Here is today's summary of economic development news, a free service of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, representing Alabama's private sector investment in economic development. If you enjoy NewsFlash, thank an
EDPA Partner.
Could Alabama become home to a major new industry centered on bamboo farming and product manufacturing?
Southern Research and its
Prosperity Fund initiative are teaming up with
Resource Fiber, a bamboo fiber products company, to help realize the commercial potential of bamboo in a state known for thick pine forests.
Marsha Folsom, Resource Fiber's Chief Development Officer/Governmental Affairs/Economic Development, said The Prosperity Fund has connected the firm with Alabama businesses interested in exploring industrial applications of bamboo and university professors who want to do bamboo research.
Rise of the Rest looking for Birmingham startups to compete for $100K
By
Tyler Patchen - Health and Technology Reporter, Birmingham Business Journal
Startups can now apply to take part in the pitch competition that will take place when the Rise of the Rest seed fund bus tour comes to Birmingham in May.
As we previously reported, Birmingham is one of four cities that will host a stop on the tour in 2018, along with Memphis, Chattanooga and Louisville.
The tour, organized by Washington, D.C.-based venture capital fund Revolution, is part of a nationwide effort to showcase founders in emerging startup ecosystems.
AdvantageSite pre-consultation checklist is now available
Interested in possibly having an AdvantageSite in your community?
The pre-consultation checklist, which determines what AdvantageSite applications will be accepted in 2018, is now available on the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama's website through March 31. Click here for the link.
AdvantageSite is a teamwork approach between the private sector and state and local governments geared toward having prepared product and materials ready for industrial prospects.
The program is jointly sponsored by the Alabama Department of Commerce, Spire, Alabama Power Co., the North Alabama Industrial Development Association, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, and coordinated by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. Representatives from each of the entities actively participate in application reviews and on-site visits to prospective AdvantageSite designees.
AdvantageSite is a voluntary industrial site preparedness program created in order to make the state more competitive for companies considering a location in Alabama.
Since the program's start in 2008, 29 projects have located on AdvantageSites across the state, investing more than $1.3 billion and creating over 6,000 new jobs.
