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:
Austal USA launches USNS Brunswick, the U.S. Navy's sixth joint high-speed vessel in 10-ship contract
Alabama's April Unemployment Rate is 5.8%
Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley hatches engineering incubator 2203
New Pilot to take off from Honda's Alabama plant, lifting workforce
From Google to One-Gig Opelika

 

Austal USA launches USNS Brunswick, the U.S. Navy's sixth joint high-speed vessel in 10-ship contract

May 19, 2015 
  

 

Austal launched Tuesday the recently christened USNS Brunswick, the Australian shipbuilder's sixth joint high-speed vessel in a $1.6 billion, 10-ship contract.

 

The milestone also marked the second U.S. Navy ship launched at Austal USA's Mobile shipyard in less than three months.

 

The 338-foot Brunswick will now undergo final outfitting and testing before sea trials and delivery to the U.S. Navy before the close of 2015.

 

more...

 

[al.com]

 

 

Alabama's April Unemployment Rate is 5.8%

May 22, 2015 

 

 

MONTGOMERY - Governor Robert Bentley on Friday announced that Alabama's preliminary, seasonally adjusted April unemployment rate is 5.8%.

 

"Alabama's April unemployment rate has some positive numbers about the economy," Governor Robert Bentley said. "The number of people in the labor force is up, the number of people employed is up, wage and salary employment is up, and the number of job orders posted on JobLink is up. Our economic development efforts will continue until every Alabamian who wants a job has the opportunity to find one."

 

The Civilian Labor Force (CLF) increased in April by 12,214, while the number of people counted as employed increased by 10,019.

 

more...

 

[governor.alabama.gov]


 


Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley hatches engineering incubator 2203
May 22, 2015

 

Three new companies opened up shop quietly in Mobile recently, signaling both the growth of the Port City's engineering sector and a new approach to tenant recruitment at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley.

 

The global engineering services companies - Sonovision, Inter-Informatics and AKKA Technologies - currently share about 3,500-square-feet of space on the first floor of a 14,000-square-foot building adjacent to roughly 100,000 unoccupied square feet of operational warehouse space that combined comprise 2203 Perimeter Road.

 

By design, the newest arrivals work alongside veteran tenant Safran Engineering, with all four operations servicing the Airbus Engineering Center on the far side of the aeroplex campus.


more...

 

New Pilot to take off from Honda's Alabama plant, lifting workforce

By Michael Tomberlin, Alabama NewsCenter
May 22, 2015

Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) today started writing the latest chapter in what has been a 15-year success story as the automaker began mass producing the revamped 2016 Honda Pilot SUV. 

 

"Today we celebrate the incredible dedication of our Alabama team to delivering an outstanding new Pilot that will set the course for others to follow," said Jeff Tomko, president of HMA. "I want to congratulate our associates for their unqualified commitment to building a new Pilot of the highest quality that exceeds the expectations of our customers."

 

When an automaker like Honda makes a major model change, the benefits are significant for the entire state, according to Bill Taylor, president of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama.

 

more...

 

[Alabama NewsCenter]

 

 

From Google to One-Gig Opelika

By Jessica Armstrong, Business Alabama

May 22, 2015

 

 

As Kyle Sandler works to turn Opelika into a startup hub, he might be surprised to learn that he shares his driving force with Booker T. Washington. 

 

"Cast down your bucket where you are," the Tuskegee Institute president famously declared in his 1895 speech that laid the foundation for the Atlanta compromise between blacks and Southern white leaders. In other words, make the most of any situation you find yourself in. 

 

That's the premise behind Round House, a business incubator Sandler opened last year near the tracks in downtown Opelika - that innovation can take root and flourish far from Silicon Valley, even in a small Southern railroad town. 

 

more...

 

[Business Alabama]

 

 


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