EDPA NewsFlash

 

home       about edpa        relocation     resources for     resources for     entrepreneurship &
                                          assistance     companies        communities            technology    

 

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:
A new U.S. plant for Hyundai? Report says Alabama and Georgia vying for it
Hyundai workers set production record
Elmore schools, businesses share ideas for training workers
Mobile Works awards fall training scholarships worth $700,000
Mobile-assembled A321s will help fill Delta's $5.6 billion, 40-plane Airbus order
Clifton: Look for growth in forestry industry
Belk to add more than 50 jobs, launch renovation project at Riverchase Galleria store
News Release--AGP BUSINESS SEMINAR "WORKFORCE"
Registration underway for Alabama's only Innovation Conference

 


A new U.S. plant for Hyundai? Report says Alabama and Georgia vying for it

on September 04, 2013 

The governors of Alabama and Georgia are wooing Hyundai in hopes that the automaker will choose their state as the site of a new U.S. manufacturing plant,according to a report from South Korea.

 

The courting comes as Hyundai is dealing with labor union disputes, work stoppages and resulting production shortfalls in its home country that have made overseas manufacturing sites more attractive, Business Korea says. 

According to the report, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal visited Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo in Korea last month, where he made a pitch for the construction of a new Hyundai plant in his state.

 

Hyundai has a U.S. manufacturing plant in Montgomery, and its affiliate, Kia, has one in West Point, Ga., which is just across the state line. Both are non-union. 

 

Deal emphasized free infrastructure, funding for job creation and tax exemptions that would be available for the plant at a Georgia site.


more...

 

[al.com]

 

 


Hyundai workers set production record

By Brad Harper

Sept. 4, 2013

 

Montgomery's Hyundai assembly plant built more vehicles in August than any month in the facility's history, the third time this year that the plant has broken its all-time monthly production record.

 

The demand keeps rising. Hyundai Motor America reported record sales in August, led by Montgomery-made cars.

 

The locally made Elantra continued to gain steam as the company's hottest seller, with 24,700 sedans sold in August. That's nearly 1,000 more than June and up 37 percent from last August.

 

more...

 

[Montgomery Advertiser]

 

 

 


 

Elmore schools, businesses share ideas for training workers

By Brad Harper

Sept. 5, 2013

 

School leaders were eager to hear from Elmore County businesses Wednesday about what they need to teach students to better prepare them to land a job here.

 

The answer wasn't rocket science.

 

"On any given day, we have 20-plus individuals coming in just to put in an application," said Alicia Haynes, a PCI Gaming Inc. training supervisor. "I'm not saying you have to be dressed to the nines, but please do not come into human resources in your jeans, your hair rollers, your flip-flops or your bunny slippers. I'm not kidding. You don't even need to be going to the grocery store with what you have on."

 

The consensus among the dozens of major business representatives who met with education leaders at a workforce development summit in Wetumpka was that the most crucial skills to teach youngsters are good manners, self-confidence and a strong work ethic.

 

 

more...

 

[Montgomery Advertiser]

 

 

 

 

 


Mobile Works awards fall training scholarships worth $700,000

on September 04, 2013

MOBILE, Alabama - Mobile Works Inc. has awarded $700,000 in scholarships to 354 students enrolled in various training programs for the fall semester.

 

Scholarships totaling $200,000, or only slightly less than one-third of the total, were earmarked for students studying aviation and welding. These programs are designed to prepare students for jobs withAirbusST Aerospace Mobile and other companies either already in the area or planning a presence to support the region's expanding aerospace sector.

 

Kyle Cook, director of Enterprise State Community College's Alabama Aviation Center at Mobile's Brookley Aeroplex, said his programs are "grateful" for the partnership with Mobile Works.

 

more...

[al.com]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Mobile-assembled A321s will help fill Delta's $5.6 billion, 40-plane Airbus order

on September 04, 2013 

MOBILE, Alabama - It looks like some of the first Mobile-assembled A320 family jets won't be traveling very far once they roll off the line in 2016.

 

Delta Air Lines Inc. confirmed plans Wednesday to purchase 40 Airbus aircraft, three-quarters of which will be narrow-body A321 planes for domestic routes, while the 10 remaining wide-body A330s will be reserved for long-haul, international flights.

 

Richard Anderson, chief executive officer for the Atlanta-based airline, called the "opportunistic" Airbus agreement a chance to acquire "economically efficient, proven-technology aircraft."

 

Airbus broke ground April 8 on a $600 million final assembly line at Mobile'sBrookley Aeroplex, dedicated solely to production of A320 family aircraft that include the 190-seat A321. The Mobile facility is slated to come online in 2015, deliver its first Mobile-assembled plane the following year and employ 1,000 when it reaches full annual production of 40 to 50 aircraft by 2018.



more....

[al.com]

 

 

 

 

 


Clifton: Look for growth in forestry industry

By Stephanie Nelson

September 5, 2013

 

Economic development is "all about building relationships," according Rick Clifton, county economic development director.

 

That was only one point touched on by Clifton, who spoke to members of the Andalusia Lions Club Wednesday. Clifton also explained his belief that the forestry industry is going to see new growth in south Alabama.

 

"Forestry is poised to take off - take a look at the re-opening of the plant in Evergreen," he said. "When you look at the economy and the need for wood picking up, it means good things."

 

Clifton spoke about the August announcement that forest products company Weyerhaeuser Co. would re-start production in its Evergreen plant effective immediately after a four-year closure due to previously weak wood products demand in North America.

 

more...

 

[Andalusia Star News]

 

 

 

 


Belk to add more than 50 jobs, launch renovation project at Riverchase Galleria store

on September 04, 2013

HOOVER, Alabama -- Belk is planning to add more than 50 jobs to its store at the Riverchase Galleria, and early next year the retailer will launch a renovation project that's aimed at bringing the location up to full flagship status.

 

The Charlotte, N.C.-based company will hold a job fair Friday and Saturday for applicants interested in 55 new positions, which include 30 seasonal jobs and 25 full-time and part-time jobs.

 

The 25 full-time and part-time jobs include new positions created for the store's operational team, said store manager Keri Jones. That team is tasked with handling new merchandise, how it is displayed in the store, pricing and other duties, she said.

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 

 

 

 


 

News Release--AGP BUSINESS SEMINAR "WORKFORCE"

 

Join AlabamaGermany Partnership on September 26 for

Business Seminar "Workforce" at the Robotics Technology Park in Tanner and receive valuable information on how to improve the future of your workforce. 

 

Learn from two German companies (MBUSI & REHAU) that successfully have tailored curriculum and programs to their specific needs, and attracts employees that are likely to stay long-term. Three community colleges will present their experience working on education that fits into the business world including apprenticeships.

 

GACC will present their involvement in vocational training including official certification. RTP, CARCAM, AIDT, and ATN will introduce their organizations and present many resources that is available to the companies here in Alabama. The seminar will end with lunch and a tour of the Robotics Technology Park.

 

For more information  - (Please link to) http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7u8dwznab&oeidk=a07e82mh25na6211d4a&oseq=   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

             Registration underway for Alabama's only Innovation Conference

 

Join the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama on Sept. 26-27 for the third annual Alabama Launchpad Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference that strives to celebrate the entrepreneurs and job creators who launch startups that help drive economic growth in the Alabama. We have a great lineup of speakers, including Gov. Robert Bentley and Alabama native Ted Alling, one of the South's leading entrepreneurs and managing partner of the Lamp Post Group, where he actively recruits and mentors other entrepreneurs. 

 

                                 

 

For conference agenda and more details visit the main conference website:

 

 

 

Registration pageRegister Now

 

 

 

Samford University grad Ted Alling, CEO Access America Transport

 

Brad Feld, TechStars co-founder.

 
 
William C. Taylor, Editor Fast Company

 

Andrew Chang, UPS Marketing Director

 


 

 

 

    

 

 




Please feel free to forward along to someone who can use it by clicking on the "I'd like to forward this to a contact" link below the green bar. Note also, that you can now make changes to your e-mail address and contact information through the link at the bottom.    
 
If you have news or suggestions, please forward them along to me.
 
Enjoy the day, 

Val Walton
   
Join Our Mailing List