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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:
Guard projects revitalizing 2 aging centers in Decatur
'Very exciting things': Gov. Bentley visits for Yutaka expansion; economic recovery tour
Governor approves grants for industrial projects
AT&T spends more than $200 million on Alabama networks in year's first half
'Made in America' forum promotes changes in U.S. tax and trade policies to support domestic manufacturing

 

Guard projects revitalizing 2 aging centers in Decatur

By Ben Montgomery Staff Writer 

August 9, 2013

 

The Alabama National Guard will spend $14 million in federal funds during the next four years to transform empty state property in Decatur into a multi-state training facility and to re-invest in the Guard's existing facility on Beltline Road.

 

The vacant property is the Lurleen B. Wallace Developmental Center on U.S. 31, where about $1 million will be spent on demolition and $9 million in construction at the site, Maj. Gen. Perry Smith said Thursday. The state will build barracks, a cafeteria, gym and medical facility.

 

The main Wallace site is about 100 acres, with other small parcels nearby totaling about 60 acres. Funding for the Wallace project is coming from yearly allocations from the U.S. Department of Defense.

 

Col. Dennis Butters, a spokesman for the Guard, said it isn't clear how many jobs will be created by the new projects or the economic impact. He said the potential for local construction jobs exists, but much of the work must be bid out.

 

more...

 

'Very exciting things': Gov. Bentley visits for Yutaka expansion; economic recovery tour

By Trent Moore The Cullman Times

August 8, 2013

 

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley surprised Cullman officials Thursday with a visit as part of his statewide economic recovery tour, though he got a pretty major surprise himself before strolling the manufacturing floor of Alabama Cullman Yutaka Technologies (ACYT).

While meeting with ACYT officials at the Cullman plant, a $5 million expansion expected to create at least 20 new jobs was announced for the auto parts manufacturer. A 60x480-foot expansion will be built at the ACYT plant, located at the intersection of Alabama Highway 157 and Alabama Highway  69.

ACYT opened in 2006 and was expected to top out at approximately 300 employees at full capacity. Once the new expansion takes place, the plant is expected to employ 420 people.

 

more...

 

[Cullman Times]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Governor approves grants for industrial projects 

By Bernie Delinski

Staff Writer

August 8, 2013

 

MUSCLE SHOALS - Gov. Robert Bentley made it official Thursday, awarding two grants totaling $387,280 for two industrial projects that are expected to bring about 400 jobs to the Shoals.

 

Bentley signed a $137,280 Community Development Block Grant that will help pay for drainage work at the North American Lighting plant in Shoals Research Airpark.

 

The governor also signed a $250,000 grant for water and sewer infrastructure for the $24 million CBC America plant under construction alongside North American Lighting.

 

CBC will be a supplier for North American, which manufactures exterior lighting for automobiles.

 

"I am pleased to support these projects, and I am delighted about the employment opportunities they will provide for the people of Colbert County and the Shoals area," Bentley said.

 

North American Lighting announced in March plans to build a $36 million expansion that will bring 275 more jobs and take the total employment at the Muscle Shoals plant to more than 1,000.

 

more...

 

[Times Daily]

 

 

AT&T spends more than $200 million on Alabama networks in year's first half

on August 08, 2013

AT&T said today it invested more than $200 million in its wireless and wired networks in Alabama in the first half of 2013.

 

The spending covered equipment throughout the state that is part of AT&T's Project Velocity IP, a three-year investment plan announced last fall to expand and improve its IP broadband networks, a company press release said.

 

AT&T also expanded and upgraded its 4G LTE network and deployed new WiFi hot spots.


more...

 

 

 

 'Made in America' forum promotes changes in U.S. tax and trade policies to support domestic manufacturing


BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Dan Flippo was on a business trip in Sao Paulo, Brazil when he stopped in a shop to buy dresses for his granddaughters.

 

He began thumbing through the labels on the garments, to see where they were made, when the shopkeeper asked what he was doing.

 

She looked surprised when he told her, and then she said they were all made in Brazil.

 

"Why would we not buy our own stuff?" she asked.

 

Here in the U.S., it's the customer who is often surprised, when they find anything at a major retailer that's made in America, said Flippo, who is the District 9 director for the United Steelworkers union.


more...

 

[al.com]

 

 

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