News
Alabama employment levels hit highest mark since 2008
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The number of Alabamians holding down a job in January reached the highest point since late 2008 as new jobs were added at a rapid pace, Governor Robert Bentley announced today. “For the past two months, more than 2 million people are working in this state, which hasn’t happened since November 2008.…
Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance targets research breakthroughs
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Promising new therapies for debilitating diseases like diabetes and Parkinson’s are stemming from drug discovery work taking place in Alabama research facilities – an effort that’s getting a $2 million infusion from two insurers. At the center of this high-potential research is the Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance (ADDA), a unique collaboration between…
SBA to offer Emerging Leaders Initiative in Birmingham in April
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The U.S. Small Business Administration is launching an intensive executive-level training series next month in Birmingham that’s designed to accelerate the growth of high-potential small business enterprises. This is the first time SBA has held its free Emerging Leaders Initiative in Alabama’s largest city, but more than 2,400 small businesses across the…
Why creating 11 jobs in rural Alabama rated a shout-out
VERNON, Alabama – On a sunny day last October, Mayor Glenn Crawford joined Governor Robert Bentley in this Lamar County town to welcome the first tenant in Vernon’s industrial park – K&S Lumber Co., which was producing railroad cross-ties with a small initial workforce. For Crawford, this was a significant project, capping lots of hard…
Commerce names Ted Clem director of business development
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – The Alabama Department of Commerce announced today that Ted Clem has been named director of business development, placing the veteran economic developer in a leading role in the agency’s efforts to recruit new jobs and investment. Clem, whose appointment is effective March 1, joined the Department of Commerce in February 2014 as…
Dai-ichi, Protective donate $4 million for advancements in Alabama
BIRMINGHAM – Tokyo-based Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. teamed up with Birmingham-based Protective Life Corp. this morning to announce $4.1 million in donations that will have significant impacts on medical research, education and culture in Alabama. The donations announced today follow the Feb. 1 completion of a formal merger between Dai-ichi, Japan’s second largest life insurance…
Lockheed Martin jump starts Alabama expansion, adding 240 jobs
TROY, Alabama — Governor Robert Bentley today announced that Alabama has partnered with Lockheed Martin to add an additional 240 employees by 2020 at the company’s Pike County Operations facility in Troy. “Lockheed Martin has been a strong employer in Pike County for 20 years, and today we celebrate the announcement of an enhanced partnership that…
Golden State Foods to invest $40 million in Opelika meat plant
OPELIKA, Alabama — California-based Golden State Foods plans to invest between $40 million and $45 million to open a state-of-the art meat processing facility in the Northeast Opelika Industrial Park, creating 173 jobs. “After careful consideration, we selected Opelika as the site for our new facility based on the strategic location along I-85, the available…
Canada’s Carlson expanding to Alabama, creating 75 jobs
ANNISTON, Alabama – The Calhoun County Economic Development Council announced Monday that Carlson Engineered Composites USA Inc., a Canadian firm that manufactures fiberglass components, plans to expand its operations to Anniston. The project represents a capital investment of $3 million and will create 75 new jobs in Calhoun County. The company will be locating in…
Alabama-made Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé to battle ‘Jurassic World’ dinosaurs
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama — Mercedes-Benz’s newest Alabama-made vehicle, the GLE Coupé, will race through the jungles of “Jurassic World,” the highly anticipated next installment of the blockbuster dinosaur movie series that previously featured the automaker’s first Alabama-made automobile. The GLE Coupé, which will enter mass production at the company’s Tuscaloosa County plant this year, is among several Mercedes vehicles…