor believes in keeping score. He just doesn't believe everything has to be a grand-slam home run.
The head of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama is convinced that sometimes his organization can have the biggest impact when it thinks small -- by not always chasing the biggest fish.
That's a realization that has come with his first year as EDPA's chief executive, a job he took after being one of Alabama industry's biggest fish -- the head of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance -- for a decade.
"Initially I was almost like a fish out of water," Taylor said of his new job. "When you're engaged in something like an industry I came out of and you move into something else, it's almost like stepping outside of a box; a box you didn't recognize you were in."
Taylor is taking the EDPA out of its box, getting its staffers out of the office and away from the marketing and data research that has dominated their time.
In its offices atop Red Mountain in the World Business Center, maps of Alabama with different colored pins tell where EDPA staff members have been and where they have made a difference.
Taylor calls them "scorecards" and he sees them as a vital gauge for the organization.
They show that EDPA officials are now often finding themselves:
· In communities working hand-in-hand with cities, towns, counties and economic development groups through a "Community Partners" initiative.
· Inside manufacturing plants to help solve problems and learn how companies operate through the EDPA's Alabama Operations Management Institute.
· In industrial parks and speculative buildings to certify them as AdvantageSites, a stamp of approval that lets decision-makers around the world know they can locate there without any issues or surprises.
· Dealing with significant events such as the Gulf oil spill by bringing some of EDPA's influential members to the table.
These are big changes for a group that had accepted a diminished role a couple of years ago when it was essentially a marketing and research arm of the Alabama Development Office and others.
The Community Partners program has engaged the EDPA in ways it never was before.
"We need to learn about those communities and learn with those communities," Taylor said.
Communities from Auburn to Tuscaloosa and Dothan to Gadsden are among the 11 in the state to participate in the program's pilot year, getting assistance and an assessment of their operations. Others, including Birmingham, have asked to be involved.
more...
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Lakeside Steel announces plans for a new manufacturing facility in Thomasville, Alabama
RELEASE - Thomasville, Alabama, July 29, 2010
In a meeting held today in Thomasville, Alabama, Lakeside Steel announced plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Thomasville. On hand to join Lakeside Steel officials in making the announcement were Governor Bob Riley; Neal Wade, Alabama Development Office; Representative Thomas Jackson; Senator Marc Keahey; and Speaker of the House Seth Hammett.
This project will have a tremendous impact on this community. The new jobs coming here mean more opportunities and brighter futures for so many families," said Governor Riley. "Alabama is honored and proud to welcome Lakeside Steel."
Mayor Sheldon Day during his opening remarks at today's announcement expressed his appreciation and gratitude to Lakeside Steel for showing confidence in the city of Thomasville. Mayor Day said, "As local leaders, we already know what an outstanding location we have right here in Southwest Alabama and now, more of the world will realize what we have to offer. Today's announcement proves that rural communities can compete for major projects through hard work and with partnerships and collaboration" Mayor Day continued. "This is indeed a great day in the City of Thomasville."
Once fully operational, the new facility is expected to add 192,000 tons of capacity, approximately doubling the Company's total production capacity and creating sufficient new capacity on OCTG casing products to satisfy the growing demand Lakeside has from its American customers, the majority of whom are located in the southern United States. The project is expected to be financed through a combination of equity and debt.
"The City of Thomasville is very appreciative and excited that Lakeside Steel has chosen Thomasville for their new manufacturing facility, "said Dottie Gaston, Director of Economic Development and Planning for the City of Thomasville. "We are confident that the company will be a great addition to the area."
The total cost of the project is estimated to be $40 million comprised of $22 million for plant and equipment and $18 million for inventory and working capital. The facility will create up to 120 new jobs in Thomasville. Lakeside currently possesses some of the most efficient tubing assets in North America at the Welland, Ontario facility, producing some of the highest quality products available in the market. The new facility in Alabama will augment those assets to provide some of the newest and most efficient casing assets in the industry today with an equal quality standard in place.
Debra Mathews, Executive Director of the Clarke County Economic Development Partnership, said "This project could not have come to fruition without the cooperation and support of leaders at the local, state and federal levels. Clarke County is pleased to have been a part of this project and is excited about the impact that Lakeside Steel will have not only for Thomasville and Clarke County, but the entire region."
"This is an incredible opportunity for the City of Thomasville and the entire region. Lakeside Steel Alabama will be a great addition to the industrial base we already have in the area and will help to diversify the economy in the region, said Wiley Blankenship, Coastal Gateway EDA President. Blankenship continued, "We are excited to have landed one of the firsts spin-off projects associated with ThyssenKrupp and are continuing to actively work on other related projects."
Thomasville, Alabama was chosen because of its proximity to both raw material suppliers and customers. Lakeside believes strongly that Alabama provides the right environment in which to operate a manufacturing business and Thomasville specifically will be conducive to a productive and profitable operation for years to come. The City of Thomasville is located 100 miles north of Mobile, Alabama, and is 600 miles east of Houston, Texas. Once completed, the new facility will be the largest industrial employer in the City of Thomasville. This expansion project remains subject to the entering into of definitive agreements.
The Company expects to start construction on the Thomasville expansion project in the fall, 2010 and plans to be producing pipe for the OCTG and line pipe market by December of 2011.
Chris Roik, Lakeside's senior most experienced operations manager in Welland, Ontario, has been appointed Vice President and General Manager of the new facility in Alabama and will commence his responsibilities for this project immediately.
About Lakeside Steel Inc.
Lakeside Steel is a 2010 TSX Venture Exchange 50 company and the parent company of Lakeside Steel Corp. ("Lakeside"). Lakeside, located in Welland, Ontario, is a diversified steel pipe and tubing manufacturer. Lakeside's list of customers includes large oil and gas, mining, automotive and commercial and industrial supply companies. In addition to supplying its products in these industries, Lakeside manufactures pipe and mechanical tubing for the resale market, which is sold to distributors in Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. Lakeside manufactures a variety of products for these industries including oil well tubing and casing, mechanical tubing, pressure tubing, automotive tubing, hollows for redraw, line pipe, heating and plumbing pipe, drill rod and specialty tubing. Lakeside serves customers worldwide, either directly or indirectly, in Canada and the United States.
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Protective CEO Johnny Johns leads Birmingham Business Alliance search panel
Published: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 4:42 PM Updated: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 4:48 PM
Jerry Underwood -- The Birmingham News
Protective Life CEO Johnny Johns will head a search committee for the Birmingham Business Alliance as the group seeks its next top leader.
A memo sent by Johns today identifies the search committee, which includes HealthSouth CEO Jay Grinney, Alabama Power CEO Charles McCrary and Energen CEO James McManus.
The group must replace Dalton Smith, who resigned as BBA chief this month to form an organization to address ethics reform in the state.
The BBA is the Birmingham area's most powerful business group. It was formed last year through a merger of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Board.
more... Birmingham News link |
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Huntsville makes Entrepreneur magazine list
Published: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 4:25 PM Updated: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 4:45 PM
Marian Accardi, The Huntsville Times
HUNTSVILLE, AL --Entrepreneur magazine puts Huntsville at the top of its list of five U.S. cities it calls "small ponds where your business can be a big fish."
In its August issue, the magazine identifies 50 cities and 10 lifestyles that are "energizing" businesses of all types and sizes. Huntsville is included in the category labeled "Small Towns, Big Opportunities." Other cities listed with Huntsville are Sioux Falls, S.D.; Fargo, N.D.; Bowling Green, Ky.; and Charlottesville, Va.
Huntsville's small-business growth from 2004 to 2007 was 9.4 percent, nearly twice the 5 percent national average for mid-sized metro areas, according to the magazine.
The magazine article describes Cummings Research Park, the second-largest U.S. research park with 285 companies, as the "tech launching pad."
more...
Huntsville Times link
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Business Park getting lots of attention
Posted on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 9:00 am.
By Clif Knight
By this time next year the Morgan Business Park at I-65 and Thompson Road could be up and running based on the amount of attention it has gotten from business and industry leaders in the past 11 months.
That's the assessment of Jeremy Nails, executive director of the Morgan County Economic Development Association.
Nails said contracts are in place with Hartselle Utilities to extend water and sewer lines to the 135-acre first phase development site on Byrd Road and for the design and engineering of on-site infrastructure. These improvements will include putting water, sewer, gas and electric lines underground and realigning Byrd road for the park entrance.
"Our target is to get the park's infrastructure out for bids later this year and have a ground breaking in January 2011," Nails said.
Hartselle Utilities General Manager Ferrell Vest said design and engineering plans for a sewer line extension from Highway 31 to the park site are complete. The mile-long project will involve a force main, lift station and gravity flow sewer line.
"We're working on easements with private property owners and are within about 10 percent of reaching our goal," Vest said. "As soon as we have all of the easements, the project will be put out for bids."
He said most of the work will be done on the south side of Thompson road and the project is expected to cost about $1 million.
more... Hartselle Enquirer link |
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