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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:
Boeing Co. lands pair of Army contracts for helicopter work
Alabama Launchpad assembles nation's top speakers in start-ups and entrepreneurship
Birmingham Venture Club acquires Birmingham Entrepreneur
Franklin County officials discuss impact of closing of International Paper mill
Alabama's research universities to be recognized for conducting nearly a billion dollars in research

 


 

Boeing Co. lands pair of Army contracts for helicopter work

on September 17, 2013 
 

Boeing Co. was awarded a $19 million Army contract for engineering on new Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

 

In a separate contract, Boeing also received a $11.4 million contract for the procurement of one Longbow crew trainer for the Apache helicopter program.

 

Both contracts were awarded by the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal.

 

 more...

 

[al.com]

 


Innovation and Entrepreneurship  

 

 Alabama Launchpad has assembled some of the nation's leading experts in entrepreneurship and the start-up community for our Third Annual Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference set for Sept. 26-27 at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover.
 
 Gain valuable information about the importance of having a strong start-up ecosystem in Alabama and join us in celebrating the companies that are creating jobs and growing the state's economy.
 
 
Brad Feld

 


Brad is one of the managing directors at Foundry Group, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage software / Internet companies throughout the United States.

Feld played a major role in building the start-up community in his adopted hometown of Boulder, Colorado. He believes that, with the right ingredients, any city in the world can become a thriving start-up community. 

Feld is also the co-founder of TechStars, a mentor-driven accelerator, author of several books and blogs, and a marathon runner.

Brad has been an early stage investor and entrepreneur since 1987. Prior to co-founding Foundry Group, he co-founded Mobius Venture Capital and, prior to that, founded Intensity Ventures, a company that helped launch and operate software companies. Brad is also a co-founder of TechStars.

 

 Brad is our speaker at our Friday kick-off dinner at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26.

 

 

For More information, alabamalaunchpad.com/i3

 

 

Register Now: Alabama Launchpad Registration

 

 


 

 

 

 

 


Birmingham Venture Club acquires Birmingham Entrepreneur
on September 17, 2013

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Birmingham Venture Club, a nonprofit membership organization that helps match start-up companies with investors, has acquired Birmingham Entrepreneur, a nonprofit that helps take ideas from inception to start-up.

 

The deal, which will be formally announced next week, creates one organization that can help a business go from being an idea sketched on the back of a napkin to being a thriving enterprise, said Tanveer Patel, president of the venture club.

 

"It encompasses the whole life cycle of the business," Patel said this afternoon. "We're all very excited about it."


more...

 



Franklin County officials discuss impact of closing of International Paper mill
By Jonathan Willis
September 17, 2013
 
 International Paper Co. announced last week that the company will be closing its Courtland mill in Lawrence County.
 

The Courtland mill is part of the company's Printing and Communications Papers Business. The mill will shut down in stages with a full closure expected to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2014. This mill closure will reduce IP's North American uncoated and coated freesheet paper production capacity by 950,000 tons, of which 765,000 is uncoated freesheet.

 

"This decision to permanently close capacity is primarily being driven by demand decline for uncoated freesheet paper products in the United States," Chief Executive Officer John Faraci said in a statement.

 

The Courtland Mill produces papers for forms, envelopes, labels, copiers, printers and magazines. The demand for uncoated freesheet in North America has been in decline since 1999 and has recently accelerated as consumers continue to switch to electronic alternatives such as online publications and electronic billing and filing, the company said in a release.

 

The mill will close by early next year. The Courtland facility employs more than 1,100 people.

 

more...

 


 

  Alabama's research universities to be recognized for conducting nearly a billion dollars in research and development, spurring innovation. 

 

Technology transfer and innovation are considered major drivers of sustainable development.  Alabama is blessed with a wealth of universities, providing the research and development infrastructure to create new jobs, new opportunities and new companies.

 

  

Join Alabama Launchpad on Sept. 26-27 as we shine the spotlight on these 8 universities that are diligently working to get discoveries out of the lab and into the commercial marketplace:

 

 

 

 


University of Alabama
Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
Auburn University
Tuskegee University
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of South Alabama
 

 

 

 

 

 

 For More information, alabamalaunchpad.com/i3

 

 

Register Now: Alabama Launchpad Registration




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Val Walton
   
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