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:
Alabama unemployment rate climbs to 7 percent in July
Brewed - and milked - at home in Alabama
More than 53,000 online job ads in Alabama in July; see 10 most-wanted occupations
Bishop State boosting high-tech course offerings via $10,000 collaborative grant
Birmingham startup may have the solution for hot-car deaths

 


Alabama unemployment rate climbs to 7 percent in July

on August 15, 2014 

Alabama's official unemployment rate for July 2014 was 7 percent, the first time it's been that high since October 2012.

 

But the number of jobs supported by the economy grew by more than 1 percent, the first time that's happened since January.

 

The government measures the strength of the job market in two ways. It contacts residents directly in their homes to ask about their employment status (called the household survey), and it collects information from businesses to see how many workers they employ (called the establishment survey). These numbers could tell different stories when, for example, someone that already had a job got an additional part-time position. 

 

 

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[al.com]

 

 

 


 

Brewed - and milked - at home in Alabama

On the side of Alabama Chai's bottles, you'll find the phrase "the tastiest are milked in Alabama." Judging by the new startup's soaring sales of the first ready-to-drink dairy chai beverage in the country, it looks like tasty ones are brewed here, too.

 

Marshall Malone is a tea expert. He's traveled the globe to learn about the world's varieties of loose teas and their place in different cultures. He knows how to brew a single loose tea - hot, iced or frozen - and have it taste great every time. He knows how to stuff a turkey with loose tea and cook it to perfection. So it's no surprise that his newest tea company, Alabama Chai, has created the first ready-to-drink dairy chai beverage in the country.

 

Chai tea lattes are a staple of coffee shops across the country, but most people don't know that chai concentrates and powders are an $84 million industry in the U.S. Tea maven and Homewood resident Marshall Malone is tapping into people's love with Alabama Chai.

 

more....

 

[Weld]

 

 

 

 

 


 

 More than 53,000 online job ads in Alabama in July; see 10 most-wanted occupations
on August 15, 2014 

There were more than 53,000 total online job ads in Alabama last month, but that figure fell about 0.32 percent from Junethe Alabama Department of Labor reported this morning.

 

Although the statewide joblessness rate in July climbed to 7 percent, the number of jobs supported by the economy grew by more than 1 percent. Read the full unemployment report or click here to see your specific county.

 

Help Wanted Online (HWOL) data from the state shows there were 165,476 unemployed workers, 53,321 total online job ads and 28,140 new online job ads in July. There were three unemployed workers for every online job ad posted.

 

more...

 

[al.com]


 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Bishop State boosting high-tech course offerings via $10,000 collaborative grant
on August 14, 2014 
 

MOBILE, Alabama - Bishop State Community Collegewill soon offer new courses in lasers and fiber optics courtesy of a $10,000 grant and alliance with regional partners to promote high-tech fields.

 

Specifically, the college's electronic engineering technology program has partnered with both Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Fla., and Laser and Fiber Optics Regional Center, also known as LASER-TEC, to expand its high-tech offerings.

 

LASER-TEC, also based in Fort Pierce, is comprised of community and state colleges, universities, high schools and technical centers, trade associations, and laser and fiber optic companies across the region and is funded by the National Science Foundation Advanced Technical Education Grant. Launched in September 2013, the grant program is designed to create a sustainable pipeline of qualified laser and fiber optics technicians to meet the industry demand across the southeast.


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Birmingham startup may have the solution for hot-car deaths
 
 Alan Alexander Reporter-Birmingham Business Journal
Aug 13, 2014

Perhaps the biggest issue raised among parents the last few summers has been the sudden prevalence of children being found locked inside a car on a hot day.

 

This obviously poses a serious danger, and Birmingham startup Studio Whale may have found the solution with its product Starfish, a car seat accessory that links to a user's mobile device and alerts them if they venture too far from a car still occupied by a child on the seat.

 

"For me, this technology is all about saving lives. If the trend continues, 40 U.S. children will perish from hot car incidents this year alone. Starfish is a simple way to prevent these tragedies from happening," said Studio Whale founder Matthew Sheets.


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