EDPA NewsFlash

 

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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:
Decatur in running for $150M project, 260 jobs
Southern towns hope to get noticed at symposium
Signal International's shipyard in Mobile awarded $4.5 million contract to repair tanker
Career Center opens in Lowndes County
Alabama ranks high for growth of women-owned businesses
Alabama's unemployment rate went up in February. So how is that a good thing?
The Japan Society of Alabama to hold workforce development business seminar on April 3 in Tanner

 

 

Decatur in running for $150M project, 260 jobs
By Bayne Hughes Staff Writer 
March 27, 2014

ATHENS - A company that would make a $150 million investment and hire up to 260 workers is considering locating in Decatur-annexed Limestone County.

 

Decatur is one of several locations under consideration for the project, code named "Project Wattle," said Tom Hill, president of the Limestone County Economic Development Association. 

 

The project was on the agenda for a Thursday meeting of the Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority.

 

The prospective site is in Southpoint, an as-of-yet undeveloped 175-acre industrial park north of Alabama 20 and west of Interstate 65, near the proposed Sweetwater development south of Alabama 20.


more...
 

 

 

 

Southern towns hope to get noticed at symposium

 March 27, 2014 

 

It is the economic development version - on an international scale -- of speed dating.

 

Several communities throughout the Southeast are looking to pique the curiosity of Chinese entrepreneurs during the U.S.-China Manufacturing Symposium here in Dothan, with very little time to do so.

 

Some use a catch phrase.

 

"It's cool to be rural," one Alabama mayor said Thursday.


more...

 

[Dothan Eagle]


 


 

 

Signal International's shipyard in Mobile awarded $4.5 million contract to repair tanker
on March 28, 2014 

MOBILE, Alabama -- Signal International's ship repair yard in Mobile has been awarded a $4.5 million contract to repair and drydock a product tanker for the U.S. Navy.

 

The 615-foot-long USNS Lawrence H. Gianella is scheduled to arrive at Signal Ship Repair facility in May, where it will stay for 45 days. The ship is a Military Sealift Command vessel that normally delivers petroleum for the Defense Department.

 

 It is managed by Houston, Texas-based Ocean Ships, Inc.


more...

[al.com]

 

 

 

Career Center opens in Lowndes County
Written by Special to the Advertiser
March 27, 2014

Help has arrived for Lowndes County, which had an almost 12 percent unemployment rate in January and which has experienced double-digit unemployment rates since 2009, in the form of a new career center.

 

State and local officials were in Lowndes County on Wednesday to open a new career center office inside the Family Guidance Center in Hayneville. Residents seeking employment will now have easier access to free job placement, career counseling, job training and other assistance offered by the Alabama Career Center System.

 

The career center will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Wednesday, alternating between Hayneville and a second location at the Fort Deposit Public Library. It will be open the first and third Wednesdays at Fort Deposit Public Library at 24 South Pollard St., in Fort Deposit, and the second and fourth Wednesdays at the Family Guidance Center at 22 Washington St. N. in Hayneville.


more...

 

[Montgomery Advertiser]



 

 

 Alabama ranks high for growth of women-owned businesses

on March 27, 2014 

Alabama ranks No. 8 in the nation in the growth of women-owned businesses over the past 17 years, a new report shows. 

 

The state has an estimated 122,400 such firms, which employ nearly 102,000 people in addition to the owner, with combined sales of $16.7 billion, according to the fourth annual American Express OPEN State of the Women-Owned Businesses Report.

 

The report measures Census data dating back to 1997.


more...

 

[al.com]


 


 

 

 Alabama's unemployment rate went up in February. So how is that a good thing?

on March 28, 2014 

 Alabama's unemployment rate increased to 6.4 percent in February, up from 6.1 percent a month earlier.
But the increase might actually be a good sign for the economy.

"Although we saw an uptick in the state's unemployment rate, we also saw an increase in the number of people working, as well as the number of people in the labor force," said Labor Commissioner Thomas Surtees in a statement Friday. 

"These indicators, combined with an increase in the number of jobs reported by employers, tell me that more people are out in the workforce - either looking for jobs or working, and that is certainly good news."

more...

 

[al.com]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Japan Society of Alabama to hold workforce development business seminar on April 3 in Tanner

    

 

JASA and leaders in workforce development will hold the seminar at Robotics Technology Park, 6505 U.S. Hwy 31 in Tanner, on April 3.

 

Registration and networking begins at 9 a.m. The Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta will bring opening remarks at 9:30 a.m.

 

 The seminar will allow attendees to learn from management level speakers from Honda and Toyota, community college training programs administrators and supporting training organizations from throughout Alabama. It offers BEST, STEM education programs information, creating and identifying skills in our potential and existing workforce, assessment and improvement on gap.  

 

Registration now open at:

 

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=4sgk4ypab&oeidk=a07e90x7g1i87da90b9

 

 

 For more information, visit http://www.jasaweb.org/

 

 

 

 

 

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Enjoy the day, 

Val Walton
   
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