MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Accelerate Alabama, the state’s strategic economic development growth plan, is positioning the state to land more jobs in coveted sectors such as automotive and aerospace, according to a report in Business Facilities magazine.
“Alabama is moving full speed ahead with a dynamic growth strategy that is rapidly transforming the state into an economic powerhouse,” the publication says in its March/April 2013 issue. “Alabama is driving to the head of the class in jobs-rich sectors including automotive and aerospace.”
Governor Robert Bentley told Business Facilities that he established the Alabama Economic Development Alliance to administer the Accelerate Alabama plan, which concentrates on 11 major industries including auto, aerospace, bioscience and chemicals.
“If you’re not organized, you’re not going to meet your goals quickly,” Bentley told Business Facilities.
Back in February, a progress report on Accelerate Alabama indicated positive steps have been made in the first year of the plan, particularly in marshaling education resources to ensure workforce development needs will be met.
Accelerate Alabama outlines strategies for recruiting new industry, supporting existing businesses and identifying technologies that can lead to growth.
The Alabama Economic Development Alliance’s report highlighted specific accomplishments, including the announcement by Airbus that it will begin manufacturing its A320 family of passenger jets at Mobile Brookley Aeroplex. It also says key Alabama education leaders are cooperating to ensure students are graduating from Alabama schools with the knowledge and skills needed for workplace success.
Both the K-12 system and the Alabama Community College System began aligning their programs and resources to the guidelines of the Accelerate Alabama plan.
The Alabama Legislature seeded the Alabama Innovation Fund, which supports research and economic development projects from the state’s public colleges and universities, with $4 million. Fifteen grants were awarded for such projects across the state.
