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:
The Shape of Success
Hyundai sets August sales record
Auto job fair to be held Sept. 13 in Tuscaloosa
Asahi Kasei Plastics hiring process engineers for new $30 million production plant in Athens
What makes a city attractive? A conversation with Jennifer Skjellum of TechBirmingham
Hear and learn more about the 4th Annual Alabama Launchpad Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference in Birmingham on Sept. 25-26
See full list of 2014 Alabama Retailers of the Year to be honored Sept. 23 in Birmingham
Early registration ends Sept. 19 for the 2014 Southern Automotive Conference

  


 

The Shape of Success
This year's Top Utilities in Economic Development exhibit resourcefulness and resilience on behalf of those they serve.
by ADAM BRUNS

Utility economic development was born a century or so ago so more customers would use more electrons. Gradually it came to expand its mission to include plugging into business networks and clusters. Its future may have more to do with the ability to unplug - or at least to squeeze every electron for all it's worth.

Each year Site Selection salutes the top utility economic development teams in the US. Chief among the criteria is analysis of corporate end-user project activity in 2013 in those utilities' territories, based on data from Site Selection's New Plant Database and from utility and community reports. Other criteria include website tools and data; innovative programs and incentives for business, including energy efficiency and renewable energy programs; and the utility's own job-creating infrastructure and facility investment trends.

 

Here are some highlights from the 10 leaders in their field, presented in alphabetical order:

 

Alabama Power 
Birmingham, Ala. 
amazingalabama.com

Serving 1.4 million customers across the southern two-thirds of Alabama, the Southern Company subsidiary's economic development team helped companies create 1,810 new jobs in 2013 with total capital investment closing in on $2 billion.

 

more...

 

[Site Selection]



 

 

  


 



Hyundai sets August sales record
Brad Harper, Montgomery Advertiser
September 3, 2014

Hyundai continued its run of record-breaking American sales months in August, while the Montgomery assembly plant hit a six-month high in production to feed that demand.

 

Hyundai Motor America reported its best August sales month in company history Wednesday, with sales up six percent year-over-year to 70,003 units. It was the fourth consecutive month that the company has reported a record sales total.

 

Montgomery-made Sonata and Elantra sedans led the way again, with each model topping 20,000 vehicles sold for the month.

 

more...

 

  


Auto job fair to be held Sept. 13 in Tuscaloosa

Automotive suppliers hope to fill more than 200 positions 

By Patrick Rupinski
Business Editor | The Tuscaloosa News
September 3, 2014 

Between 200 and 400 jobs will be offered to job seekers at an automotive hiring fair Sept. 13 at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy, 2800 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

 

 The hiring fair will be from 9 a.m. to noon.

 

The free job fair will have representatives from at least nine automotive suppliers in the Tuscaloosa area who will do on-site interviews to fill entry-level jobs in production, service and material handling.

Many of the available jobs are with contractors and service providers for Mercedes-Benz U.S. International in Vance. The jobs will pay up to $14 an hour.

 

more...

 

[Tuscaloosa News]

  


 

Asahi Kasei Plastics hiring process engineers for new $30 million production plant in Athens
By Lucy Berry | [email protected] 
on September 03, 2014 

ATHENS, Alabama - Officials with one of Limestone County's newest economic development projects are looking to hire process engineers in Athens.

 

Asahi Kasei Plastics, which announced in lateMay it would invest more than $30 million in a new Athens production plant, is expected to employ 100 workers when it is at full capacity. Located on a 51-acre site in Elm Industrial Park, the facility will be operational by early 2016.

 

The plant will process plastic resin into a finished pellet product that will be shipped to plastic injection molding facilities, where the material will be transformed into automobile components. Asahi's plastic is used in furniture, pools and spas, industrial equipment and more.

 

more...

[al.com]

 


  


 

What makes a city attractive? A conversation with Jennifer Skjellum of TechBirmingham

on September 03, 2014 

What does the Birmingham technology scene need in order to grow?

 

Almost everyone I've spoken to has mentioned the need for more VC funding, more experienced developers, more programmers, and better visibility on the national stage.

 

We may even need a municipal project that puts a spotlight on us.

 

All of these things, though, compound upon one another.

 

more...

 

[al.com]


 


 

 

 

 


 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  


 

 

Hear and learn more about the 4th Annual Alabama Launchpad Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference in Birmingham on Sept. 25-26


 

Greg Sheek, Alabama Launchpad's programs director, gives the latest details on the conference in an interview with ABC 33/40.


 

Click here to watch the interview.


 

See a full conference agenda.
 

 Register and join us to celebrate Alabama's innovation successes! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  


 

See full list of 2014 Alabama Retailers of the Year to be honored Sept. 23 in Birmingham

on September 03, 2014 

Thirteen retailers with stores in north, central and south Alabama will be recognized later this month during the 2014 Alabama Retail Day Luncheon with Gov. Robert Bentley.

 

Hosted by the Alabama Retail Association in Montgomery and University of Alabama at Birmingham's Collat School of Business, the 33rd-annual luncheon will take place Sept. 23 on 400 Beaumont Drive in Birmingham. 

 

Bentley will deliver the keynote speech during the event, which begins at 11:30 a.m.

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 

 

 

 



 


 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 


 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  


 




Early registration ends Sept. 19 for the 2014 Southern Automotive Conference 

 

October 8-10, Birmingham


In October, senior executives from OEMs from across the southeast will showcase their plants' latest developments. Key elected officials from southern states will discuss maintaining and increasing the region's competitive advantage. OEMs and suppliers will roll up their sleeves and talk about supplier best practices to ensure that, as an industry, we meet the growing challenges of the global market. Join us in Birmingham and be a part of the conversation. Visit the SAC website to register
. Don't forget to plan to arrive early and play a round of golf or take a tour of Birmingham breweries! Golf registration deadline is Sept 8!

 

The SAC is hosted by the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association in partnership with the Tennessee (TAMA) and Mississippi (AAMA) automotive manufacturers associations and support from the Georgia (GAMA) and South Carolina (SCAC) associations.


 


 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 


 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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Enjoy the day, 

Val Walton
   
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