MONTGOMERY - Governor Robert Bentley on Friday announced that Alabama's preliminary, seasonally adjusted February unemployment rate is 5.8%, down from January's rate of 6.0%, and well below February 2014's rate of 7.2%.

"Alabama's February unemployment rate is very good news for our state," Governor Bentley said. "This month's drop contributes to the 15 month trend we've seen with no increase in unemployment. Over two million Alabamians are working - the most since 2008. Our economy supported more jobs in February than it has during the same period since 2008. We also experienced a significant increase in construction jobs,  which bodes well for the state's economic health."

Preliminary data shows that all 67 counties experienced unemployment rate decreases both month over month and year over year.

A Pennsylvania-based company that produces gases for industries and medical and research facilities plans to build $64 million plant in Tuscaloosa.

Airgas Merchant Gases LLC announced its plans Thursday at the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority meeting.

The plant will be built on 10-acre site on Holt Road Northeast, across from Nucor Steel-Tuscaloosa. Nucor will be a major customer of the gases - oxygen, argon and nitrogen - that the plant will produce and then transport in liquidized form to customers. Airgas will have a 20-year lease for the acreage from Nucor.

A ceremony at Dorsey Trailer of Elba last Friday morning, March 20, revealed an expansion and creation of additional jobs for the one of the city's oldest industries.

Governor Robert Bentley was scheduled to participate in the announcement, but weather conditions Friday morning prevented him from making the trip to Elba. He sent his regards noting his disappointment at not being able to be on site for the positive economic announcement.

The ceremony opened with an invocation by Rev. Michael Woodham, pastor of First Baptist Church of Elba.

"This is a great day for Alabama, Coffee County, and especially, Elba, Alabama," said Jonathan Tullos, executive director of the Wiregrass Economic Development Corporation. "We are here to celebrate the growth of Dorsey as it makes plans to expand and create 50 new jobs."

Koch Foods in Gadsden is expanding again. The firm, which in October announced plans to add 80 jobs, will be adding 70 more, the Gadsden City Council announced Tuesday.