Bright Spots in Alabama's Economy
1. Alabama-Built Honda Odyssey Best Selling Minivan of 2008
2. Hyundai Genesis Named North American Car of the Year
3. Huntsville’s STI Electronics Brings Thousands of International Students
4. Forbes Says Huntsville Best Place To Live During Recession
5. Motorcycle Schools at Birmingham’s Barber Track To Be World-class Tourist Lure
6. Alabama Ranks Fourth in Nation for Inbound Moves
7. High- Speed Internet Expanding To Rural Areas of State
8. New Maritime Science Center in Mobile Will Help Companies Throughout State
9. CNN Newscast Names Alabama as Best Southeastern State In Keeping People Employed
During Economic Crisis
10. Birmingham Foreclosure Rate Among Lowest in United States
Bright Spots Brief Descriptions
1. Alabama-Built Honda Odyssey Best Selling Minivan of 2008
The Alabama-built Honda Odyssey claimed the crown as the country's top-selling minivan of 2008. The Odyssey, built at the Japanese automaker's Lincoln assembly plant, posted U.S. sales of 135,493 last year, Honda said.
2. Hyundai Genesis Named North American Car of the Year
The Hyundai Genesis sedan has received the South Korean automaker’s first North American
Car of the Year Award. Hyundai launched the rear-wheel-drive Genesis a year ago, a car it bills as a competitor to luxury models such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW AG's 5-Series and Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus GS.
3. Huntsville’s STI Electronics Brings Thousands of International Students To Area
A Huntsville business will hold a grand opening later this month after expanding into a new 54,000-square-foot building. The move will allow the company to double its workforce to 100 employees ranging from engineers and instructors to support staff.
STI Electronics specializes in training, engineering lab services for analysis, developing prototypes and small to medium-sized assembly needs of circuit boards for manufacturers and distribution of electronic assembly and solder suppliers. The company teaches nearly 1,000 students at their local facility each year. Not only do local residents attend the sessions, but also electronics instructors, engineers and technicians from around the world.
4. Forbes Says Huntsville Best Place To Live During Recession
According to Forbes magazine, well-priced homes, enviable job growth and proximity to vibrant cities made Madison County the top choice in its list of good places to live in recessionary times.
In compiling the list, the writers at Forbes looked at three factors in communities located within the U.S.: affordability, property taxes and job growth.
5. Motorcycle Schools at Birmingham’s Barber Track To Be World-Class Tourist Lure
The addition of new motorcycle schools at the Barber Motorsports Park will kick the facility into a higher gear, according to the man who has poured $70 million into developing the racetrack and museum. George Barber said having Hall of Fame motorcycle racer Kevin Schwantz move his Suzuki School from Atlanta and start a new Super School with Honda are a boost for the park, which attracted 265,000 visitors last year.
6. Alabama Ranks Fourth in Nation for Inbound Moves
Alabama ranked fourth in the country for the most inbound household moves last year in a new national report conducted by a moving company. According to United Van Lines’ migration study, more than 58 percent of the company’s total shipments in and out of Alabama were inbound, compared to nearly 42 percent outbound.
7. High-Speed Internet Expanding To Rural Areas of State
Almost a year after he announced he would get high-speed Internet access to 100 percent of the state by the end of his term, Gov. Bob Riley is in position to make good on his promise. A $1.7 million, two-year contract was awarded this month to CostQuest Associates for the project.
8. New Maritime Science Center in Mobile Will Help Companies Throughout State
Construction will begin in April for the new Maritime Science Center in Mobile. The center will provide multipurpose training and education facility to assist maritime and shipbuilding companies in the Mobile area and throughout Alabama. AIDT will conduct training at the center to assist projects, such as C&G Boats, Bender, Atlantic Marine and Austal. The facility will also be used for various maritime programs and by individual companies when needed for specific training or contract projects.
9. CNN Says Alabama Best Southeastern State in Keeping People Employed During Crisis
A CNN broadcast this month described how Alabama is faring than its neighboring states in terms of its unemployment rate. “Honda makes the Odyssey and the Pilot there. 4500 employees. Hyundai makes the Sonata and the Sante Fe. Employs 3000 people. Mercedes has a plant there…They've got a lot of large employers in Alabama and the state is actually doing better than its neighboring states in terms of its unemployment rate.”
10. Birmingham Foreclosure Rate Among Lowest in the United States
A year-end foreclosure report showed that the Birmingham area had the third lowest foreclosure rate in the country last year among metro areas, while Alabama had the seventh lowest among states.