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:

600+ pre-register for Cullman area job fair

Dai-ichi, Protective donate $4 million for advancements in Alabama

Learn about Alabama's crowdfunding law at free workshop next week in downtown Huntsville

Brighter days ahead for solar energy

Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield to attend the AlabamaGermany Partnership annual celebration dinner in Mobile

Alabama 4Q residential sales climb

Bryan Davis Reporter-Birmingham Business Journal

Feb. 23, 2015

Alabama's residential sales continue to gain strength.

During 2014's final quarter, the state saw 10,351 single-family homes sold. That is a 7.5 percent increase over 4Q 2013,according to new data released by the Alabama Center for Real Estate.

That also represents an 18 percent increase over the five-year average between 2009-2013.

more...

[Birmingham Business Journal]

600+ pre-register for Cullman area job fair

By Trent Moore

Feb 22, 2015

A local job fair aiming to address 150-200 immediate job openings for local industries has already seen more than 600 pre-applications filed, and officials believe that total could swell even more before the registration period closes on Tuesday.

Local industries Rehau, Topre, and Alabama Cullman Yutaka Technologies (ACYT) have between 150-200 new jobs to fill (most at Rehau), so the companies have joined with the Cullman city and county economic development agencies, the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce,

Wallace State and a host of other groups to stage an industrial job fair to raise awareness of the positions available locally - and hopefully fill them as quickly as possible.

The fair is set to run from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28. It will be hosted at the School of Nursing Center at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.

more...

[Cullman Times]

Dai-ichi, Protective donate $4 million for advancements in Alabama

February 23, 2015

BIRMINGHAM - Tokyo-based Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. teamed up with Birmingham-basedProtective Life Corp. this morning to announce $4.1 million in donations that will have significant impacts on medical research, education and culture in Alabama.

The donations announced today follow the Feb. 1 completion of a formal merger between Dai-ichi, Japan's second largest life insurance company, and Protective, whose roots in Alabama's largest city date back to 1907.

At a ceremony this morning at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the companies said the $4.1 million in gifts will be split between the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), in partnership with Southern Research; the University of Alabama's Culverhouse College of Commerce; and the Botanical Gardens.

more...

[madeinalabama]

Learn about Alabama's crowdfunding law at free workshop next week in downtown Huntsville

By Lucy Berry | lberry@al.com

on February 20, 2015

Want to learn about Alabama's crowdfunding law? A free workshop explaining the nearly 1-year-old bill will be held next week in downtown Huntsville.

The event, "Crowdfunding in Alabama: What the New Crowdfunding Law Means for You," will be hosted by George Smith of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, Phil Schmerling of InCrowd Capital and David Cochran of Huntsville Startup Ventures.

Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, drafted the bill with help from the Alabama Securities Commission. It was signed into law in April 2014 by Gov. Robert Bentley, allowing residents who are launching small businesses to raise money for their startups.

more...

[al.com]

Brighter days ahead for solar energy

Brad Harper, Montgomery Advertiser

February 22, 2015

When Richard Alme helped start a solar business in Atlanta seven years ago, the company just installed solar panels on roofs around the city.

Now American PortableSolar is one of three companies he manages, doing everything from building solar-fueled recharging kits for the military to solar-powered air conditioners for police K9 units. His business has expanded across the Southeast and even overseas.

"Alabama has been a very good state for us, particularly along the Gulf Coast," Alme said. "The solar industry is still in growth mode. The curve is still quite steep."

more...

[Montgomery Advertiser]

Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield to attend the AlabamaGermany Partnership annual celebration dinner in Mobile

This is the 17th Annual Dinner of the AlabamaGermany Partnership. The program will furthermore include special guests; Consul General of Federal Republic of Germany Christoph Sander, and Guy Hicks, Airbus Group.

AlabamaGermany Partnership's (AGP) Board of Directors will recognize several German companies with recent investments and expansions in Alabama, at their Annual Dinner to be held in Mobile on March 5th at the Aircraft Pavilion at the Battleship USS Alabama from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

One other award will be presented at the dinner - the Rainer Bauer Award. Mobile is the home of Evonik Industries, a German company that can celebrate 42 years in Alabama later this year. Click here to register.

For more information, visit the website.

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Enjoy the day,

Val Walton

vwalton@edpa.org