EDPA NewsFlash

 

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

 

 

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:
UAH partnership for grant-funded vehicle manufacturing co-op in the works
Wanted: Young professionals for Birmingham area companies
Tech 'revolution' coming to Alabama
Loxley Commerce Site becomes sixth in Baldwin County to earn Alabama AdvantageSite designation
States lure manufacturers and shore up jobs
Businesses can invest in educating students
Building for a half-century: Brasfield & Gorrie has spent 50 years constructing Birmingham and beyond

 


 UAH partnership for grant-funded vehicle manufacturing co-op in the works

on June 27, 2014 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama--Vehicle manufacturing thrives in the Southeast. That industry would benefit directly from a research center in the planning stages in Huntsville.

 

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is partnering with several Southeast universities to propose a regional Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for vehicle manufacturing.

 

The concept already has support. The National Science Foundation has awarded a grant for planning the center and more than two dozen companies have sent letters of endorsement.

 

In developing the Southern Alliance for Advanced Vehicle Manufacturing Center, UAH is working with Auburn University and Tennessee Technological University. Sites would locate at all three campuses with possible expansion to others.



more...

[al.com]

 

 


Wanted: Young professionals for Birmingham area companies

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- A new program from the Birmingham Business Alliance aims to help area employers recruit and retain young professionals.

 

The program, called OnBoard Birmingham, is part of the BBA's Talent Recruitment Project, an ongoing workforce development effort.

 

It will provide first-year and early career professionals the opportunity to connect with the Birmingham community through a series of events around the city this summer.

 

"Companies tell us the best way to retain talent is to get them plugged into Birmingham by experiencing and learning about all our community has to offer," Waymond Jackson, vice president of workforce development at the BBA, said in a press release. "This program will provide newly hired and early career professionals the opportunity to develop a sense of community and make a meaningful connection to Birmingham."



more...

 


Tech 'revolution' coming to Alabama
Brad Harper, Montgomery Advertiser
June 29, 2014

Central Alabama may not look much like Silicon Valley, but a group of local entrepreneurs say there's no reason it can't have the same kind of future down the road.

 

"That (Interstate 85) corridor from Montgomery to Auburn-Opelika is the same length as the corridor from San Francisco to Silicon Valley," Adam Warnke said. "Between Auburn University, Tuskegee University, Montgomery and the Air Force bases, there's enough tech talent to create that same atmosphere within that stretch."

 

They're taking the first step toward that future Monday. Warnke and network engineer Boyd Stephens helped put together a gathering in downtown Montgomery for anyone who wants to share ideas.


more...

 


 

 Loxley Commerce Site becomes sixth in Baldwin County to earn Alabama AdvantageSite designation

on June 27, 2014 
 

LOXLEY, Alabama - Loxley Commerce Site became Baldwin County's sixth designated Alabama AdvantageSite Friday.

 

The voluntary industrial site preparedness program is coordinated by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and is a collaboration between the private sector and state and local governments aimed at increasing the marketability of locations in Alabama.

 

Since its inception in 2008, the program has recognized 48 AdvantageSite locations in the state after meeting guidelines such as utility and environmental standards, size, zoning and accessibility.

 

The 152.5-acre Loxley Commerce Site is located on Baldwin County 49, approximately two miles from Interstate 10 and less than half a mile from U.S. 59, a four-lane highway connecting to Interstate 65, 22 miles to the north.

This site is also adjacent to the to the 50-acre Loxley North Property which received its designation in July of 2013.


 

more...

 

[al.com]

 

 

 


 

States lure manufacturers and shore up jobs

It wasn't long ago that the thought of corporations bringing their manufacturing back to the U.S. seemed all but impossible. But that's precisely what's happening, and the trend is predicted to continue through the rest of the decade.

 

Consider Kent International, one of the largest U.S.-based bicycle manufacturers. The company, with headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey, has been making its bikes overseas for more than 20 years. But with Chinese labor costs rising over the past several years, the company began to consider whether it made financial sense to bring some of that production back to the U.S. In the fall, Kent's new manufacturing facility will open in Clarendon County, South Carolina. According to the company, it will invest $4.5 million in the plant over the next three years and hire 175 workers capable of turning out roughly 500,000 bikes a year.

 
American companies have been offshoring their manufacturing for decades as a way to take advantage of low wages in places like China, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. But now a growing number of them, like Kent International, are rethinking that formula and are bringing at least some of their manufacturing back to the U.S.


more...

 

 

 


 Businesses can invest in educating students

By Jennifer Edwards Staff Writer | 

 June 28, 2014

 

MUSCLE SHOALS - Businesses and industry can buy into education with dollars and cents through a program aimed at bolstering the state's workforce development education.

 

Beginning Jan. 1, businesses and individuals can receive a tax credit of up to 50 percent of the donation amount for contributing to the Department of Post Secondary Education's career technical education dual enrollment program.

The program will provide scholarships for qualifying high school students to enroll in college courses and receive both high school and college credit for the course.

 

Northwest-Shoals Community College President Humphrey Lee said the program allows employers to have an early impact on future employees. Businesses can direct up to 80 percent of their donations to career training programs that benefit their needs.

 

"It gives the community a chance to buy in," Lee said. "You will have some skin in the game."


more...

 

[Times Daily]

 

 

 


Building for a half-century: Brasfield & Gorrie has spent 50 years constructing Birmingham and beyond

on June 29, 2014 

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - A drive through Birmingham can easily serve as a testament to Brasfield & Gorrie's 50-year history.

 

From the Regions Harbert Tower that defines the downtown skyline to iconic projects like Kirklin Clinic, the Hugo Black Courthouse, the McWane Science Center and even Birmingham Green, it's likely that no company has left as big of a thumbprint on modern-day Birmingham as Brasfield & Gorrie.

 

The construction company started a half-century ago today with the sale of some IBMstock and the realization that in order to make a name for himself, Miller Gorrie needed a name that was already made.

 

Since building a cabin with his father on some farmland the family owned, Gorrie was interested in engineering and construction. His father, an IBM salesman, also encouraged the young Miller Gorrie to invest in the company, which he did starting as a teenager.

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 

 




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