JASPER, Alabama – Auto parts maker Yorozu on Tuesday marked the grand opening of its $110 million manufacturing plant in Walker County, where hiring has been ramping up and will continue to grow. A grand opening ceremony at the Yorozu facility included a ribbon cutting, a tree planting and tours of the plant, followed by…

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Governor Kay Ivey recognized eight Alabama companies today for success in selling their goods and services in countries around the globe. Winners of the 2018 Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards represent a diverse swath of the state’s business landscape, including high-tech manufacturers, innovative software developers and a craft beer brewer. They were honored…

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Alabama exports totaled a record $21.7 billion in 2017, powered by rising overseas shipments of products such as automobiles, aircraft components, chemicals, paper, and minerals. New government trade figures show that exports of Alabama-made goods and services increased more than 6 percent from 2016’s total of $20.5 billion, the state’s previous annual…

David Knight, executive director of the Walker County Development Authority, remembers the day two decades ago when the Alabama Development Office’s David Echols gave county leaders some harsh truth. At a meeting, Walker County leaders questioned Echols, a senior project manager for ADO, about why they weren’t seeing project activity. Echols replied they wouldn’t see…

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The vibrant entrepreneurial tech scene in Birmingham is once again in the national spotlight, as Target plans to buy local grocery delivery service Shipt for $550 million in a blockbuster deal. The retail giant, which announced the acquisition in December, said it will have a major impact on efforts to increase convenience…

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – The U.S. Air Force has selected the Alabama Air National Guard’s 187th Fighter Wing for the new F-35A fighter jet program, a decision that’s expected to spur significant job creation and new investment. Governor Kay Ivey joined state and local officials to announce the decision today at a press conference at the…

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Site Selection, an economic development-focused publication, ranked Alabama No. 6 in its annual State Business Climate survey, a healthy improvement over rankings in the previous two years. The magazine’s closely watched rankings are based largely on feedback from site selection consultants and corporate real estate executives, as well as the level of…

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Two Birmingham firms prevailed in the latest round of the Alabama startup competition that has pumped millions of dollars into innovative ideas across the state. The Alabama Launchpad Startup Competition Finale, held Wednesday night at Iron City, featured six teams that made pitches in front of a panel of judges and a…