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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More than 1,000 employees work at a nearly mile-long plant in Barton Riverfront Industrial Park that houses three industries.
That's a success story, but it was not the original plan when construction of the plant was announced 10 years ago this month.
How the plant reached that point involves a winding tale that includes a Canadian railcar company, securities fraud case against its chairman and CEO, the establishment of a local economic development fund and the Retirement Services of Alabama providing $625 million to help secure and rescue the plant.
An aviation company in Enterprise is expanding operations with a federal contract.
The U.S. Department of State's Office of Aviation has awarded Arista Aviation Service LLC a five-year contract to maintain the agency's UH-1 helicopters. The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract has a maximum value of $111 million.
Maintenance of the UH-1 fleet entails conducting recurring aircraft condition inspections, aircraft modifications, corrosion identification, removal, treatment, repair, component and accessory overhaul, and refurbishment.
Wayne Vardaman, Davis Henry and Aubrey Carter have been appointed by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to serve on the Central Alabama Works! Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Board of Directors.
The board is all volunteer, and its members are dedicated to helping with workforce development across the state.
"One of the obvious needs in the Black Belt is workforce development, so any time you can be involved and help develop some programs to affect that and have a better workforce in the area is something that we're all interested in," Henry said.