1. Golden Dragon To Employ 300 People in Thomasville
Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. announced this week that it has selected Thomasville as the location for its first manufacturing facility in the United States. Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. is the leading supplier of precision copper products throughout the world.
The company will provide its American customers with products produced in the new Thomasville plant, which is located in Clarke County. Final terms of the agreement are subject to approval by the various government entities of the state of Alabama and the People’s Republic of China
Upon completion of the $100 million copper manufacturing facility, Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. is projected to employ more than 300 people. The company will work
with Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) for workforce development. The 500,000+ sq. ft. facility and campus will be located on a 50-acre parcel of property on US Highway 43 (SR-13) in Clarke County. Additionally, it is 97 miles from the Port of Mobile.
Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. will be an application center for the most modern copper tube mill in the world, employing state of the art cast and roll technology, processing methodology and equipment. The processing equipment will have a closed loop recirculating system, and a water treatment center producing negligible water discharge in any form. The plant will have the capacity to transform more than 100 million pounds of copper per year using advanced proprietary continuous casting technologies capable of producing 100% NDT (non-destructive testing) certified products.
Governor Bentley was on hand for the signing ceremony in Thomasville. “The State of Alabama welcomes Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc.’s first manufacturing facility in the United States to Thomasville,” said Governor Bentley. “The team at Golden Dragon will find the best and most dedicated workforce in Alabama ready and eager to partner with them. Welcome to Alabama, Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc.”
“Thomasville has gone through a very stringent selection process and we are grateful that Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. has selected us as the site for their first U.S. facility,” said Sheldon Day, Mayor of Thomasville. “We are pleased and honored to welcome Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. to Thomasville and to Alabama.”
State, Federal and local officials along with the Alabama Development Office worked together to recruit Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. to Thomasville.
“Alabama has a strong, growing base of international investment, but until today, we had no companies from China on that list that we had successfully recruited. I am proud that GD Copper will join us as an international partner in investment,” said Alabama Development Office Director Seth Hammett. “I am also excited that Thomasville will be an application center for cutting edge research and development and glad that the city was the right fit for GD Copper,” he continued. “As one of Alabama’s newest corporate citizens, we stand ready to help your company prosper in our state.”
The selection came after months of intensive due diligence on the part of Golden Dragon Precise Copper Tube Group, Inc. and its representatives. “This transaction represents a significant milestone in U.S. China relations. We have worked with many state’s development office officials and received more than 62 submissions during this RFP process and each one was outstanding, but we were thoroughly impressed with the passion and commitment shown to us by Alabama and Thomasville officials resulting in the final selection Governor Bentley and the Alabama Federal Delegation on those as they develop,” he said.
2. Governor Bentley Introduces Plan To Help Small Businesses
Governor Robert Bentley this month introduced his plan to help small businesses hire employees. The Full Employment Act of 2011, sponsored by State Representative Blaine Galliher and State Senator Arthur Orr, will provide a one time tax credit to small businesses who hire additional employees.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the Alabama economy,” said Governor Bentley. “The Full Employment Act of 2011 will help small businesses create jobs by offering a financial incentive that will grow and expand their business and get people back to work. I appreciate the support of both Representative Galliher and Senator Orr to get this important bill introduced and passed in the Alabama Legislature.”
In the Governor’s 2011 State of the State address, Governor Bentley called the Full Employment Act of 2011 an enhanced version of the Reemployment Act of 2010 and his centerpiece legislative agenda.
Under the Full Employment Act of 2011, businesses with 50 or fewer employees will receive a one time income tax credit equal to $1,000 per new job paying more than $10 per hour.
Support for the Full Employment Act of 2011 has been generated from both the National Federation of Independent Business and the Business Council of Alabama.
“I commend Governor Bentley for making job creation in Alabama his top priority,” said Business Council of Alabama President and CEO William Canary. “This one-time tax credit will provide small businesses the confidence and certainty they need to grow and hire new employees. Alabama’s economic recovery is dependent on the ability of small businesses to generate jobs, and this common sense bill will help small businesses do just that.”
3. Alabama Development Office To Work on Job Training, Small Business
The head of the Alabama Development Office said this month that his agency plans to renew its focus on small business advocacy and work closer on job training in association with two-year colleges across the state.
Seth Hammett, who spent three decades as a state legislator before taking the helm of Alabama's business recruitment agency in January, told about 300 attendees of an economic development summit that his office realizes that existing businesses -- not new companies -- create 75 percent of new jobs in Alabama.
By putting more emphasis on building partnerships with existing programs and colleges, as well as expanding Alabama's successful jobs training program led by Ed Castile, the Alabama Development Office can be able to withstand state funding cutbacks and still help small businesses grow and prosper, Hammett said.
"We are looking at doing things differently because of some of the problems you've read about concerning state finances," said Hammett. Hammett said the governor has asked him and Bill Taylor, head of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, to develop a "new blueprint on how to operate" their agencies. Established in 1991, EDPA is a private, nonprofit organization supported by leading businesses in Alabama dedicated to the state's long-term economic growth.
In response, Hammett said, they have come up with a three-prong strategy that focuses on recruiting new businesses, expanding existing businesses and what he calls renewal -- taking people's ideas and helping them become successful in their business.
Hammett said he has asked Castile to help take the state training program that has worked closely with Alabama's auto plants and other companies and make it an even more viable force in workforce development with existing industries.
4. Governor Recognizes Businesses for Excellence in Exporting
MONTGOMERY -- Governor Robert Bentley recognized eight Alabama companies this month for excellence. Exporting was a $15.5 billion industry for Alabama in 2010 and supported some 300,000 jobs in the state. Alabama ranks 27th among U.S. states in the dollar value of its exports and saw a 25.5% increase from 2009. The national average for this period was 20%.
“International trade in Alabama continues to see tremendous growth and showcasing eight of Alabama’s companies for success in selling their products overseas is exciting. These companies have helped sustain and create jobs by taking advantage of markets outside the U.S.,” Governor Robert Bentley said.
Alabama Development Office (ADO) Director Seth Hammett said the trade division at ADO is extremely active in helping match Alabama companies with potential trade partners.” We will continue to define how best to help our firms take advantage of overseas opportunities and thus create more jobs for Alabamians,” Hammett said.
The Governor’s Trade Excellence Award was established in 2005 to recognize Alabama manufacturers and service companies for excelling in global competition. The objectives of this program include identifying Alabama’s successful exporters, promoting exporters as role models to the Alabama business community to thus encourage greater involvement in the global marketplace, and increasing awareness of the impact of exporting on Alabama’s economy.
The awards program is coordinated by the Alabama Development Office and the Export Alabama Trade Alliance, and includes large, medium and small businesses as well as new-to-export companies from different parts of the state.
The recipients of the 2010 Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards are: Baron Services, Inc., Huntsville; Creative Concepts - Irondale; OPICO- Mobile; Plastic Recyclers Southeast, Inc. Decatur; Process Equipment, Inc. – Pelham; Quick Start Marketing, L.L.C. – Ozark; Scott Machinery & Supply Inc.- Helena; and Valley Rubber, Falkville.
5. Dow Corning To Invest $30 Million in Montgomery
Dow Corning Corporation, a global leader in silicon-based technology, broke ground on an approximately $30 million investment at its Alabama silicon metal manufacturing facility near Montgomery this month.
The capital investment will be used to enhance equipment and technology at the site. The investment will create more than 30 new jobs at the site in the next few years. The company currently employs more than 150 people in the Montgomery area.
“We are very pleased that Dow Corning has shown its confidence in the excellent work force of Montgomery by choosing to expand here,” said Governor Robert Bentley. “These employees play an essential role in delivering the silicon metal products manufactured at the site. We appreciate the jobs this company has brought to the area and look forward to future growth for this company in Alabama.”
Tommy Vessels, Dow Corning Alabama site manager, said, “This investment signifies Dow Corning’s commitment to sustaining the success of this site in Mt. Meigs and our appreciation for the wonderful home that Montgomery County provides us.”
Grant Chaney, director of corporate development for the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, said that Dow Corning’s significant investment with this capital improvement project paves the way for future growth and more investment in the community. “We are proud of the hard work that Tommy and his team of dedicated employees put in every day and we will continue to support them in every way possible.”
Silicon metal manufactured at the site is used as a raw material for thousands of silicon-based products, used in the electronics, automotive, construction, and solar industries, among others.
6. Aladdin Light Lift To Locate in Huntsville in Chase Industrial Park
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Aladdin Light Lift, a Memphis-based company that manufactures motorized systems used to lower and raise chandeliers for cleaning and changing bulbs, is relocating to Huntsville and plans to build a 22,500-square-foot building in Chase Industrial Park.
All 15 full-time employees will move to the Huntsville area later this year, said John Falls, the company's president and founder. The company also has 50 independent sales representatives in the United States and Canada and about 1,000 distributors nationwide.
Site preparation is now being done at the 10-acre site on Shields Road next to the CF Flag building. "The goal is to finish our building by Aug. 15," Falls said today after the company announcement at the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.
Falls had been looking at several cities before choosing the Huntsville area, he said, citing the low crime rate, good public schools and positive business climate.
Huntsville, he said, is a "great city with positive, can-do people who know how to get things done."
7. Bunge To Expand in Decatur, Add 50 New Jobs
Bunge North America has unveiled plans for an estimated $85 million expansion of its Decatur soy-refining plant, including a new, 110,000-square-foot packaging facility. Facility Manager Gene Moore said the expansion will create about 50 new jobs in the community.
Jeremy Nails, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Economic Development Association, said those jobs will pay about $1.8 million annually.
“With this investment, Bunge is reinforcing our commitment to the Decatur community. We are seeing increased demand for our products, and we are pleased to be able to share this growth,” Moore wrote. Bunge currently employs about 136 workers with an annual payroll of $5.36 million. Divided into two phases, the project will first expand the company’s existing refinery operation on Market Street Northeast. Construction on that phase is scheduled to begin this spring.
8. Eissmann Automotive Expands, Adds 40 Jobs in Pell City
PELL CITY — Eissman Automotive North America Inc. will invest more than $2.75 million in its operations, adding 40 jobs. “It’s another sign of how well we’re doing economically,” Mayor Bill Hereford said. “It’s outstanding.”
Eissman, which is in the Pell City Industrial Park, was the first German company to move to Pell City. Two other German companies followed.
“They are a great group, great company,” said Don Smith, executive director for the St. Clair County Economic Development Council. “It’s a good company all around.
He said Eissman plans to add $2 million worth of new equipment in its planned 15,000 square foot addition, which is estimated to cost $750,000.
“We’re excited — and busy,” said Jost Bierbaum, president of Eissman Automotive North America and Mexico. He said the Pell City plant will start a new contract in July with Chrysler Group, making that automobile manufacturer’s dash boards for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Eissman currently makes the Mercedes GL M-Class dashboards. Their Mercedes contract continues until the middle of next year, Bierbaum said.
“We’re also working on other projects with GM (General Motors Co.) and Chrysler,” he said. Eissman opened its North America plant in Pell City in 2005. The company produces 51,000 different interior parts for automobiles and has operations worldwide.
9. UAB Gets High Ranking for Best Graduate School
A U.S. News and World Report has ranked the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine as one of the top 10 programs in the nation in primary care. And UAB graduate programs in health administration and AIDS were again ranked among the nation’s top 10. The latest rankings were released in the 2012 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.”
Here’s how UAB ranked in other categories:
UAB’s primary care rankings rose to No. 10 from No. 23 last year. Its AIDS program rose from No. 9 to No. 6, and its School of Health Professionals master’s degree program in health services administration ranked fifth in the nation, up from seventh last year
- The school ranked No. 30 for research.
- Its doctoral program in biological sciences maintained its No. 34 ranking.
- The UAB School of Nursing’s master program rose to No. 21.
- The nurse practitioner’s (adult) program ranked No. 10, as did the nursing service administration program
10. Innovation Depot Boosts Birmingham Economy by $1 Billion
Birmingham's business incubator, Innovation Depot, has had an estimated $1 billion economic impact over the last four years, boosted in 2010 as sales and employment at its companies returned to pre-recession levels.
Innovation Depot released the results of its annual economic impact study in March. The study found the companies in the incubator and those that have graduated in the last five years had $140 million in revenue, investments and grants in 2010, up from the $115 million in 2009. The figure is close to the $141 million posted in 2008, as the recession began taking hold in Birmingham.
The companies' employees had earnings of $76 million, the report found. That's greater than the $68 million of a year ago and higher than the $70 million in 2008.
Susan Matlock, chief executive of Innovation Depot, said she knew about six months ago that 2010 would be a comeback year. "With several of our companies, especially the information technology companies, they had some long-time pending contracts start to close as their customers started making decisions," Matlock said. "That was an indication that things were picking up."
Another sign was a boost in grants among the biotechnology/life science companies at Innovation Depot and new business other companies were adding. For instance, nearly $2.3 million in National Institutes of Health grants and investment from the Birmingham Technology Fund and the Targeted Technology Fund went to support Vaxin, DiscoveryBioMed, Agenta Biotech and BioDtech.