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.
Obtaining more research funds has always been a point of emphasis for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, but turning those dollars into commercial success and economic development opportunities is quickly becoming more of a focus for the school.
Last year, the school experienced an uptick in funding from the National Institutes of Health that broke a 12-year decline, but university officials say a better job can be done leveraging those research dollars to gain investments, licensing agreements and to spin off new companies.
That job falls to the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which was rebranded from the UAB Research Foundation in 2013 and has since formed a strategy to improve its own metrics.
Alabama saw a 3 percent climb in construction employment year-over-year in April.
According to new data released by the Associated General Contractors of America, Alabama was one of 40 states and the District of Columbia to see employment rise in the industry during the month.
There were 81,500 jobs in the state in April, compared to 79,100 the previous year. The number was slightly down from 81,700 in February.
The city and the state of Alabama have committed more than $11 million so far to build the new Greenbrier Parkway in Huntsville-annexed Limestone County
From its starting point near the Target distribution center, the wide boulevard will veer off Greenbrier Road and curve northwest through what is now mostly undeveloped farmland north of Interstate 565.
But Huntsville officials say growth in the area is inevitable with Polaris building a massive all-terrain vehicle manufacturing plant off Greenbrier Road. The factory and separate research and development facility, due to open in 2016, will employ at least 1,700 people.
Roger Wehner realized he helped build something great when he saw a little kid tracing the rising path of a plane through the sky, then run with his arms outstretched hoping to catch some air.
The plane taking off was from the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, also the home of the new Airbus U.S. manufacturing facility. The kid belongs to the surrounding community of Dauphin Island Parkway.
And the connection between the two is what Wehner holds as the most rewarding prize he has ever received.
