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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:
Gov. Bentley, Mayor Bell open AIDT Alabama Workforce Training Center in Birmingham
O'Neal Manufacturing Services' plans to add new jobs in Birmingham cited as good growth from within
2013 New & Expanding Industries Report highlights solid year of economic development in Alabama
Goodyear, Back Forty honored as Manufacturers of Year
Andalusia's Hammett to lead governor's staff
Auburn's engineering school aims to establish auto manufacturing research center
Depot celebrates start of new combat vehicle work
Huntsville-based Davidson Technologies opens $3.5M facility for 125 new, existing workers
Airbus hiring, training and expectations: 5 questions with AIDT's Lee Hammett
2014 World Trade Week Kicks Off in Mobile

 


Gov. Bentley, Mayor Bell open AIDT Alabama Workforce Training Center in Birmingham

on May 14, 2014 

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - The Magic City is now home to a single, central location where AIDT, the state's primary workforce training program, can set up shop and produce workers with the specific skills needed for new and expanding industry.

Gov. Robert Bentley and Birmingham Mayor William Bell were joined by other elected and economic development officials at an event today officially opening the AIDT Alabama Workforce Training Center at 3600 Sixth Ave. South in Birmingham.

 

The facility will be where manufacturers, contractors and other industries link up with AIDT along with public education and the two-year and even four-year colleges to equip students with specific skills needed to fill jobs.

Ed Castile, director of AIDT, said the state workforce training program will relocate the Alabama Center for Advanced Woodworking Technology from Haleyville to the 56,000-square-foot Birmingham facility, which AIDT is leasing from the Barber Companies.


more...

 

[al.com]

 

 


 

 O'Neal Manufacturing Services' plans to add new jobs in Birmingham cited as good growth from within


BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- O'Neal Manufacturing Services plans to add up to 25 jobs at its local operations and invest about $5 million in new equipment, moves that underscore the importance of existing industry in Birmingham and across Alabama, a key economic developer said today.

 

OMS is expanding a partnership with Caterpillar Inc. It will supply the heavy equipment manufacturer with parts for a bulldozer that will soon be produced at a new facility near Athens, Ga.

 

The company today displayed the bulldozer, called a Small Track Type Tractor, at its Birmingham location, so employees and others could get an up-close view of it.

 

Although new companies moving into an area often get more attention, 75 percent of job growth comes from existing industries, said Bill Taylor, head of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.


more...

 

[al.com]

 

 


 2013 New & Expanding Industries Report highlights solid year of economic development in Alabama


MONTGOMERY, Alabama - Companies launching operations in Alabama or expanding existing facilities in the state announced nearly 17,000 new jobs and more than $4.4 billion in capital investment during 2013, according to a report released today by Governor Robert Bentley and the Alabama Department of Commerce.

 

The 2013 New & Expanding Industries Report outlines another solid year of economic development activity in Alabama, with 445 projects in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, chemicals, metals and technology. The activity resulted in 16,847 announced jobs across Alabama last year, according to the report.

 

Since Governor Bentley took office in 2011, a total of 54,942 new Alabama jobs have been announced, along with $13.9 billion in new investment over the three years. That compares to 47,061 announced jobs and $8.6 billion in investment during 2008-2010.

 

In addition, Alabama's economic development efforts in 2014 have gotten off to a strong start, with Remington Outdoor Co. announcing plans in February for a $110 million Huntsville manufacturing plant with more than 2,000 jobs.


more...

 

[madeinalabama.com]

 

 

 

 


Goodyear, Back Forty honored as Manufacturers of Year 

Times Staff Writer 
 May 14, 2014

Gadsden is living up to its label as the City of Champions, Mayor Sherman Guyton said Wednesday at a reception honoring Goodyear and Back Forty Beer Co.

 

Earlier in the day, during a luncheon in Montgomery, Goodyear-Gadsden was honored as Large Manufacturer of the Year (400 or more employees) and Back Forty, a craft brewery in downtown Gadsden, was honored as Small Manufacturer of the year (1 to 99 employees) by the Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network.
 

"It's a big plus," Guyton said. "People can see where our economy's going. We're known as the City of Champions. This is just another example of how good things are going." 

 

more...

 

[Gadsden Times]

 


Andalusia's Hammett to lead governor's staff

By Michele Gerlach

May 14, 2014


Gov. Robert Bentley on Wednesday announced Andalusia's Seth Hammett has been appointed to serve in the Bentley Administration as interim chief of staff.

 

"Seth and I have worked together for many years, dating back to my time in the Alabama Legislature. He is a proven leader with a strong record of public service. He served as my Interim ADO Director, and I look forward to Seth joining my team again to continue our mission of job creation for the people of Alabama," Gov. Bentley said.

 

Hammett replaces David Perry, who announced in staff and cabinet meetings Wednesday morning he had accepted a new job in Birmingham in large part to be closer to his family.

 

more....

 

[Andalusia Star News]

 

 


 

Auburn's engineering school aims to establish auto manufacturing research center

AUBURN, Alabama -- The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University is looking to develop a research center that would be focused on advanced vehicle manufacturing.

 

The school is working with the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Tennessee Tech University on the proposal, which would be called the Southern Alliance for Advanced Vehicle Manufacturing. It would be a National Science Foundation center.

 

John Evans, technology management professor at Auburn, said he has received letters of support from more than 40 automotive and related companies, including Hyundai, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Kia.


 more...

 

[al.com]

 

 


 

Depot celebrates start of new combat vehicle work
By Patrick McCreless
May 14, 2014 

The two Paladin self-propelled howitzers were positioned several feet apart at the Anniston Army Depot on Wednesday. Their long tan cannons, angled up and pointed toward each other, were mounted atop thick treads. 

They looked like tanks.

But they're not tanks.

Soon they won't be Paladins, either.

Depot officials on Wednesday morning celebrated the facility becoming one of the main sites to upgrade the old M109A6 Paladins to M109A7 self-propelled howitzer combat vehicles. Officials say the initial $630 million, four-year contract will offer steady work for depot employees while providing safer, more efficient vehicles for soldiers in the field.


more...




 

 

 

 


Huntsville-based Davidson Technologies opens $3.5M facility for 125 new, existing workers

on May 14, 2014 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Less than a week after a government shutdown left some 12,000 defense workers furloughed in Huntsville, Davidson Technologies President Dorothy Davidson broke ground on a new $3.5 million facility in Cummings Research Park.

 

Davidson, who took over the small business last year after the death of her husband and company founder Dr. Julian Davidson, told reporters in October, "Why give into defeat?"

 

Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong recognized Davidson this afternoon during a ceremony celebrating the launch of the new 22,000-square-foot building, which opened recently next to the company's existing facility on Discovery Drive.

 

more...

 

[al.com]



 



 

 

 


Airbus hiring, training and expectations: 5 questions with AIDT's Lee Hammett

 

MOBILE, Alabama - With Airbus' A320 final assembly line take shape in Mobile, jobs with the aerospace giant - and specifically the hiring pace for a project slated to come online in July 2015 - are a hot topic these days.

 

Lee Hammett, assistant director of the Alabama Industrial Development Training program, said although it might seem hiring for the $600 million facility has been sluggish, perception and reality are worlds apart.

 

To date, AIDT has filled 32 professional positions for Airbus associated with the company's first final assembly line on U.S. soil, he said, and applications are currently being sought for four additional positions, two of which were posted just today.


 more...

[al.com]

 

 


 



 

 

 


 

2014 World Trade Week Kicks Off in Mobile

 

The State of Alabama will celebrate World Trade Week with a Reception and Symposium, May 22-23 at The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa.   Hosted by the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and the Export Alabama Alliance, the event is part of the state's ongoing emphasis on helping local companies diversify their client base globally. According to U.S. Department of Commerce, more than 83 percent of the 2,878 Alabama companies that export products are small- and medium-sized companies.

 

Symposium attendees will hear presentations on Alabama's trade strategy, opportunities for exporting your service, future markets and the Washington D.C. perspective on America's trade agenda. Speakers include Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce; Leslie Schweitzer, Capitalize LLC; and Christopher Wenk, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

 

World Trade Week events kick-off with a networking reception on Thursday, May 22 at 5:30 p.m. There attendees can talk with trade practitioners, state and federal resource providers, and members of the state's international business community.  

 

The symposium starts at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 23. Tickets are $65 and reservations must be made by Monday, May 19. Both events are at The Battle House Hotel.

 

For more information or to register on the Mobile Area Chamber's World Trade Week, contact: Emily McGrath at 251-431-8651 or [email protected]

 

 




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