News
OnBoard Birmingham launches to help companies develop their workforces
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – A new effort aims to help Birmingham companies grow their workforces by showing the benefits of living and working in the city, as well as the successes of the companies that call it home. The Birmingham Business Alliance has launched OnBoard Birmingham, an online hub of information to recruit new and talented…
Reignite Alabama competition awards $150,000 to 4 promising startups
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Four Alabama businesses that have developed innovative ideas to combat challenges in the COVID-19 era have been awarded a share of $150,000 to bring their plans to life. The businesses, with ideas that range from an exposure notification app for COVID-19 and other viruses to a new concept to promote safety in…
Toyota Alabama installing 3.3-acre solar array in environmental push
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – The Toyota engine plant in Huntsville is playing a key role in the automaker’s new solar energy plan, as part of a $9.3 million investment designed to cut the need for outside energy in its operations across three states. The company is adding nearly 11 acres of new solar arrays in Alabama,…
Macon County organic farmer cultivates ambitions with ag startup
TUSKEGEE, Alabama – A startup, minority-owned organic farm in Macon County is expanding its crops and customer base, fueled by an ambitious vision to carry on the region’s rich history of agricultural innovation. Lifetime Natural Organic Farm, which includes about 25 acres of raised-bed bio-intensive organic vegetables, this year invested an additional $500,000 to increase…
Alabama automakers adopt COVID-19 safety measures as production ramps up
Alabama automakers have been ramping up production following the COVID-19 outbreak, with strict new protocols in place to prevent the spread of the virus. Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz all are implementing similar measures as employees return to work, including temperature checks, staggered shifts, frequent sanitizing and additional protective gear. The restart of operations at…
Alabama PPE-maker Eastern Technologies ramps up in COVID-19 battle
A company in Alabama’s Wiregrass region is helping to fight the COVID-19 pandemic across the U.S. and in hard-hit regions around the world. Ashford-based Eastern Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of personal protective equipment serving a wide range of industries, provided coveralls that were used by hospitals and response groups in the early stages of the…
For Calagaz Printing, it’s 153,000 protective face shields and counting
MOBILE, Alabama – A South Alabama printing company is helping frontline healthcare workers at home and across the U.S. fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile-based Calagaz Printing Inc. had produced about 153,000 protective face shields as of Wednesday, the result of collaborating with local hospitals and shifting its operations to meet a crucial need. Production is…
Alabama automakers lend a helping hand in COVID-19 battle
Alabama automakers are stepping in to aid their communities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, including support of crucial testing services and production of protective face shields for healthcare workers. Toyota’s Huntsville engine factory is producing 7,500 protective face shields for local hospitals. In addition, the plant has donated 160 safety glasses to local…
Auburn engineers repurpose CPAP machines into emergency ventilators
Auburn University engineers have developed a way to convert CPAP machines into emergency ventilators, a valuable tool in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The design, called RE-InVENT, is one of several efforts at Auburn to aid healthcare workers in Alabama and beyond. Faculty and staff also have produced hand sanitizer and 3D-printed protective face…
Research funding jumps 43 percent at the University of South Alabama
MOBILE, Alabama – Research funding at the University of South Alabama topped $87 million in 2019, a significant increase from the previous year and the result of an ongoing strategy to raise the institution’s profile across the U.S. and beyond. External grant and contract funding awarded to the university’s researchers rose 43 percent, with most…