News
Alabama’s October jobless rate falls to 6.3% amid positive signs
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – A report on Alabama’s unemployment rate in October points to continuing improvement in the state’s economy. Consider: October’s preliminary rate was 6.3 percent, down from September’s rate of 6.6 percent and even with the rate a year ago. The number of employed Alabamians reached 1,948,000, the highest figure since December 2008, before…
Oxford Pharmaceuticals to invest $29 million in Alabama facility
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — British startup Oxford Pharmaceuticals LLC announced plans today to invest $29.4 million to build a 120,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Birmingham that will employ as many as 200 people when fully operational, according to the Birmingham Business Alliance. Oxford Pharmaceuticals’ facility in the Jefferson Metropolitan Park at Lakeshore will create 61 jobs when it opens in…
Alabama Robotics Technology Park ready for expansion (update)
TANNER, Alabama – Construction work is beginning on an expansion at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park (RPT) that will add new capabilities to a facility that’s already considered one of the world’s most innovative training centers. A groundbreaking ceremony for the RTP’s Integration, Entrepreneurial and Paint Dispensing Training Center was held Friday, Oct. 31. The…
United Launch Alliance Alabama factory turns rocket science into rockets (update)
DECATUR, Alabama – Inside the United Launch Alliance Alabama factory, rocket science powers to life as workers assemble the giant Atlas and Delta launch vehicles that thrust critical satellites aloft and blast probes into deep space. The sprawling, one-of-a-kind plant tucked away on an industrial road in this Morgan County city plays an important role…
Trade mission adds to Alabama bioscience sector growth push
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Officials believe the Alabama biosciences sector is poised for a healthy growth spurt after a weeklong trade mission to Europe added momentum to a strategic push to promote state bio companies and research organizations. An Alabama team of bioscience firms, research outfits, trade experts, and economic development officials returned Friday, Oct. 24,…
Steris to add 100 jobs with Birmingham expansion
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Ohio-based Steris Corp. announced today that it will relocate the headquarters of its global specialty services business to Birmingham and add 100 jobs to its Alabama workforce. Steris said it will spend $8 million to renovate the former U.S. Pipe headquarters in Birmingham’s Sloss Business District to serve as the new global…
Emerging Alabama bioscience sector on display in Belgium
BRUSSELS, Belgium – The emerging Alabama bioscience sector is getting a close-up look in Belgium as part of a trade mission that aims to create opportunities for business connections, research partnerships, and new investment. Over the past two days, Alabama bioscience company leaders have displayed their products during presentations and joined with state economic development…
Alabama to promote bioscience sector on Europe trade mission
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield will lead a business development and trade mission to Belgium and The Netherlands next week that showcases Alabama’s capabilities in bioscience and research. The Alabama delegation heading to Europe on the five-day mission beginning Monday is made up of bioscience companies, research organizations, trade experts, and economic development…
Knauf Insulation to expand Alabama plant, create 100 jobs
LANETT, Alabama – Knauf Insulation plans to double production at its Alabama plant, adding as many as 100 new workers in an expansion project that will make the Chambers County facility one of the nation’s largest insulation factories. Knauf Insulation Senior Vice President Jon Pereira said the company selected the Lanett plant for expansion over…
Alabama auto facilities add green projects to line-up
LINCOLN, Alabama – Since the first dealer-ready Odyssey rolled down the assembly line at Honda’s Alabama plant on Nov. 14, 2001, the automaker’s facility has produced more than 3.2 million vehicles and engines. In the past 13 years, the $2 billion plant that sprawls over an area the size of 65 football fields has produced…