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
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BASF completes site expansion for mobile emissions catalysts production in Huntsville, Alabama
ISELIN, NEW JERSEY -
WEBWIRE -
Thursday, August 24, 2017
BASF announced the completion of an investment to expand production of its mobile emissions catalysts manufacturing site in Huntsville, Alabama.
The Huntsville site expansion began 18 months ago and created ten additional jobs. The expansion also enables BASF to continue creating emission control technologies for cleaner air while simultaneously helping the automotive industry grow.
"The Huntsville facility is our largest emissions catalyst manufacturing site in North America and this expansion demonstrates our commitment to our business growth strategy," said Ken Lane, President of BASF's Catalyst Division. "The additional capacity will meet the growing market demand and customer technology needs in the region."
Airbus achieves a global first with Mobile production of its hot A320
By Justin Bachman
Bloomberg
With little fanfare, Airbus SE is about to mark an unusual milestone in aviation: simultaneous production of the same aircraft on three continents. The company will hand over the first A320 to roll out of its Mobile assembly plant on Aug. 25, meaning North America will join Europe and Asia in producing the most popular airliner in the world.
The Alabama facility
opened in 2015 and has thus far produced three dozen of Airbus' larger A321s. The first U.S.-built A320 will be handed over Friday to
Spirit Airlines Inc., which has ordered 98 of the planes. By year's end, Airbus plans to reach a production rate of four aircraft per month at the Mobile facility.
"The sun never sets on Airbus manufacturing!" company spokeswoman Mary Anne Greczyn wrote in an email. "Internationalization, coming closer to our customers, and a global industrial footprint are part of our overall strategy."
A visibly moved Jim Hudson needed a few minutes to recount his story, moments after winning the EDPA's first "imerge" Lifetime Achievement in Innovation Award.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey gave the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville a $10 million economic development grant today to fund a new U.S, Cyber Camp and help construct a new building to house it and link the rocket center's two existing exhibit halls.
"Expanding cyber camp in Alabama's No. 1 tourist attraction was a logical investment for the state...," the governor said. "In order to have a workforce that is prepared for the 21st century and can fill jobs in the 21st century, we must train our students and young people in technology, and the efforts of the U.S. Cyber Camp do just that."
Ivey said the Army, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, NASA and National Security Agency "are all interested in participating in programs right here. The need to expand the U.S. Cyber Camp is real, and it is important."
Boeing to perform design work on new ICBM in Alabama
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - The U.S.'s next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile could be designed in Alabama.
Boeing Co., the aerospace company whose roots in Alabama go back more than half a century, announced today that the U.S. Air Force has awarded it a
$349 million contract for preliminary design work on a replacement for the Minuteman III ICBM.
Boeing said the work will be performed in Huntsville, as well as other locations including Ogden, Utah, and Heath, Ohio.
National Bar Association resolution supports T-100 project in Tuskegee
Tuskegee News
The National Bar Association (NBA), the nation's oldest and largest national network of predominately African American attorneys and judges around the world unanimously passed at its 92nd Annual Convention in Toronto Ontario, Canada, a Resolution of Support for Leonardo-DRS bid to construct the T-100 Jet Trainer in Tuskegee, according to NBA Past President Fred D. Gray of Tuskegee.
On his recommendation, "Our organization overwhelmingly supports this huge aviation project by Leonardo-DRS and its proposal to bring significant jobs, economic growth and development, suppliers and vendors to build the jet trainers at historic Moton Field," said Gray.
"This will indeed be a generational game-changer for Tuskegee. Our membership, representing 60,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students with over 80 affiliate chapters, stands in total support of this 21st century aviation project for Tuskegee."
Michelin North America Awarded Air Conservationist of the Year
by the Alabama Wildlife Federation
Michelin North America of Midland City was recently awarded the Air Conservationist of the Year Award at the 2017 Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor's Conservation Achievement Awards banquet. The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) held the banquet, co-sponsored by Alabama Power Company and PowerSouth Energy on Friday, August 4 at The Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill in Prattville. Governor Kay Ivey provided opening remarks and assisted with presentation of the awards.
The AWF Governor's Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) are the most respected conservation honors in the state of Alabama. Over the past 40 years, AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama's wildlife and related natural resources.
Michelin North America produces high-performance light truck and SUV passenger tires. The plant is extremely conscious of the potential for air pollution from its operations and is committed to meeting all standards for air pollution control.
In 2015, Michelin announced a $22 million project to upgrade and install its existing extrusion, curing equipment, and tire verification capacity. By year-end, the technological upgrades resulted in a 45% reduction in the emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds used in the tire fabrication process, equating to 30 tons per year.
The upgrade also reduced employee exposure, improved working conditions, and reduced fire hazards associated with these substances. Michelin North America in Midland City has proven to be a leader in eco-friendly programs that reduce air emissions and improves the health and welfare of the citizens of Alabama, and continues to strive to be a leader in sustainable mobility by focusing on two core values: Respect for the Environment and Respect for People.
Additional sponsors included Ralph and Catherine Martin, Stifel, Lee Thuston, Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, Talladega Superspeedway, Josh & Mary Virginia Mandell, First South Farm Credit, CDG Engineers & Associates, Manufacture Alabama, Lake Martin Resource Association, Russell Lands, Consolidated Construction Co., Canfor Southern Pine, and David & Kelly Thomas. The Westervelt Company and Hammer Construction sponsored the social event prior to the banquet. Alabama Gulf Seafood was sponsored by the Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission.
The GCAA was created to promote leadership by example and in turn increase conservation of the natural resources in the state of Alabama including its wildlife, forests, soils, water and air. The program is designed to bring about a greater knowledge and awareness of conservation practices and projects and to give proper recognition to those persons and organizations that make outstanding contributions to the natural resource welfare of their community and state.