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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:
City showcases $36M in expansions, new jobs at existing companies
Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's new plan includes five goals
Education Revolution: How Plan 2020 could reshape education in Alabama
Safran Engineering project highlights Mobile's focused economic development strategy

 


 

City showcases $36M in expansions, new jobs at existing companies
 Dec 8, 2012
Written by Brad Harper 

 

Montgomery officials expected to share some good news when they set out Friday on a tour of local businesses that added jobs in 2012.

 

The news was even better than they had expected.

 

The Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce organized the annual trip for the third year, trumpeting a total investment of nearly $36 million and more than 700 new jobs from the 13 existing companies it was spotlighting. But during a stop at one of those businesses - Lear, which manufactures seat components - plant manager Duk Kim revealed that the plant added more jobs than the city's figures showed.

 

"We need to change our numbers," Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said with a laugh. "We thought it was 80, but he said 93."

 

Rheem, one of the other featured companies, announced it had won the right to make a new line of metal-free water heaters. That will mean $2.5 million in initial investment and at least 26 new jobs at the east Montgomery facility.

 

 

more...

 

[Montgomery Advertiser]

 


 

Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's new plan includes five goals
By Patrick Rupinski
Business Editor
Published: December 9, 2012 

The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's new five-year plan has five goals that chamber officials say when fully implemented will change the face of the Tuscaloosa community for decades to come.

 

The goals are:

-- Promote pre-kindergarten through high school education so students have the workforce skills of the future.

 

-- Help existing businesses to remain competitive and grow while recruiting new retailing and commercial companies to further diversify the local economy.

 

-- Partner with government and community organizations to improve the quality of life.

 

-- Nurture innovation and entrepreneurship.

 

-- Be the leading advocate for the local business community at all levels of government.

 

 

more...

 

[Tuscaloosa News]

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

Education Revolution: How Plan 2020 could reshape education in Alabama

By Trent Moore

The Cullman Times

December 9, 2012 

 

Former Hanceville student Miranda Robertson made good grades and got all the inspiration she needed from her high school experience to eventually return as a teacher's aide in the Cullman County school system. What she didn't get? A diploma.

Robertson would have graduated in 2005, and though she got to walk and received a certificate of attendance, she still couldn't technically graduate because she failed one section of a certain standardized test.

It didn't matter that she made As and Bs every year  - what she really needed was a passing mark on the Alabama High School Graduation Exam. Regardless of performance, students have been required to pass the test to exit a state school with a diploma for decades.

After re-taking the test more than half a dozen times, Robertson still couldn't pass the history portion. So she got a GED, enrolled at Wallace State and eventually earned a teaching degree.

"I made good grades, stayed out of trouble and was even on the Dean's List at Wallace," she said. "I don't think it's fair that I went to school for 13 years, did well, but my graduation was still entirely decided by one test. I don't know why you would base a student's graduation on one test."


more...

 

 


 

 

 

Safran Engineering project highlights Mobile's focused economic development strategy
 By Kelli Dugan | [email protected] 
 December 07, 2012

MOBILE, Alabama - Southern hospitality is all well and good, but Mobile Mayor Sam Jones said the city's economic recruitment strategy must remain assertive if coveted aerospace announcements such as Safran Engineering Services are to continue.

 

"We weren't surprised to have competition from our east and our west, but we just didn't think they'd be as aggressive as they were," Jones said just moments after Safran announced publicly its intentions to build a $2 million engineering facility at Brookley Aeroplex.

 

The facility - expected to employ 50 with starting annual salaries around $70,000 - represents the first Airbus-related supplier to commit to a Gulf Coast presence since the planemaker unveiled plans in July to build its first final assembly line on U.S. soil at Mobile's Brookley Aeroplex.

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 

 


 




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