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:
Open House to be held for Alabama Workforce Training Center
Airbus supplier reveals expansion details for Mobile Aeroplex facility
Austin students making parts for astronaut training center
Robotics groups become more popular at schools


Open House to be held for Alabama Workforce Training Center
Brent Godwin Commercial Real Estate Reporter Birmingham Business Journal
Sep 16, 2015

There will be an open house at the Alabama Workforce Training Center at 3500 Sixth Ave. S. on Thursday, Sept. 17.

The open house is designed to let area manufacturing and construction companies see the new facility and the opportunities it offers to employees that want to expand their skills.
The program begins at 10:30 a.m. and the open house is until 2 p.m.

According to information from the Birmingham Business Alliance, the training center is 56,000 square feet of classrooms, conference rooms and shop space. There is also a 300-seat auditorium.


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Airbus supplier reveals expansion details for Mobile Aeroplex facility
By Kelli M. Dugan
Sept. 17, 2015
 
In a move one official called "classic economic development," MAAS Aviation received tax abatements totaling nearly $2.2 million Wednesday for construction of a proposed $13 million second paint facility at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley.

News of Dublin, Ireland-based MAAS' plans to expand its footprint in Mobile broke during the second day of the 2015 Paris Air Show in June, but a company representative said the $39 million investment figure disclosed at that time embodied several long-term investment proposals intended to strengthen its position as an integral supplier to aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The proposals would expand MAAS' U.S. capabilities to target third-party original equipment manufacturers; maintenance, repair and overhaul providers; and potential military clients.

"We are a very specialized niche business ... We bring world-class standards ... and we complement what already exists," Tim Macdougald, chief financial officer and commercial director of MAAS Aviation Brookley Inc., told members of the Mobile Industrial Development Board.

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Austin students making parts for astronaut training center
By Deangelo McDaniel Staff Writer | 
September 17, 2015 

Austin High School student Ryan Anthony cringed when the blueprints from NASA arrived. So did teacher Bill Gibson and classmate Brady Dial.
"As soon as I looked at what they wanted, I knew it was something we wouldn't be able to quickly do," Gibson said.
Austin students - through High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware - are designing and manufacturing training and flight-certified hardware for NASA astronauts.


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Robotics groups become more popular at schools
By Kellie Singleton Staff Writer | 0 comments

RED BAY - In a high school classroom at Red Bay School this week, 17 students and two teachers were working on plans for their "business" - Tiger Techs.
Some students cut wooden boards into pre-determined shapes. Others pored over design plans on a nearby laptop. Several more arranged PVC pipe to look like a trade show booth. And all the while, ideas were being fired back and forth across the room like missiles.
Red Bay High School's robotics team, also dubbed Tiger Techs, has been working for weeks on the four elements of the upcoming Northwest Alabama BEST (Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology) Hub competition at Northwest-Shoals Community College on Oct. 10.


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