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Greetings!

 

Here is today's summary of economic development news, a free service of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, representing Alabama's private sector investment in economic development.  If you enjoy NewsFlash, thank an EDPA Partner

 

In this issue:
More than 200 new jobs planned for Walker, Bibb counties
Birmingham's Brasfield & Gorrie wins 25 awards in ABC competition
Grant to help town build roads, develop retail
Raytheon opens new Alabama production facility
Local income rising (Shoals)

 


 

More than 200 new jobs planned for Walker, Bibb counties
Published: Monday, November 26, 2012, 12:27 PM    
By Dawn Kent | [email protected] 

Expansions of existing businesses, along with a new plant, are creating more than 200 new jobs in Walker and Bibb counties.

In Walker County, heavy-haul platform trailer manufacturer Fontaine Trailer Co. is adding 100 jobs, while automotive supplier Amtex is adding 75 jobs. Both companies are in Jasper.

Gov. Robert Bentley and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs today announced a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant that is supporting the expansions.

Jasper and the Jasper Water Works and Sewer Board will use the grant money to upgrade water services in Tom Bevill Industrial Park, where both companies are located. Local funds of $127,000 also have been set aside for the project.

In Bibb County, a $250,000 CDBG grant will help provide water service for ThyssenKrupp Materials North America's new materials processing and distribution center, which will employ 45 people within five years of its opening, Bentley and ADECA said.

more...

 


 

Birmingham's Brasfield & Gorrie wins 25 awards in ABC competition
Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2012, 9:09 AM     
By The Birmingham News 

Birmingham-based construction firm Brasfield & Gorrie has been recognized by Associated Builders and Contractors for its work on 25 completed construction projects in 2012, including an individual Project of the Year chapter award.

 

Held annually, ABC's Awards of Excellence program is a leading competition within the construction industry that recognizes outstanding construction projects across the nation within a variety of industries.

 

Brasfield & Gorrie's work on the Florida Hospital Celebration Health Patient Tower in Celebration, Fla., received an extra accolade, winning Project of the Year for the Central Florida chapter.

 

The 252,000-square-foot facility includes a patient wing addition, new ambulance entrance and an emergency department imaging suite. The tower includes 62 new patient beds, 31 new emergency department exam rooms, two emergency department operating room suites, a new pharmacy and lab, and two shell floors for future expansion.   

 

Brasfield & Gorrie also was recognized for projects in Alabama, including the Baker Donelson law firm's office and Cardiovascular Associates medical office building in Birmingham, Dawson Memorial Baptist Church's youth education addition in Homewood and Choctaw General Hospital in Butler.
 

 


 

Grant to help town build roads, develop retail

By Benjamin Bullard

The Cullman Times

 

FAIRVIEW - Fairview will receive $400,000 in grant money from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to fund road improvements as part of the town's ongoing effort to develop its retail infrastructure.


Fairview will match the state award with an additional $148,000 in local funds.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) will support road projects to facilitate the construction of a new restaurant, as well as provide safe access for another existing business. Together, the two businesses are expected to employ 38 people.

Gov. Robert Bentley released the money Monday, noting the road project will help support job creation in Fairview and ensure the town can grow without creating safety concerns for motorists on Ala. Highway 69.

"Jobs are vital to our state and my administration is committed to assisting businesses and industries seeking to build or expand in Alabama," Bentley said in a release. "Good, safe roads not only encourage development, they also prevent crashes and protect lives, which gives added value to this grant."

 

more...

 

[Cullman Times]

 


 

Raytheon opens new Alabama production facility
Posted on November 26, 2012
  
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) - Raytheon Co. has opened a missile production facility in Huntsville, Ala. that is expected to initially create 35 new jobs.

Company officials said the new facility at Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal would eventually create 300 jobs with a combination of factory workers and other positions.

 

Raytheon President Taylor W. Lawrence said the factory will be the most advanced missile integration facility in the world.

 

Company officials said at the factory workers will complete assembly and testing of the company's missiles and interceptors.

 

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama participated in the opening ceremony Monday. He said the new facility will not only create new jobs for Alabama workers, but also help bolster the nation's defense. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks of Huntsville and Alabama Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey also participated in the opening.


 


 

Local income rising

By Robert Palmer
The TimesDaily

Personal income in the Shoals is rising, though it is a long way from approaching the highest-paid city in the country.

 

A study released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis ranks the Florence/Muscle Shoals Statistical Metropolitan Area - Colbert and Lauderdale counties - 301st out of 366 metropolitan areas in the country in personal per capita income.

 

Personal per capita income in 2011 in the Shoals was $32,038, according to the study.

 

Local personal income was up 5.2 percent from 2009-10, and 3.1 percent from 2010-11, according to the new information.

 

By comparison, the Huntsville metropolitan area, which includes Madison and Limestone counties, ranked 102nd nationally at $40,126 in personal per capita income. The income growth rate there was 3.8 percent from 2009-10, and 3.4 percent from 2010-11, according to the study.

 

Steve Holt, president of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, said the study shows "we're moving in the right direction."

"Some years back, we were in the bottom 10 percentile, so maybe in a few more years we will be in the top 10 percentile," he said.

 

Holt said it hasn't been that long ago that the Shoals' personal per capita income was as much as $16,000 below that of Huntsville's. Now, just more than $8,000 separates the two metropolitan areas.

 

more...

 

[TimesDaily




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