News
NEAR Megasite gains momentum with $4.6 million in SEEDS funding
GADSDEN, Alabama — Etowah County is making significant strides toward enhancing the Northeast Alabama Regional (NEAR) Megasite, thanks to a $4.6 million grant from Alabama’s Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) program. The SEEDS funding will be used to construct a 3-mile water transmission main to support the industrial site, enabling the county to…
Johnson named DeKalb County EDA’s new executive director
FORT PAYNE, Alabama —The DeKalb County Economic Development Authority announced today that Dr. Brett Johnson has been appointed as its new executive director, marking a pivotal moment for the organization’s future. Johnson, who will begin his role in November, joins DCEDA after serving as the mayor’s chief of staff in Gadsden. “Brett brings a unique…
Advanced engineering firm IS4S plans growth project in Marion County
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair announced today that Integrated Solutions for Systems Inc. (IS4S), a small business specializing in advanced engineering and management solutions, plans to invest $2.1 million to establish a new Research and Development (R&D) center in rural Marion County. The project will create 13 high-paying full-time engineering positions over the…
Enterprise receives $5.7 million SEEDS grant to develop industry-ready sites
ENTERPRISE, Alabama — Today, officials in Coffee County celebrated a $5.7 million grant through Alabama’s Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) program that will enable the purchase of nearly 300 acres to expand and develop industry-ready sites at the Enterprise Commerce Park. Enterprise received the largest SEEDS grant approved by the State Industrial Development…
Alabama’s auto supply chain growth accelerates with major investments
Alabama’s automotive industry continues its impressive expansion, with new growth projects and investments from key automotive suppliers adding momentum to the sector. Over the last few years, the state’s auto manufacturing sector has attracted more than $5 billion in new capital investment, generating around 8,500 job commitments in projects tracked by the Alabama Department of…
Governor Ivey receives new economic strategic plan to energize Alabama’s long-term growth
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Governor Kay Ivey today announced she has received a forward-thinking economic strategic plan presented by Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair. Designed to guide the state’s growth through the next decade and beyond, the plan cements Alabama’s status as a leader in economic development. This comprehensive plan — called Catalyst — replaces the state’s…
SEEDS funding topping $475,000 to speed site development in Henagar
HENAGAR, Alabama — Today, officials in Henagar celebrated a major milestone with a substantial grant from the state’s new Site Evaluation Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) program, which is accelerating the transformation of a portion of the DeKalb County city’s existing 90-acre industrial tract into a “shovel-ready” site. The SEEDS grant award amount is $475,609, which…
Alabama gets high rankings in publication’s ‘Top States for Doing Business’ report
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Alabama has once again demonstrated its commitment to fostering a thriving business environment, earning a No. 8 ranking in Area Development’s 2024 “Top States for Doing Business” report. This marks another year of Top 10 recognition for the state, as the national publication highlights Alabama’s competitive edge across multiple business-friendly categories. The…
Milestone: Toyota Alabama builds 10-millionth engine at Huntsville facility
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Toyota Alabama announced Thursday that it has officially assembled its 10-millionth engine, an i-Force MAX 2.4-liter, to power an all-new hybrid Tacoma. The engine plant, which first broke ground in 2001, assembles a third of all Toyota engines in North America. “We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone and look forward to…
First Solar inaugurates $1.1 billion Alabama manufacturing facility
TRINITY, Alabama — First Solar Inc. today inaugurated its new $1.1 billion solar panel manufacturing facility in Lawrence County, which is expected to create over 800 new energy technology manufacturing jobs in the state. The facility adds 3.5 gigawatts (GW) of fully vertically integrated nameplate solar manufacturing capacity in the United States. The project was…