$3.8 million Growing Alabama grant to help launch new St. Clair County commerce park
SPRINGVILLE, Alabama – A $3.8 million grant awarded through the Growing Alabama program will spur development of a new commerce park in Springville that will be a hub for regional economic growth. The St. Clair County Economic Development Council announced the grant. The City of Springville in partnership with the St. Clair County Commission, the Industrial Development Board…
Shoals area industrial site awarded top designation for development
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – A northwest Alabama industrial site has been recognized as a top location for expanding business and industry. The Norfolk Southern rail-served site, located near Muscle Shoals and Florence, has received a platinum designation from the national REDI Sites Program. This top designation is awarded to select properties that meet rigorous readiness criteria. It signals…
Korean economic development advisors visit Alabama, tour key sites
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Representatives for Alabama’s economic development interests in the Republic of Korea visited the state earlier this month as they launch their new assignment. Sean Blakeley and Carol Yelim Choo are leading Alabama’s new foreign business development office in Seoul. The Alabama Department of Commerce announced the office in October, along with a Japan office…
Alabama-made gifts turn heads across the country
First, they grabbed headlines, and now they can grab a spot under the tree. This year’s Made In Alabama Holiday Gift Guide is a list of newsmakers from across the state. They are products and experiences with a unique Alabama flavor, and they have been written about, blogged about and just generally buzzed about in…
Pharmaceutical giant Lilly plans $6 billion advanced manufacturing plant in Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Eli Lilly and Company plans to invest more than $6 billion in a new advanced manufacturing operation in Huntsville, where it will produce next-generation medicines, Gov. Kay Ivey announced today. The global pharmaceutical giant also will bring 450 jobs to the region, including engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians. The Huntsville site will…
Alabama launches a tax incentive to attract and support music creators
MUSCLE SHOALS, Alabama – A major expansion of Alabama’s entertainment tax incentive program is turning heads in the music industry. Representatives of the Alabama Department of Commerce and the Alabama Entertainment Office have been promoting the new opportunities, and the Muscle Shoals Songwriters Festival was a recent stop. The festival, held in November, drew more than…
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 opens new business development office in Seoul to strengthen ties with South Korea
SEOUL, South Korea — The Alabama Department of Commerce today celebrated an expansion of its international footprint with the opening of a new business development office in Seoul, South Korea, strengthening the state’s global trade and investment network in one of its most vital economic partner nations. Commerce selected Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) — South Korea’s…
Alabama expands global reach with new business development office in Tokyo
TOKYO, Japan — During the 47th annual Southeast U.S./Japan Association (SEUS-Japan) Joint Meeting in Tokyo, the Alabama Department of Commerce today celebrated the opening of a new business development office in Japan, marking a significant step forward in strengthening the state’s economic relationship with one of its most valued international partners. The Tokyo-based office, staffed…
