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 a bid to further penetrate the automotive market and combat increased competition, AM/NS Calvert LLC is preparing to invest another nearly $88 million in its north Mobile County facility.
The county's Industrial Development Authority approved Thursday total ad valorem and sales tax abatements totaling roughly $8.5 million during the 20-year impact period for the requested 10-year abatements.
Oliver Turpin, a project management specialist for AM/NS Calvert's, said the "multi-activity" expansion project would - among other quality-centered improvements - allow for the production of two new high-strength steel varieties, one incorporating an aluminized coating used primarily by the automotive sector to combat corrosion and another non-coated material with a variety of applications.
The luxury vehicles assembled by workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County helped the German automaker set sales records in June.
On a global scale, Mercedes sold more than 898,000 vehicles from January to June, an all-time high and up 15 percent from the previous year's first half, the company reported.
That total includes a 25 percent improvement in sales of SUVs, including products from the Alabama plant. Local workers built the M-Class and GL-Class SUVs, which are shipped around the globe.
"Southwest Alabama is a model of everything this program is about," Chris Masingill, federal co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority, told a small crowd Wednesday gathered at the AIDT Maritime Training Center in Mobile.
In its first outing, the government-backed initiative known as the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership attracted some 70 applicants from cities, universities and local development agencies across the nation, with the University of South Alabama-led southwest Alabama tapped in May 2014 alongside only 11 other entities - representing the likes of Milwaukee, Wis.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Rochester, N.Y. - for the inaugural class.
OPELIKA, AL - More than golfers are taking to the links at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Opelika. Workers were busy today outlining the course for the Barbasol Championship, the first-ever annual PGA tour event in Alabama.
"It becomes a little city out here, I mean like I said, they started about a month ago and they will continue out here until this Friday afternoon," said Selina Maddox, tournament services.
The tournament will bring potentially thousands of people to town, which means it might take a stroke of luck if you haven't snagged a hotel room yet.
FLORENCE, AL (WAFF) -Anglers with The Bass Foundation High School World Finals are not only making waves on Pickwick Lake, but leaving their mark on the economy as well.
Tournaments like this one make a huge economic impact in the host city and surrounding areas, bringing in money and exposure to local businesses and beyond.
With 166 teams from more than two dozen states in town for the Bass Federation High School Fishing World Finals, Florence, Alabama is once again being thrust into the national spotlight.
