News
Production ramp-up at Airbus Alabama factory could add 600 jobs
MOBILE, Alabama – The Airbus Alabama manufacturing facility is in line for 600 new jobs, thanks to a planned second assembly line for the Bombardier C Series jetliner and a possible increase in the production of A320 Family aircraft. On Tuesday at Airbus’ Mobile facility, high-ranking executives of Airbus and Bombardier gave the first detailed…
Could patented golden kiwifruit be Alabama’s next export success?
REELTOWN, Alabama – A small community in eastern Alabama is home to the nation’s only commercial golden kiwifruit orchard, an innovative operation that could lead the way in establishing a new specialty crop for growers across the Southeastern U.S. The Southeast Kiwi Farming Cooperative, established in 2014 and located in Tallapoosa and Macon counties, grows…
NAM’s 2018 ‘State of Manufacturing’ Tour stops in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The leader of the nation’s premier manufacturing trade group visited Birmingham’s Altec Inc. today to provide company leaders and key Alabama officials with a high-level briefing on the industry’s outlook. “It’s a great day to be in manufacturing, and it’s a great day to be in Alabama,” Jay Timmons, president and CEO…
Alabama exports set new annual record in 2017, topping $21.7 billion
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…
Steve Case’s ‘Rise of the Rest’ tour to showcase Birmingham start-ups
Birmingham’s technology start-up scene is poised to receive a substantial boost from an initiative led by Steve Case, the founder of America Online and a champion of supporting emerging innovation ecosystems across the U.S. Case will visit Birmingham on May 9 as part of the initiative’s five-city “Rise of the Rest” bus tour, now in…
Topre America’s $80 million expansion to create 98 jobs in Cullman
CULLMAN, Alabama – Auto supplier Topre America Corp. plans an $80 million, 98-job expansion at its Cullman operations. The expansion will involve a new production line that will supply parts for the 2018 Nissan Altima being built at the automaker’s plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. Topre plans to install the new press line and machining equipment…
Walker County’s David Knight receives top economic development award
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…
Preformed Windings to employ 85 at new Alabama facility
PELL CITY, Alabama — Officials with Preformed Windings Inc. announced today that the company will locate a new manufacturing facility, its first in the United States, in Alabama. The new Pell City location will be dedicated to manufacturing HV coils for the North American market and will employ up to 85 people. Preformed Windings, a…
Italian ambassador visits Tuskegee to support Leonardo T-100 project
TUSKEGEE, Alabama – Italian ambassador Armando Varricchio and Leonardo DRS Chief Executive William Lynn III on Monday visited the historic home of the Tuskegee Airmen, where the aerospace company wants to manufacture the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation trainer aircraft. If Leonardo’s T-100 jet trainer is selected by the Air Force, the company plans to build…
International Paper to boost investment in Alabama mill to $522.7 million
SELMA, Alabama – Memphis, Tennessee-based International Paper (IP) plans to increase a planned investment in its Riverdale Mill in Dallas County to $552.7 million as it optimizes the facility’s product mix and boosts productivity. In September 2017, IP announced plans to invest around $300 million at the Selma plant as part of a strategic plan…