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:
Wise purchase praised
Dothan officials to travel to China to recruit new businesses
Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance thanks area industries
National Manufacturing Day: Auburn Training Connection promotes industry, economic development
Output at Hyundai's Alabama plant continues to rise
Alabama port plans auto terminal

  


Wise purchase praised

By Lisa Singleton-Rickman Staff Writer 

October 5, 2014 

 

Former Florence Mayor Bobby Irons played an integral role 15 years ago in negotiating Wise Alloys' purchase of Reynolds Metals' Muscle Shoals operation, and was pleased by the latest ownership change for the local industry.

 

Irons said Constellium's announcement Friday of a $1.4 billion deal to purchase Wise was "all good."

 

Irons, who spent 30 years in management with Reynolds, said Amsterdam-based Constellium has strong financial resources. Constellium has 8,219 employees worldwide, not including the 1,250 who would be absorbed from Wise.

 

"To have the financial strength of this company is a huge asset for Wise," Irons said. "Aluminum is such a commodity and you can get into trouble financially in just a matter of a month, so to have this company with such a strong financial background at the helm is a great thing."

 

more...

 

[Times Daily]


 

  


 

Dothan officials to travel to China to recruit new businesses
By Rosanna Smith
Oct. 2, 2014 
DOTHAN, AL (WSFA) - City, business, and educational leaders in Dothan will soon be headed to overseas with a goal of bringing more businesses to the Wiregrass.

Beijing and Hong Kong are just two of the seven cities that Mayor Mike Schmitz along with seven others will visit during their tour of China.

 

The trip comes six months after the U.S.-China manufacturing symposium wrapped up. Since the symposium, several Chinese companies have visited the area.

 

Mayor Schmitz says during the tour, the group will visit the factories and explore the workforce needs of six prospective businesses with the ultimate goal of bringing them to the Wiregrass to set up shop.

 

more...

 

[WSFA]

 

  


 


Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance thanks area industries
By Mitch Sneed
October 3, 2014

The Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance said thank you to local industries Friday morning with a breakfast held at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center on the campus of Central Alabama Community College.

 

The breakfast was to mark National Industry Day, but leaders like

LMAEDA Executive Director Don McClellan said they will recognize local industry all month.

 

"We are excited about where we are right now and are thankful to have so many industries here and others who are considering our area," McClellan said. "We thing we are poised to see some big things in the very near future and we are already seeing some of those now."

 

more...

 

[Alex City Outlook]

 

  


National Manufacturing Day: Auburn Training Connection promotes industry, economic development

Sara Falligant | Opelika-Auburn News |

Oct. 3, 2014

 

Friday marked National Manufacturing Day, and the Auburn Training Center celebrated with tours and an open house.

 

The facility on Pumphrey Avenue serves as a business incubator, as well as housing Auburn University's flight simulator and hosting a number of high school and college career technology classes. ATC also boasts a community development block grant division.

 

"(The facility) covers everything from a crane company to a 3-D printing company to a logistics company to a newspaper. ...We're trying to bring in some high-tech companies," said Cary Cox, director of workforce development for the City of Auburn. "We partner with Auburn University a lot on classes here, as well as the Auburn Technical Assistance Center, the Alabama Technology Network and Southern Union."

 

more...

 

[Opelika-Auburn News]

 

  


Output at Hyundai's Alabama plant continues to rise

on October 03, 2014 

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Workers at Hyundai's Alabama factory produced more than 35,000 vehicles last month, an increase from August and the second-highest monthly output so far this year.

 

The Montgomery plant turned out 23,618 Sonatas. The sedan was redesigned for the 2015 model year, and Hyundai began rolling it out to dealers during the summer.

 

Workers also built 12,091 Elantra compacts. The plant ran overtime last month, with two production Saturdays scheduled.

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 

  


Alabama port plans auto terminal

Joseph Bonney, Senior Editor | 

Oct 03, 2014

 

The Alabama State Port Authority plans to develop a 300-acre automobile import-export terminal at Mobile to attract import vehicles and grab a share of the burgeoning vehicle manufacturing business in the mid-South.

 

"We've been looking at this for a while," port CEO James K. Lyons told joc.com. "We think this is a very viable business opportunity for us."

 

Automobile manufacturing is a growth industry in the region. Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Honda operate assembly plants in Alabama.  Kia, Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen and General Motors operate or are building plants in the adjacent states of Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia.


more...

 

[JOC.com]

 




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