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.
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In this issue:
Alabama Power donates to UWA College of Business
Gov. Robert Bentley to visit Shoals today for ribbon cutting of CBC INGS America plant
'Green' Huntsville Toyota engine plant hasn't landfilled manufacturing waste in 10 years
Building Benchmarks for 50 Years
Dothan among country's lowest on cost of living
As recommendation deadline for oil storage tanks looms, study pegs Mobile energy sector's annual impact at $4billion
The 2014 Southern Automotive Conference early registration ends Sept 19
The Macon County Economic Development Authority to host an open house Friday at its newest available industry in Shorter

  

Alabama Power donates to UWA College of Business

By SHELBY CAMPBELL / The Demopolis Times

Sept. 9, 2014

 

New plans were made at the University of West Alabama with a visit from Alabama Power employees to the quarterly Board of Trustees meeting Monday afternoon.

 

UWA President John Blackwell was pleased to announce that Alabama Power would be donating a gift of $150,000 to the College of Business for the applied manufacturing technology degree.

 

"This is one of the bright spots, and it is getting brighter every day," said Alabama Power employee Mark Cruze. "It's about getting smaller victories and moving forward."

 

 

 more...

 

 

  

Gov. Robert Bentley to visit Shoals today for ribbon cutting of CBC INGS America plant

on September 10, 2014 

MUSCLE SHOALS, Alabama - Gov. Robert Bentley will be in the Shoals this afternoon to cut the ribbon on CBC INGS America's new manufacturing facility.

 

CBC INGS, which will employ 130 workers by 2016, operates on 3137 E. Sixth St. in Shoals Research Airpark in Muscle Shoals. Announced in 2013, the $24 million state-of-the-art project makes plastic-molded and metal-coated automotive parts.

 

The ribbon cutting with Bentley and other officials will kick off at 4 p.m.

 

more...

[al.com]

 

 


 

 

  

 

'Green' Huntsville Toyota engine plant hasn't landfilled manufacturing waste in 10 years

on September 10, 2014 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Management officials at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama say the Huntsville engine plant is one of the most recognized "green" manufacturing environments in the country; and one of two model sustainable green technology plants in the Toyota North America enterprise.

 

What might surprise you is that the Huntsville plant hasn't sent manufacturing waste to a landfill in over 10 years since operations began in 2003.

 

"Sustainability is the key to the success of any green program," says Emily Lauder, general manager of administration for Toyota in Huntsville. "As a new powertrain facility, we wanted to become a leader in environmental operations, constantly improving that performance by forming partnerships in the community. Ours is a friendly plan led by environmental manager Jeneen Horton, who has built partnerships with nonprofits throughout North Alabama, to ensure that sustainability."

 

more....

 

[al.com]

 

  

Building Benchmarks for 50 Years

TEXT BY GAIL ALLYN SHORT
September 2014

 

Work on the new Grandview Medical Center on U.S. 280 in Birmingham is moving forward more than a decade after the building's former owner brought construction to a halt. One firm that is back on the job is Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors. The company has been in business for 50 years, and, like the structure itself, has weathered change since the day of its founding.

 

HealthSouth Corp. started construction on the hospital in 2002 with a promise to build a state-of-the-art, digital facility. But by 2003, the project, overseen by Brasfield & Gorrie, stalled when HealthSouth faced charges of accounting fraud. HealthSouth later sold the property to the Daniel Corp. 

 

Then in 2008, Trinity Medical Center announced plans to purchase the hospital and relocate from its Montclair Road campus in Birmingham. Other area hospitals objected to the move and launched challenges before a state regulatory board and in the courts, until 2013, when the Alabama Supreme Court refused to hear the case. Trinity then closed on the transaction for $37.6 million and selected Brasfield & Gorrie, in partnership with A.G. Gaston, to manage the hospital's completion.

 

When construction resumed, one of the first tasks was upgrading and retrofitting equipment such as boilers, chillers, generators and air handling units throughout the hospital, says Senior Project Manager Susan Stabler.

 

more...

 

[Business Alabama]

 

  

Dothan among country's lowest on cost of living

by Jennifer Calhoun

Posted on Sep.  9, 2014

 

Dothan residents tend to have a lower cost of living than many areas of the country, especially when it comes to doctor visit costs and total energy costs, according to a recent report that found the city's cost of living to be among the lowest in the country.

 

The report, which was published by the Council for Community and Economic Research, ranked Dothan 42nd out of the 279 metropolitan areas that participated. Dothan also was only a few index points below those that ranked in the top 10.

 

Dothan's overall index number in the report was 89.5, which was based on relative prices for consumer goods and services, including housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare and other miscellaneous items.

 

more...

 

[Dothan Eagle]

  

As recommendation deadline for oil storage tanks looms, study pegs Mobile energy sector's annual impact at $4 billion

on September 09, 2014 
  

MOBILE, Alabama - The Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce presented Tuesday the findings of an independent study estimating the annual economic impact of the region's energy sector hovers between $4 billion and $5 billion.

 

"Understanding Mobile's economy and its ties to the energy sector is essential to preparing and planning for our continued growth and prosperity," said Bill Sisson, the chamber's president and chief executive officer, after "Economic Impact of the Energy Sector and Petroleum Tank Storage Industry on Mobile County" was presented to the chamber's board of directors, Partners for Growth steering committee and energy committee members.

 

The $30,000 study, conducted by Auburn University Montgomery economist Keivan Deravi and AUM Senior Program manager Barbara Buchanan, was commissioned by the chamber's nonprofit foundation. 

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 


  

 

 

 

The 2014 Southern Automotive Conference early registration ends Sept 19!

 The annual Southern Automotive Conference original equipment manufacturers panel will feature Honda, Mercedes, Kia, Nissan and Toyota.


  Bill Taylor, president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, will lead the group of OEM leaders in a discussion about "Managing for the Future - the OEM Approach."

 

 Attendees will learn about management strategies the OEMs use today that help improve employee retention, quality and safety. The panel will share tips that make a difference in their plants and contribute to their success. Click here for the latest agenda.

 

The 2014 SAC will focus on how the South is Geared for Growth and accelerating the global automotive industry by focusing workforce, innovation and supplier excellence.

Join us in Birmingham and be a part of the conversation. Visit the SAC website to register. Arrive early and take a Birmingham Brewery tour!

 

Hotel room rate available until Sept 13!
October 8-10, Birmingham, AL

The Southern Automotive Women's Forum would like to invite SAC attendees to their annual Chocolate Affair which will take place at 5:30 p.m. October 8 in Birmingham. Check their website for details and to register.


 

 

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

The Macon County Economic Development Authority to host an open house Friday at its newest available industrial building in Shorter 


 

 The open house is Friday, Sept. 12, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.  The building is situated on a 13.39-acre site located east of Montgomery off Interstate-85 at Exit 22 in the Shorter Technology Park.

 

 This property is close to the KIA and Hyundai manufacturing facilities. 

 

 From Exit 22, follow the arrow signs to Halla Bama Drive (same road as Halla Climate Systems of Alabama). 

 

 For more information, contact: Joe Turnham, Macon County Economic Development Authority, (334) 725-8496 Office, (334) 444-2672 Cell, or visit  www.madeinmacon.com.

 

 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Enjoy the day, 

Val Walton
   
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