1. Alabama Cities Show Signs of Economic Recovery
A number of Alabama cities are expected to bounce back quickly from one of the worst recessions of the last century, an economic report released this month indicates.
A study by Moody’s economy predicts that six of Alabama’s metropolitan areas will be among the top 61 out of 387 metropolitan areas in predicted employment growth. Those include two metro areas that are in the top five. Huntsville ranked second in the nation. Mobile was ranked fourth, the Auburn-Opelika ranked 23rd, the Montgomery metro area ranked 29th, the Birmingham-Hoover area was 53rd and Tuscaloosa was 61st.
“This is a strong indication that pockets in Alabama’s economy are growing and those areas will provide a positive impact on the economy of the entire state,” said Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office. “Other economic indicators also project that the state’s economy will begin to recover late this year and into 2011, especially as we see major projects that were recruited several years ago.”
2. 100 New Jobs Coming to Gadsden
Alabama’s first Tier 1 supplier for Volkswagen is opening this year in Gadsden and bringing more than 100 jobs with it. German-based Fehrer Automotive plans to have its grand opening this summer.
The company will be making automotive seat pads for Volkswagen’s new mid-size sedan, as well as for the Mercedes M- and GL-class vehicles. The products will be shipped to Tuscaloosa and Chattanooga, Tenn. Fehrer has approximately 3,000 employees in 22 locations worldwide.
Gadsden’s evident commitment to industrial training was a strong attraction for the automotive supplier, said Gary Faulkner, senior project manager for the Alabama Development Office. He cited the new Career Tech building at Gadsden City High School and the automotive technology building under construction at Gadsden State Community College.
“Alabama has developed beyond the norm, in terms of job creation and capital investments,” Faulkner said. “We’re very proud of our automotive industry, and in particular of our foreign direct investment.”
3. French See Alabama as Fertile Business Ground
Alabama and France have a healthy trade relationship, but Pascal Le Deunff would like to see it grow, he said during a visit to Huntsville. "I made a courtesy call to Gov. Riley, and I'm happy to say relations between France and Alabama are strong and on the path to grow," said Le Deunff, the consul general of France who operates out of Atlanta. "Alabama, and Huntsville in particular, offers numerous opportunities for French companies to invest in, including biotech, information technology and aerospace."
There are 20 French companies operating in Alabama, and Alabama businesses generate $300 million a year in trade with the European nation. "There is so much to take advantage of here in your state," Le Deunff said. Le Deunff represents France in the Southeast, he said, with responsibility for Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. The meeting with Riley went well, Le Deunff said "and I'm happy to say that over the past 40 days there are four or five French companies that are considering investing in this region."
4. ThyssenKrupp Signs First Contracts To Sell Steel from Alabama Plant
ThyssenKrupp signed its first "small" contracts with buyers of carbon steel from Calvert. "Small amounts, but the business is starting and the interest is high, so we look forward to bring our projects into play," Chief Financial Officer Alan Hippe said.
The firm is building a $5 billion complex in Calvert, shared by its carbon and stainless divisions, with eventual employment of 2,700 planned. The carbon unit is scheduled to begin production this spring and the stainless unit in the fall, though construction will continue.
5. Fire Hose Manufacturer Consolidates Operations in Dothan
One of the largest fire hose manufacturing plants in the world is consolidating its productions in Dothan. The consolidation of Key Fire Hose Corporation, located in Miami and known as KFH Industries Inc., is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will create up to 30 or 40 new jobs.
Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Parker said the company, which opened in 2006 in a 151,000-square-foot facility, will expand to the former Wex Tex building at 600 Third Ave.
KFH President Charlie Genthner said his management team of about a dozen workers will be relocating to Dothan this year, joining the current Dothan workforce, which is at about 100. How quickly the move takes place and how many workers are added is dependent on the economy, Genthner said.
6. Robotics Technology Park Phase 2 Approved
The Alabama Building Commission has approved Robotics Technology Park’s Phase 2 architectural drawings. The park, which will be part of Calhoun Community College, is on property in front of the former Delphi Corp. on U.S. 31 North, said Ed Castile, executive director of the Alabama Industrial Development
Phase 2 is an estimated $8.5 million project that will feature a 35,000-square-foot building with an open shop space, labs and classrooms for robotics research and development space. It will have a 53-acre outdoor space with a test track that will be bid separately. Castile said Phase 2 construction should begin in early March.
7. Birmingham Lands Second Major Tennis Event in Two Years
Birmingham will host an international tennis event for the second time in two years. The United States Tennis Association announced that the Magic City will host the Fed Cup semifinal match April 24-25 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena. The United States and Russia will meet in the women’s tennis competition that could include the Williams sisters representing America.
Birmingham hosted the men’s equivalent, the Davis Cup, in March last year. The Magic City beat out Las Vegas, Chicago and St. Louis for the international event that organizers say enhances Birmingham's reputation as a premier sports location.
“This certainly builds on the success we had with the Davis Cup last year,” said Gene Hallman, executive director of the Alabama Sports Foundation. “It reinforces the perception we have around the country that Birmingham is a great event host.”
8. New Technology School Could Create Hundreds of Skilled Jobs
RAINSVILLE- Industry recruiters say Northeast Alabama Community College's new Industrial Systems Technology Building could be a catalyst to creating hundreds of skilled jobs in Jackson and DeKalb counties.
"It's in a perfect position to attract industry," Jimmy Durham, executive director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority, said at a ceremony to dedicate the building.
With the downturn in the economy and the number of plant closings and layoffs in the area, Durham said, "you couldn't ask for more perfect timing."
The 15,000-square-foot building houses $1 million worth of robotic-type equipment for training students in welding, computer-controlled machine technology and industrial maintenance.
9. McCalla Rail Facility Gets $105 Million Federal Grant
Norfolk Southern’s intermodal facilities in McCalla and Memphis, Tenn., have gotten a $105 million boost from federal stimulus funds. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the awarding of 51 grants across the country totaling $1.5 billion through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery or TIGER program.. The grant to Alabama and Tennessee is the largest single grant announced, The intermodal facility could eventually bring in 8,000 jobs.
Norfolk Southern announced last year its plan to build a $112 million intermodal facility in McCalla, adjacent to Jefferson Metropolitan Park. The facility will connect with other intermodal facilities along its Crescent Corridor to build up freight capacity and reduce highway maintenance costs. Connecting the 2,500-mile network of existing rail lines with regional intermodal freight distribution centers will strengthen domestic and international freight distribution in the Southeast, Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic markets.
10. Atlantic Marine Dedicates Chilean Navy’s Newest Ship
MOBILE -- Dignitaries, high-ranking officers, and 139 crew members christened the Chilean Navy's newest ship at Atlantic Marine's Pinto Island shipyards. The ship will be used to ferry fuel and supplies to other ships, serving both the Chilean and U.S. navies for the next 10 years, according to an agreement reached between the two countries. The ship was built in 1987 and used by the U.S. Navy as the U.S.N.S. Andrew J. Higgins until 1996, when it was decommissioned and stored near San Francisco.
A few years ago, the Chilean Navy began shopping for a new oiler and settled on the Higgins, according to Darline Kozich, a spokeswoman for VSE Corporation. The company is a contractor for the Naval Sea Systems Command, working to get inactive ships ready to sail again. Kozich said Atlantic Marine submitted a winning $29 million bid to rebuild the engines and generators and repair all the equipment back to operational status. The shipyard has been working on the Montt since November. It should be ready to sail out in mid-March, Kozich said.