Amid trade friction, Alabama exports approach record total in 2018
Despite global trade tensions, the value of Alabama exports topped $21 billion in 2018 on increased shipments of chemicals, paper products and aerospace parts to overseas markets, figures from the U.S. Commerce Department indicate. Still, U.S. trade disputes with China and other countries that are Alabama’s top export destinations took a toll on shipments from…
Sec. Canfield: ‘Rebuild Alabama’ will solidify economic development gains
Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said today that infrastructure improvements financed by Governor Kay Ivey’s “Rebuild Alabama” plan would help the state’s economic development team sustain momentum as it seeks to recruit high-caliber jobs and companies. “I believe we need to focus on infrastructure as a key issue in Alabama at this critical time,” Secretary…
Record level of film activity puts Alabama in industry spotlight
Building on a record-setting year for film projects in Alabama, the stage appears set for a sequel, with a string of movie productions already filming in the state or getting the cameras and crews ready for action. Since Oct. 1, more than a dozen movie and TV productions have qualified for state incentives available to…
Utility-scale solar projects brighten Alabama’s tech recruitment efforts
Massive new utility-scale solar farm projects are poised to dramatically expand Alabama’s solar power capacity as major technology companies make their first significant investments in the state. In the last three months alone, the Tennessee Valley Authority has announced plans for large solar installations in North Alabama tied to data centers being constructed by Google…
Decatur’s Jeremy Nails wins top Alabama economic development award
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Jeremy Nails of Morgan County was named the recipient of the David R. Echols Distinguished Service Award, the top honor for economic development professionals in Alabama. Nails, president and CEO of the Morgan County Economic Development Association, was selected by the Alabama Department of Commerce for the award that is presented annually…
Growth companies power the Made in Alabama 2018 Holiday Gift Guide
Companies across Alabama are creating jobs, making investments and helping shoppers check off their Christmas lists. This year’s edition of the Made In Alabama Holiday Gift Guide features businesses that are growing in the state, with recent projects and expansions in communities large and small. From big-ticket items like a new car or boat to…
Consultants: How the ‘Project New World’ site search ended in Alabama
In a podcast series, site selection professionals who assisted Mazda and Toyota provide a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at why the automakers’ $1.6 billion auto assembly plant project is headed to Huntsville, Alabama. In three sessions, a team from JLL Chicago discusses the genesis of what became known as “Project New World,” shares particulars on a…
Alabama ranks high in magazine’s 2018 business climate rankings
National publication Site Selection again rated Alabama among the top states in its annual State Business Climate survey, reflecting its consistent attractiveness for high-value economic development projects. Overall, Site Selection ranked Alabama No. 8 in its Business Climate analysis, tied with Indiana. In a survey that is a major component of the Site Selection analysis,…
Alabama Global Supply Chain & Logistics Summit set for Huntsville
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – The Alabama Global Supply Chain & Logistics Summit, which begins Thursday afternoon, aims to provide valuable insights into how companies can increase supply chain efficiency and enhance competitiveness to succeed in the global market. The Summit’s 7th installment, with the theme “Securing the Supply Chain,” will be held at the Huntsville Westin,…
Alabama team seeks stronger bonds at SEUS Japan 41 in Tokyo
Business leaders from across Alabama are participating in an international conference in Tokyo this week that aims to broaden economic and cultural ties between seven Southeastern states and Japan. The 41st annual joint meeting of the Southeast U.S.-Japan and the Japan-Southeast associations, known as SEUS Japan 41, is taking place in the Japanese capital beginning…
