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Greetings!
 
Here is today's summary of economic development news, presented by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. 
 
in this issue:
Huntsville-based Summit 7 Systems cited by Everything Channel - Huntsville Times
Gov. Bentley awards grants to help Hackleburg Wrangler employees keep working - Huntsville Times
Reset and Renewal - EDPA Developments Blog

        
Huntsville-based Summit 7 Systems cited by Everything Channel
Published: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 3:49 PM     Updated: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 3:51 PM  
  HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- A small Huntsville-based tech company has been named to an inaugural list of "innovative and nimble business and technology integrators, solution providers and resellers in North America" by Everything Channel.

Summit 7 Systems, an information management company with headquarters in Cummings Research Park, was named to the first CRN Next-Gen 250 list a listing of businesses offering solutions and services in cloud computing, mobility, unified communications, virtualization and other emerging technologies. Summit 7 Systems has 14 employees.

"We are thrilled to be named to the Next-Gen 250 list." said company President Scott Edwards.

"The Summit 7 Systems team works day in and day out to bring innovation and thought leadership to the most difficult knowledge management, collaboration and enterprise search problems in the industry, he said."

The Next-Gen 250 is comprised of the most exciting new solution provider organizations - founded 2000-2011 - bringing new and emerging implementation ideas and business models to the market.

"In today's competitive environment solution providers have to do more than just talk about innovation," Kelley Damore, vice president/editorial director of Everything Channel, said in a statement.

more...

 Huntsville Times 

 


 

        
Gov. Bentley awards grants to help Hackleburg Wrangler employees keep working
Published: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 12:14 PM     Updated: Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 12:29 PM
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded grants totaling $250,000 to help keep residents who worked at the Wrangler Distribution Center in Hackleburg on the job while VF Corp. rebuilds the facility, which was destroyed by a tornado April 27.

The company is using the old Wrangler Sewing Plant building in Hackleburg and the former Colby Furniture facility in nearby Hamilton to house operations while the distribution center is rebuilt.

 

Since the buildings were not in use, they contained out-of-date and broken equipment and fixtures. A $200,000 grant to the town of Hackleburg will enable the installation of new energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment and new lighting fixtures.

 

The city of Hamilton is receiving a $50,000 grant to provide an adequate lighting system at the Colby facility.

"Many families depend upon paychecks earned at the Wrangler facility," Bentley said. "These equipment upgrades will ensure that facilities are fit to house the plant's operations and, most importantly, keep workers employed while the company rebuilds." 

 

The Wrangler Distribution Center employed about 150 people before the April 27 tornado. VF Corp announced this month that it planned to build another facility that will have the potential to handle additional shipping capacity, which could bring about 50 additional jobs to the area. The company's target date for completion of the new building is mid-2013. All operations will move to the new distribution center once it is completed.

 

more...

 Huntsville Times 

 

 

 

  

 Developments Blog

 


        
 
Reset and Renewal

By Greg Knighton, EDPA; EDAA Summer Conference Chair

 

Aug. 22, 2011 - Just over a week ago, the Economic Development Association of Alabama held its 2011 Annual Meeting and Summer Conference in Orange Beach, Ala. The theme of the this year's conference was Reset and Renewal in the Economy, which reflects a reality we are all facing. At a time when the economy has been reset, the economic development profession is renewing itself to meet the challenges of the times.

 

The conference agenda and speakers addressed these challenges: Labor trends, creative financing options, entrepreneurship, university-based economic development, a strategic plan for economic growth in Alabama, trade, biotechnology, innovation in existing industry, and current site selection trends.

 

Ironically, the EDAA conference was held in a community that is renewing itself after one of the largest oil spills in history.

 

As economic developers, we must understand the economy we are operating in, and adapt our practices accordingly. That is why Reset and Renewal is so important to our profession - just as it is to successful businesses.

 

The economic development community must remain focused on its core mission: Job creation.

 

And, we must celebrate the positive news.  The number of project announcements in Alabama increased in 2010, and continues on a similar trend for 2011. As these jobs come online, Alabamians can take hope in opportunity. Especially gratifying is the fact that many of the announced jobs come from existing Alabama companies that set roots in Alabama over the past 15 years.

 

The week before the conference was capped off with an announcement from one such Alabama company. Topre, in Cullman, announced a $109M expansion creating 250 additional jobs. Such news is a testament to the state's strong business climate.

 

One thing cannot change in Alabama's economic development community - the teamwork that has brought so much success to our state. As a team, we must move forward. While the term "reset" may make some of us cringe, "renewal" is certainly something to celebrate.

 
more...

 EDPA Blog 

 

 

 




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Wendy Wallace Johnson
 
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