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:

Mercedes-Benz supplier puts Bibb County in the fast lane

Mueller Milestone: 4 million Albertville-made fire hydrants

Alabama holds onto No. 1 ranking in math, science and English Advanced Placement growth

From specialty popcorn to eyewear, here are Alabama's 2016 retailers of the year

Mercedes-Benz supplier puts Bibb County in the fast lane

By Michael Tomberlin

October 18, 2016

A major Mercedes-Benz supplier investing $46.3 million and creating 222 jobs is big news for any community. But when MöllerTech chose a site near Woodstock in Bibb County for its new plant, it brought added horsepower to an already big announcement.

Why?

Bibb County borders Tuscaloosa County and has industrial sites within six miles of the $4.5 billion, 5 million-square-footMercedes-Benz plant. However, Bibb County has been unable to land a top-tier supplier to the automaker.

Until now.

There are a number of reasons why.

more...

[Alabama NewsCenter]

Mueller Milestone: 4 million Albertville-made fire hydrants

October 18, 2016

ALBERTVILLE, Alabama - Mueller Co. is marking a major milestone in the Alabama city it turned into the "Fire Hydrant Capital of the World" - the 4 millionth hydrant off its Albertville production line.

To highlight the achievement, Mueller officials hosted a small celebration on Monday for employees, family members, retirees, community leaders, legislators and others at the company's manufacturing facility.

Mueller's Albertville plant, which launched production 40 years ago, today has 490 workers, making it one of the top employers in Marshall County.

more...

[Made In Alabama]

Alabama holds onto No. 1 ranking in math, science and English Advanced Placement growth

By Special to Alabama NewsCenter

October 13, 2016

Alabama ranks No. 1 again in the nation over the past eight years in percent growth of students achieving qualifying scores on math, science and EnglishAdvanced Placement (AP) exams, Gov. Robert Bentley announced today.

More Alabama students than ever are challenging themselves in all AP courses - 27,817 test takers in 2016, up from 5,327 test takers in 2008. This represents a 422 percent increase in 8 years: 6.5 times the increase in nationwide test takers, which has risen 65 percent in the same time frame.

Access to challenging AP courses for Alabama's traditionally underserved students also has risen dramatically as minority students represent 29 percent of the test takers and students qualifying for free or reduced lunch represent 15 percent of the test takers in 2016, compared to 18 percent and 9 percent, respectively, in 2008.

more...

[Alabama NewsCenter]

From specialty popcorn to eyewear, here are Alabama's 2016 retailers of the year

By Kelly Poe

on October 18, 2016

Books-A-Million is one of Alabama's largest retail business. The store has changed quite a bit, and continues to change, since the Anderson family opened its first news stand in Florence nearly a century ago, the CEO told an audience at the 2015 Retailer of the Year Awards Tuesday.

Books-A-Million CEO Terry Finley, the keynote speaker for the awards ceremony at the Vestavia Country Club, held his first job at 12 years old delivering copies of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He went to college at Auburn University and has been in the book selling business, mostly in the South, ever since.

Books-A-Million has gone through massive changes since he joined the company 31 years ago. When he joined, Books-A-Million had no website. It was a private company that went public in 1992 as part of a rapid growth strategy, then went private again last year.

more...