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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:
Huntington Ingalls seeking 3,000 new hires, hosting Prichard job fair March 22
Tax breaks aid $36 million project that will create 100 jobs at Alabama State Port Authority
Startup firm PowAir International receives tax abatements for $95 million 500-job plant at Brookley Aeroplex
Gadsden State, other community colleges see their training mandate affected by budget cuts
North Alabama African-American Chamber to host meeting on northwest Huntsville's growth potential
Alabama Launchpad "Proof of Commercial Relevance" Finale Set for May 3

 


 

Huntington Ingalls seeking 3,000 new hires, hosting Prichard job fair March 22 
By Kelli Dugan | [email protected] 
on March 20, 2013

 PRICHARD - Huntington Ingalls Industries plans to hire about 3,000 people for its Pascagoula facility over the next 12 months to fulfill existing ship orders.

A job fair to help fill those positions will be held at 5 p.m. Friday at the Sunlight District Auditorium located at 809 Seminary Street in Prichard.

 

Bill Glenn, manager of public affairs for Ingalls Shipbuilding, confirmed the company has partnered with a consortium of ministers across the Gulf Coast to help attract the necessary applicants to fulfill such a strong demand for skilled workers.

 

"It's hard to find these good, skilled workers, and we're reaching out in various ways all across the region. Actually, we're recruiting nationally," he said.

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 

 

 


 

 


 

 

Tax breaks aid $36 million project that will create 100 jobs at Alabama State Port Authority
By Ellen Mitchell | [email protected] 
on March 20, 2013

MOBILE, Alabama -- The Industrial Development Board for the City of Mobile today approved 10-year tax abatements for a $36 million project between the Alabama State Port Authority and Alabama Steel Terminals LLC that will create 100 new jobs.

 

Alabama Steel Terminals is looking to develop and operate a steel coil handling facility that would move and store steel coils coming into and leaving the port. To be built on land on the main dock complex under lease from the ASPA, the facility would include two 135-foot wide covered storage bays serviced by three 50-ton capacity cranes in each bay. One storage bay will be 1,320 feet long, while the other will be 1,440 feet long. 

  

The project would create 100 direct jobs, including 50 initial jobs, and workers should earn about $40,000 a year, benefits included, said Nolan Richardson, a partner of Alabama Steel Terminals.

 

"It will be a very efficient operation," he said. "With the cranes, you have the ability to take the steel from barges to warehouse, then back onto ocean-bound vessels or rail cars or trucks. It allows you to utilize all transportation options at the port."

 

more...

 

[al.com]



 

 

 

 


 

 

Startup firm PowAir International receives tax abatements for $95 million 500-job plant at Brookley Aeroplex
By Ellen Mitchell | [email protected] 
on March 20, 2013

MOBILE, Alabama -- The Industrial Development Board for the City of Mobile has approved local tax abatements for a $95 million project at Brookley Aeroplex that would create 500 direct jobs within the next few years.

 

PowAir International Inc., a start-up maker of wind turbines and related items such as blades and towers, is hoping to lease land from the Mobile Airport Authority to build a new headquarters and manufacturing facility. In June 2011, the company signed an option to lease 35 acres at Brookley from the authority, but it is unclear how much land the company will lease now. 

 

The location of the new company would be the site of warehouses that the authority demolished several years ago, on the east side of Broad Street across from the Fort Whiting Armory and just north of the U.S. Coast Guard station.

 

The project will create 500 jobs in Mobile County within three years and workers should earn about $60,000 a year, benefits included, said Michael Dow, executive vice president of PowAir.

 

more...

[al.com]

 

 


Gadsden State, other community colleges see their training mandate affected by budget cuts

By Patrick McCreless

[email protected]

March 21, 2013

Enrollment at Gadsden State is shrinking alongside federal grant funding, education officials report, a problem throughout the Alabama community college system that could weaken future state workforce development.

An audit released last week for Gadsden State, which has campuses in Anniston and McClellan, shows the community college's federal grant funding decreased by millions of dollars between 2011 and 2012, about $4.4 million less for Pell grants alone.

Fewer students have been able to afford Gadsden State as a result, with 5,477 enrolled there this spring semester compared to 6,315 enrolled during the the same semester last year. Meanwhile, community colleges throughout the state have faced similar enrollment declines, meaning fewer high-skilled workers will be available, potentially lessening the state's ability to lure in industry, education and economic development experts say.

According to the audit, in addition to a reduction funding for the the federal student-assistance Pell grant program, Gadsden State had a $1.69 million reduction in scholarship allowance, an approximately $2.2 million reduction in federal grants and contracts and a $165,515 cut in state and local grants.

 

more...

 

[Anniston Star 

 


 

North Alabama African-American Chamber to host meeting on northwest Huntsville's growth potential
By Steve Doyle | [email protected] 
on March 20, 2013

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - The North Alabama African-American Chamber of Commerce is hosting a forum next week to talk about economic development opportunities in northwest Huntsville.

 

Scheduled for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Alabama A&M University's Drake Memorial Library, the meeting will include talk about a recent community survey conducted by the chamber and census data about northwest Huntsville, as well as a presentation about the area's growth potential.

 

"Meaningful economic development in northwest Huntsville must start with a clear and realistic vision of what the community can be," North Alabama African-American Chamber CEO Jerry Mitchell said in a news release.



more...

[al.com]

 

 

 

 

 


   Alabama Launchpad "Proof of Commercial Relevance" Finale Set for May 3

 

 

The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama Foundation announces that the 2013 Alabama Launchpad Start-Up Competition finale event will be held May 3 in  Birmingham.

 

Seven teams were chosen by a five-judge panel comprised of entrepreneurs, investors and corporate stakeholders to move forward in the competion on March 4.

 

 All of the seven start-ups that advanced will get an assessment of their business model by a third-party firm. 

.

Those teams were narrowed down from 12. In all, 22 teams registered for the "Proof of Commercial Relevance" competition that promotes, rewards and increases the pipeline of high-growth, innovative ventures that have the potential to grow and thrive in the state.

 

The teams selected are "pre-seed" and are competing for awards totaling $100,000.

 

The finale event will be Friday, May 3 from 9:00 to 2:30 pm.  The event will be hosted at the auditorium at Evonik Corp, 750 Lakeshore Parkway, Birmingham, AL 35211.

 

Alabama Launchpad receives support from seven partnering universities: Alabama State University, Auburn University, the University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama in Huntsville, the University of South Alabama and Alabama A & M University. 

 

For more information, visit www.alabamalaunchpad.com

 

 






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Val Walton
   
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