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Alabama earns Top 10 rankings in ‘Site Selection’ 2019 Governor’s Cups
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Alabama’s economic development successes in 2019 earned the state a pair of Top 10 rankings in “Site Selection” magazine’s annual Governor’s Cups analysis. Alabama ranked No. 6 among the states in projects per capita, a measurement that places smaller states on a more level playing field in the “Site Selection” analysis. The…
Borbet to invest $24 million in Auburn expansion, creating 25 jobs
AUBURN, Alabama – Manufacturer Borbet Alabama announced plans Tuesday to expand its Auburn operation with a $23.9 million project that will create 25 jobs over the next two years. The Germany-based company was founded in 1881 as a family-run business and has become a leading European manufacturer of light metal alloy wheels for the automotive industry.…
Apple CEO kicks off Ed Farm tech education initiative in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Ed Farm, a groundbreaking education program supported by Apple to prepare students and communities for jobs of the future, was launched today in Birmingham. Apple CEO Tim Cook – a native of Alabama and a graduate of Auburn University – was on hand at Ed Farm’s Birmingham headquarters to announce the initiative,…
GE Appliances adds 255 jobs, ‘smart’ tech with $125M Alabama project
DECATUR, Alabama – GE Appliances today officially marked completion of a $125 million investment project at its Decatur refrigerator plant, which boosted production capacity, added new “smart” technology and increased the site’s workforce. The expansion project, announced in June 2018, allowed GE Appliances to increase production to meet growing demand for its top-freezer refrigerators, which…
Alabama film industry set for blockbuster year after record 2019
The cameras are rolling on a golden period for film activity in Alabama, which is generating a record level of production expenditures while creating jobs and elevating the state’s profile in the industry. The Alabama Film Office reported the 20 approved film and TV productions that qualified for state incentives in 2019 spent nearly $72…
Exports of Alabama-made autos, aerospace parts rise in tough trade year
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Despite ongoing disruptions in global trade relationships, Alabama’s exports of goods and services totaled $20.7 billion in 2019 as overseas shipments of motor vehicles, auto parts and aerospace products continued to show strength. The value of Alabama exports last year declined 3 percent from 2018’s total and fell just 4.6 percent shy…
Blue Origin officially opens Alabama rocket engine factory
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Blue Origin on Monday opened a sprawling factory in Alabama’s “Rocket City” that will allow the spaceflight company to accelerate production of its heavy-lift BE-4 rocket engine and create hundreds of jobs. The BE-4, which is under development, will power Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket as well as the United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan…
High-ranking research programs power UAH aerospace collaborations
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama – Aerospace engineering researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville are modeling how a future U.S. spacecraft might be engineered for nuclear propulsion. They are also studying how reliable rocket engine components can be printed using advanced manufacturing techniques. These two projects illustrate why UAH consistently ranks among the nation’s top programs…
Chambers County’s Gray wins top Alabama economic development honor
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Valerie Gray, executive director of the Chambers County Development Authority (CCDA), has been named the 2019 recipient of the David R. Echols Distinguished Service Award for exemplary service in economic development. The award, presented by the Alabama Department of Commerce, represents the highest recognition in the economic development field. It’s named after…
Research funding jumps 43 percent at the University of South Alabama
MOBILE, Alabama – Research funding at the University of South Alabama topped $87 million in 2019, a significant increase from the previous year and the result of an ongoing strategy to raise the institution’s profile across the U.S. and beyond. External grant and contract funding awarded to the university’s researchers rose 43 percent, with most…