News
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…
Westgate Super Site Receives CSX Select Site Platinum Designation
DOTHAN, Alabama — CSX today announced that the 365-acre Westgate Super Site in Dothan, Alabama, has been designated as a Platinum CSX Select Site. Select Sites are development-ready properties along the CSX network where standard land use considerations and comprehensive due diligence items have been previously addressed. These properties can meet the needs of a…
Report: New investment drives growth and opportunities for rural Alabama
PRATTVILLE, Alabama — On Wednesday of this week, Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair applauded the significant strides being made to attract transformative investment and high-quality jobs to Alabama’s rural regions — a cornerstone of the economic development strategy for Governor Kay Ivey’s administration. The results speak for themselves. Since 2020, economic development projects landing in Alabama’s…
Southeast Gas Brings Together State Leaders to Discuss Regional Growth
TROY, Alabama – Southeast Gas convened elected officials, business leaders and stakeholders from across the state for the first annual Southeast Alabama Economic and Policy Summit on Wednesday at Troy University. Together with presenting sponsors Southeast Energy Authority, Troy University, Poarch Creek Indians, Energy Southeast and Grow Southeast Alabama, the event aimed to highlight the economic…
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…
Fratco breaks ground on Fort Payne pipe plant, creating 60 jobs
FORT PAYNE, Alabama — Fratco, a century-old leader in corrugated plastic pipe manufacturing, has officially broken ground on a new, state-of-the-art production facility in Fort Payne. The company’s expansion into Alabama represents a major investment in the region’s industrial base and will create approximately 60 new jobs in manufacturing, logistics and administration. The Fort Payne location…
Alabama delegation heads to SEUS-Japan meeting in Tokyo to strengthen partnership
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair is leading an Alabama delegation that includes state legislators and community leaders to an international conference in Tokyo that seeks to strengthen the long-standing economic and cultural ties between seven Southeastern states and Japan. The conference, taking place next Tuesday and Wednesday, brings together senior business and government…
Commerce announces Alabama business development offices in Japan and South Korea
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The Alabama Department of Commerce announced today that it has engaged two internationally respected advisory firms to represent the state’s economic development interests in Japan and the Republic of Korea, further strengthening efforts to attract foreign direct investment, expand export opportunities and build enduring business partnerships in key global markets. Foreign business development offices in Tokyo and Seoul will serve…