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:

 


Tate & Lyle sweetens McIntosh Splenda plant's future with $25M consolidation plan

on April 22, 2015 

Washington County's slice of the economic development pie got a little sweeter this week after London-based Tate & Lyle PLC unveiled plans to consolidate sucralose production at its McIntosh, Ala., Splenda facility.

 

The restructuring plan calls for the strengthening of the company's specialty food ingredients operations via the spring 2016 closure of its Singapore facility and consolidation of all global sucralose production at the McIntosh plant to cut costs and position the Splenda brand as a "more focused, low-cost and sustainable business."

 

"At the moment we don't know the exact figure, but there will be an increase in employment associated with this particular project," Austin Monk, director of theWashington County Economic Development Initiative, said of the deal expected to close in early to mid-summer.

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 

 


2 Decatur companies announce plans to invest millions in expansion projects

on April 22, 2015 

Two Decatur companies, one of which will be a supplier for Polaris' new Huntsville plant, will invest more than $7 million on projects in 2015.

 

The Morgan County Economic Development Association (MCEDA) announced this morning Feralloy Corporation and Vision Wheel will both begin construction in May.

 

Feralloy, a steel processing facility that employs 56 workers on Red Hat Road, will spend $2.8 million to purchase and install new equipment. While no new core jobs are expected, the company said it will add construction positions during the project, which should end in May 2016.

 

The new equipment will allow Feralloy to reach new clients and cut heavier gauge steel, MCEDA said.

 

more...

[al.com]

 

 


Airbus taps Tier 1 supplier for Mobile's A320 assembly line; 5,000-square-foot lab on tap

on April 23, 2015 
  

With only months remaining until its A320 final assembly line begins production at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley,Airbus has awarded ATT Metrology Services Inc. Tier 1 supplier status and the metrology contract for its $600 million facility.

 

The Issaquah, Wa.-based large-volume precision measurement and alignment services company plans to build out an existing aeroplex structure to house a 5,000-square-foot thermally controlled laboratory that should be operational when the aircraft manufacturer begins production this summer.

 

Joan Ihlenfeldt, ATT's chief operating officer, said the contract means the 27-year-old company will address all of the final assembly line's dimensional metrology needs and provides a long-awaited foothold outside of the nation's Pacific Northwest aerospace cluster.

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 


The technology transfer offices of Alabama's research universities increasingly use innovations to incubate homegrown startup companies

TEXT BY JESSICA ARMSTRONG 

April 2015

 

The University of Alabama at Birmingham's Dugald Hall is responsible for making sure good ideas from UAB can find their way to market.

 

Gone is the image of the university as an ivory tower, that metaphoric turret where professors and researchers labor in isolation far removed from the harsh realities of daily life.


 

Academia has been plunged into the world at large. 


 

But publishing research - the time-honored way of sharing academic discovery - doesn't guarantee that the discovery will reach consumers or even get noticed.

 

more...

 

[Business Alabama]

 


 

Who do you think you are? HudsonAlpha will be able to tell you
Jessi Watts and WAFF 48 Anchor Liz Hurley. 
April 21 ,2015

HUNSTVILLE, AL (WAFF) -Who Do You Think You Are? 

 

It's not just a popular television series. It's a revolutionary approach to deciphering the human body one genome at a time, all six billion of them!


Starting this Friday, Huntsville's HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology will embark on a cutting edge journey to begin unraveling the mystery that is you.

 

The Institute will become one of the few places in the world to offer whole-gene sequencing, expanding its research to real people.

 

 

more...

 

[WSFA]

 

 

 



 

BioAlabama 2015 Science Symposium and Annual Meeting Slated for May 13


 

Birmingham, AL  - BioAlabama, the life science trade association for Alabama's biotechnology industry will connect corporate organizations and academia at this year's Science Symposium and Annual Meeting, May 13 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in Birmingham.

 

This year's leading-edge symposium speakers will discuss breakthrough discoveries, innovative devices, diagnostics, and genomic sequencing amongst the morning symposium. Confirmed symposium topics include: Drug Discovery, Diagnostics, Medical Devices and Genomics.  Ground breaking scientific and corporate presentations from teams across Alabama will be featured including Auburn University, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, The Innovation Depot, University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of South Alabama and more.

 

"BioAlabama is excited to again host this scientific symposium and annual meeting," said Carter Wells, Chairman of the Board for BioAlabama.  "Showcasing the cutting-edge research, development and commercialization coming out of our leading institutions and life science companies is beneficial to those all across the state-whether industry, local or state government or academia. Alabama has a great deal to be proud of in the biosciences."

 

The Alabama life sciences industry continues to flourish and be recognized globally for meaningful contributions to human and environmental health and to agriculture. BioAlabama recently released the updated Alabama Life Sciences Report. The report indicates the life sciences industry in Alabama has experienced strong annual growth of 7.9% with new biotech companies, start-ups and discoveries leading the way. This emerging economic engine can be seen in the 295 total life science entities and their more than 10,000 employees in our state.

 

"The Alabama biotechnology community is strong and is having a significant economic impact on the state," said Kathy Nugent, Ph.D., President of BioAlabama.  "BioAlabama will continue to drive strategic initiatives that strengthen our existing talent, foster economic development and ensure that Alabama reaches its full potential as a leader in the life sciences industry."

 

Dr. Michael Chambers, President and CEO of Swift Biotechnology of Mobile, sees the continued focus and growth of the life sciences industry in Alabama as an advantage for organizations all across the state.

 

"Swift Biotech has not only seen the growth of the life sciences industry in Alabama, but the linkage of our talent and resources throughout the state as we explore collaborations and partnerships with each other. Having a forum and a trade association gives our companies a greater voice and demonstrates to citizens and leaders alike the important work that we do in saving lives and improving care," added Chambers.

 

 

 

 

 



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