News
Growing demand drives expansion for Calhoun County business
JACKSONVILLE, Alabama – A longtime family-owned business in Calhoun County is expanding amid significant growth in demand for its products and services. Bryant Machine Co. is investing $3.26 million in the project, which includes 12 new jobs, a new 22,000-square-foot facility and machining equipment. The company specializes in high-quality turning, milling, assembly and engineering services for…
Wire manufacturer plans $176 million expansion in Cleburne County
HEFLIN, Alabama – Wire and cable manufacturer Southwire is launching a $176 million expansion at its plant in Cleburne County, a move that highlights the successful business partnerships in rural Alabama that are fueling prosperity in communities across the state. The project, which will enhance medium voltage cable production and further modernize operations, is expected to create…
Aquatic Leisure Technologies to Launch First U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Opp
OPP, Alabama — Aquatic Leisure Technologies Group (ALT), one of Australia’s largest and most innovative fiberglass swimming pool manufacturers, has announced plans to establish its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Opp. The project represents a major milestone in the company’s North American expansion and will bring new, advanced manufacturing capabilities to Covington County. The new…
AAMA: Alabama celebrates automotive industry success, highlights continued growth
HOOVER, Alabama – The Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association recognized success across the state industry at its annual appreciation dinner last week, highlighting advancements in innovation, strong community partnerships and continued growth in jobs and production. Alabama’s auto industry has roared to life since Mercedes-Benz selected the state for its first U.S. auto plant in 1993, and today…
Alabama and Japan celebrate economic, cultural ties at annual JASA Dinner
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The enduring partnership between Alabama and Japan took center stage Thursday evening as business leaders, diplomats and community members gathered for the Japan-America Society of Alabama’s 2025 Annual Celebration Dinner at the Renaissance Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa. The event, one of the state’s most anticipated gatherings spotlighting Alabama’s international…
Remembering Jerry Underwood
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — A veteran Alabama journalist who covered the state’s biggest business news for decades is being remembered by friends and colleagues for his far-reaching influence in the media industry and economic development. Jerry Underwood, who was 65 when he died on Nov. 2, was a former reporter and business editor at The Birmingham…
Alabama students bring invention, ingenuity to aerospace industry
Universities across Alabama have become hubs of aerospace innovation, with student and faculty projects that offer promising contributions for the global industry. The latest crop of this work involves plum NASA grants, deep dives into weather system data, space craft development and competitions on the national stage. “The spirit of ingenuity is abundant on Alabama’s…
Alabama students target international rocketry crown at Farnborough
A team of high school students from Alabama will compete for global honors in rocket building at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow. The students from Tharptown High School in Russellville won the American Rocketry Challenge in May, topping 922 teams in the overall competition and the top 100 that faced off in the national finals…
Huntsville operations support Boeing’s critical defense missions
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Boeing helped build the foundation of Alabama’s aerospace industry and continues to advance its operations in the state. In the past year, the company marked several milestones in its missile defense programs and also celebrated a university partnership that is shaping the next-generation workforce. In November, Boeing broke ground on an expansion…
Investment firm launching aerospace hub in Northwest Alabama
CHEROKEE, Alabama — A new hub of aerospace manufacturing is on the horizon in rural Alabama. AE Industrial Partners is moving forward with its plans to transform a vast industrial facility in Colbert County into a high-tech center of innovation for aerospace and defense companies. The Boca Raton, Florida-based private equity firm, which specializes in…