‘OUTSTANDING JOB’

Crock previously served as the president of the Ozark-Dale County Economic Development Corp. in the region that houses the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence/Fort Rucker and numerous aerospace companies.

She also served as president of Grow Southeast Alabama, an 11-county organization that promotes industrial growth and job creation across the region.

“Veronica is well known to our team at Commerce for the outstanding job she did in leading the local economic development efforts in Dale County, as well as her leadership with the regional efforts of Grow Southeast Alabama,” said Ted Clem, director of Commerce’s Business Development Division.

“We are excited to have someone of her caliber on our project management team.”

EXPERIENCE

Before starting her career in economic development, Crock served as dean at Enterprise State Community College and the Alabama Aviation College, where she collaborated with economic development organizations, local governments, and educational entities to establish a solid workforce development background.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, a master’s degree from Troy University, and completed doctoral research at Alabama State University. She is a graduate of the Applied Economic Development Honors Program at the University of Alabama and the Intensive Economic Development Training Institute at Auburn University.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to work with such a dedicated team of economic development professionals,” Crock said. “I look forward to serving the state in this new role and will work hard to be a valuable and contributing member of the Alabama team.”

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

GROWTH PLANS

Founded in 2011, Resource Fiber has engaged in extensive research and development activities focusing on bamboo products, with six U.S. patents and five U.S. patent applications pending. It has developed bamboo railroad ties and a laminated timber system to replace steel roof and floor decks in commercial buildings.

Resource Fiber CEO David Knight said the company operates the nation’s largest commercial-scale bamboo nursery in Greene County had been looking at nearby locations for its first manufacturing facility. Last year, the company analyzed seven buildings in four Alabama communities.

“We are grateful to have found the right facility and are honored to be a part of the Sulligent community. We also want to thank the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance for the support and assistance they provided in our site selection process,” Knight said.

“Achieving this milestone is the cornerstone of the U.S. bamboo industry. We look forward to growing the U.S. bamboo products industry starting with our Sulligent manufacturing facility,” he added.

‘BAMBOO FIBER BASKET’

Resource Fiber relocated an experimental pilot facility in Oneida, Tennessee, to the Sulligent site in November 2020. The company expects to begin hiring and launch manufacturing at the Alabama facility in the second quarter of 2021.

Marsha Folsom, co-founder and chief development officer of Resource Fiber, said the company’s new production center will cast substantial ripple effects throughout Northwest Alabama.

“Other industries utilizing bamboo fiber will be attracted to locating here to be near the ‘bamboo fiber basket’ and to advance bamboo manufacturing technologies,” Folsom said.

“Resource Fiber will serve as the catalyst for attracting bamboo-related jobs and industry to the region.”

To make the project possible, Resource Fiber received support from the State of Alabama, which is providing incentives under the Alabama Jobs Act, and the City of Sulligent, which purchased a building it is leasing to the company.

The Houston-based Harry E. Bovay Jr. Foundation also provided a grant to facilitate the project. In addition, the company also received a USDA Rural Business Development Grant, administered by the City of Sulligent, to apply towards the purchase of manufacturing equipment.

“The City of Sulligent is proud to partner with Resource Fiber to advance its groundbreaking bamboo products, and we look forward to helping the company find success and to make our city ground zero for a new industry,” Mayor Scott Boman said.

‘EPICENTER’ IMPACT

David Thornell, president and CEO of the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance, hailed cooperation on a project that has major significance to Sulligent, a city with around 2,000 residents.

“The result of this team effort will bring over 100 new jobs to rural Alabama and create an epicenter for bamboo product research and development, manufacturing and sales for the U.S., if not the entire world,” Thornell said.

Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said the Resource Fiber project advances the state’s goal of creating meaningful job opportunities in rural parts of the state.

“Alabama’s economic development team has embraced job creation in the state’s rural areas as a strategic priority, and the recruitment of Resource Fiber to Sulligent is a perfect illustration of that effort,” Secretary Canfield said.

“Not only will the company bring new jobs to Lamar County, but it will also bring a high level of innovative thinking.”

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

#MazdaToyotaManufacturing will be hosting a #hiring Q&A this Thursday, Dec 3 at 3:30 PM via Facebook Live — https://t.co/LUphF9lCRz.

On Dec 7, MTM is going live with hiring phase 2 of their production team members, around 3,000 positions. Tune in Thursday to learn more! pic.twitter.com/NMnxh8VuMp

— asmartplace (@asmartplace) November 30, 2020

MTM’s assembly facility, now under construction, is expected to open next year. Ultimately, the plant will employ up to 4,000 workers.

AIDT, the state’s primary workforce development agency, is assisting MTM with the hiring process. The Thursday Facebook event will take place on AIDT’s page.

In August, when MTM announced an additional $830 million investment in the Alabama facility, the company said its employment had reached 600. Initial hiring of the production team began in January 2020.

“The partnership between the State of Alabama and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing has been great not only for our state but also our citizens,” said Ed Castile, head of AIDT and deputy secretary of Alabama Department of Commerce.

“We’re proud to support their hiring and training needs as they move into the next phase of their process and give more Alabamians an opportunity to jump start their manufacturing careers,” Castile added.

The new jobs are direct hire, full-time positions on the MTM production team. Starting wage for production team members is $17 an hour, with a top wage of $23 an hour plus shift premium.

MTM production team members are provided benefits on their first day of employment including paid time off, vehicle discount program, and medical, dental and vision coverage. Employees are also eligible to participate in MTM’s 401(k) with 6% employer match after 60 days.

Interested candidates may submit their application beginning Monday at the company’s website.

(Courtesy of Made In Alabama)

Flight Works Alabama is an aerospace education center located near the Airbus manufacturing facility in Mobile that aims to inspire and equip future aviation workers across the region.

The 15,000-square-foot facility, which features more than 40 high-tech exhibits to provide a comprehensive look at the aviation and aerospace industry, officially opened in August.

Flight Works Alabama is partnering with Airbus, the state of Alabama, Alabama Power Foundation, Amazon Web Services, Snap-on Incorporated, Mott MacDonald, the University of West Alabama, and the University of South Alabama on the We Build it Better program.

“This exemplifies Flight Works Alabama’s commitment to innovation within science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education,” said Jeff Knittel, chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas.

“Through this program, middle school students will be introduced to a stimulating curriculum, providing them with invaluable workforce skills they otherwise might not receive,” he added.

“We are proud to partner with Flight Works Alabama on this cutting-edge and exciting initiative.”

MISSION SUPPORT

Aimed at middle school students, the overall objective of the program is to weave 21st century work skills with higher level thinking skills such as measurement, product design, tools, electrical wiring, fiber optics and coding to encourage students to design inventions on their own.

“We Build It Better offers crucial integration of hands-on training, practical skill acquisition and workforce development to Alabama’s middle schoolers in a unique way,” Governor Kay Ivey said.

“The program directly aligns with Flight Works Alabama’s mission to inspire, equip and reinforce Alabama’s future workforce through innovative educational offerings, like this one, which the state is proud to support.”

The in-school pilot program will begin in January 2021. Middle school teachers will be provided the first three of the seven innovation kits. The kits will provide an array of instructional videos, hands-on activities, challenges, tools and materials, as well as assessments.

The entire seven-module program will be piloted at Flight Works Alabama during spring 2021.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

“It is critical that we help them adapt as much as possible to these new conditions to avoid losing current customers and to quickly return to pre-quarantine levels of activity,” he added.

WEB SITE STRATEGIES

Hilda Lockhart, director of Commerce’s Office of International Trade, said the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the plans of many Alabama firms to expand their business internationally.

Commerce was forced to cancel 2020 trade missions planned for Vietnam, Hong Kong, the Caribbean and Russia. It had also geared up to help Alabama companies traveling to trade shows in foreign markets, but those events were also cancelled.

“We know this has been extremely challenging during this year with COVID 19 impacting travel, supply chains, causing shutdowns/closures and causing a lot of uncertainty for everyone,” Lockhart said.

“Because of COVID-19, we began looking for innovative ways to help companies across Alabama reach out to potential buyers and partners throughout the world,” she added.

IBT Online, which has created programs for other states, can help companies with website localization strategies that make their brands easy to find in target countries and facilitate business connections. (Click here to watch a video.)

“This seemed like to the optimum time to partner with IBT and bring this expertise and opportunity to Alabama companies,” Lockhart said. “Because of Covid-19, it’s now even more crucial for businesses to make their website an effective global business tool.”

HELP FOR BUSINESSES

Davies Hood, president of Birmingham-based Induron Protective Coatings, said his company has been working with IBT Online and is already seeing benefits from its “internationalization through localization” approach to marketing.

“Sometimes we tend to look at the world through the lens of our own culture, experience and/or preconceptions, so they have helped us take a more local, customer-focused approach,” Hood said.

“Their professionalism and politeness impress me, but I genuinely value their approach that is based more on systems and processes than more touchy-feely marketing approaches.”

Secretary Canfield said the Commerce team and the international trade group received financial resources from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade Expansion Program, or STEP, to launch the Alabama Online Global Program.

Chris Wilder of SEPCO, an Alabaster-based maker of fluid sealing products, said STEP has benefited his company.

“The STEP grant program been a vital part of our global export growth strategy. We have used it for everything from market research, to trade mission prospecting,” Wilder said.

“Currently we are working with the program to further develop our international digital marketing assets. The STEP grant program is an excellent value,” he added.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

In a survey published with the rankings, workforce skills were the most important criteria to site selectors for the fifth year in a row, with workforce development programs at No. 2.

Transportation infrastructure, ease of permitting and regulatory procedures, and state and local taxes complete the top five.

“This ranking validates the diligence and resourcefulness of Alabama’s economic development team as it strives to create meaningful opportunities for the citizens in our state through strategic job-creation efforts,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“On another level, this ranking from Site Selection underscores the fact that Alabama remains a very attractive location for corporate decision-makers because of our pro-business policies, our dedicated workforce, and our high-performance job-training programs,” he added.

The Site Selection ranking follows a No. 6 ranking in Area Development magazine’s 2020 “Top States for Doing Business” competition, announced in September.

CONSISTENT GROWTH

Atlanta-based “Site Selection” said 50% of the overall Business Climate Ranking is based on a survey of corporate site selectors who are asked to rank the states based on their recent experience of locating facilities in them.

The other half is based on an index of seven criteria: performance in the “Site Selection” annual Prosperity Cup ranking; total Conway Projects Database-compliant facilities in 2019; total new facilities in 2019 per capita; total 2020 new projects year-to-date; total 2020 projects year-to-date per capita; and corporate and property tax data from Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Index.

Earlier this year, Alabama’s economic development successes during 2019 earned the state a pair of Top 10 rankings in the national magazine’s annual Governor’s Cups analysis.

Alabama ranked No. 6 among the states in projects per capita, a measurement that places smaller states on a more level playing field in the “Site Selection” analysis. The state’s per capita ranking in 2018 was 14th.

Alabama ranked No, 9 among all states for the number of 2019 economic development projects that met the criteria of the “Site Selection” analysis, with 150 qualified projects. In 2018, Alabama ranked No. 19.

It was the first year that Alabama ranked in the Top 10 in both categories.

Between 2012 and 2019, economic development activity brought $44 billion in new capital investment to Alabama, along with 135,000 new and future jobs, according to Commerce data.

Last year alone, new capital investment in Alabama totaled $7.1 billion, with nearly 13,500 job commitments. Read a story outlining the results.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

GROWTH PLANS

According to the Shoals EDA, demand for Kith Kitchens’ cabinets has outgrown the capacity at the company’s current facility in Haleyville. The organization says the company chose the Shoals because of the availability of a first-class workforce and shovel ready industrial property.

“A couple of years ago the Shoals EDA developed an aggressive product development plan that included the construction of a new road and speculative building pad in the Florence-Lauderdale Industrial Park,” said Adam Himber, vice president of the Shoals EDA.

“The speculative building pad will allow Kith Kitchens to become operational quicker to meet the ever-growing demand in their industry,” he said.

The Shoals EDA said the success of the project can be attributed to a collaborative effort with the Alabama Department of Commerce, AIDT, and TVA.

The Shoals EDA  began building this 150,000-square-foot speculative building pad earlier this year in preparation for future development.

Kith is a family owned business, founded in 1998.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

CREATING JOBS

As the U.S. Trade Representative since 2017, Ambassador Lighthizer serves as the federal government’s top trade negotiator. He brings a history of tough U.S. trade enforcement and a record of standing up for American workers, farmers, manufacturers, and businesses.

Before joining the Trump Administration, he practiced international trade law for 30 years. During this time, he served as lead counsel for scores of trade enforcement cases and became recognized as a prominent advocate for the type of “America First” trade policies supported by President Trump.

Ambassador Lighthizer also served as the deputy U.S trade representative for President Ronald Reagan, negotiating over two dozen bilateral international agreements, including agreements on steel, automobiles and agricultural products.

“I want to thank Governor Ivey for her hospitality and for working so closely with President Trump to keep his promises to the people of Alabama and all Americans,” Ambassador Lighthizer said.

“The President is committed to creating more manufacturing jobs, particularly in the auto sector, which will benefit American workers for generations to come.”

Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, moderated the roundtable discussion, which focused on topics such as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the Phase I China trade deal and other trade pacts under negotiation.

“Today’s discussion was a great opportunity for a representative group of Alabama’s industrial leaders to share their thoughts about how trade policies affect their operations and how we can all work together to increase prosperity here at home,” Secretary Canfield said.

Participating in the event were the leaders of several major Alabama manufacturers: Mike Göbel of MBUSI, Mike Oatridge of Honda, Robert Burns of Hyundai, Masa Aihara of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, Charles Greene of the AM/NS Calvert steel mill, Daryl Taylor of Airbus, and Lee Styslinger III of Altec.

John Driscoll of the Alabama Port Authority, which manages the state’s only deep-water port, and Mark Crosswhite of Alabama Power, the state’s largest electric utility, also took part in the event.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

The gBETA program a free, seven-week accelerator that is designed to help startups gain early customer traction on their product or idea and establish metrics that can make them competitive applicants for full-time, equity-based accelerators or seed investment.

“Bronze Valley serves as an important element in our efforts to enhance the vitality of Alabama’s innovation ecosystem, and the selection of the first class of startups represents a major milestone for the Accelerator,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“The guidance and mentorship these entrepreneurs will receive from Bronze Valley will play a vital role in launching their companies to the next level,” he added.

Participating in the program at Bronze Valley are:

• Acclinate Genentics (co-founders: Del Smith and Tiffany Jordan Whitlow)
• Babypalooza (CEO and founder: Cecilia Pearson)
• Cancer U (CEO and co-founder: Andrea Wilson Woods)
• H2T Digital Co. (CEO and co-founder: Darius Foster)
• Pmngr (co-founder: James Kemp)

“The gener8tor and Bronze Valley partnership connects local and national partners, mentors and investors to support underrepresented founders in our region,” said Haley Medved Kendrick, Bronze Valley Accelerator Director.

“The inaugural cohort showcases the creativity, resiliency and bravery of our people, and offers a clear example of the innovation happening in our state.”

Gener8tor said the 50 startups in its program are located across the country, and represent a wide variety of industries and verticals, including the Internet of Things, Medtech, SaaS (software as a service) and beyond. The 10 programs kicked on Oct. 1 and are being held virtually.

Bronze Valley Accelerator’s cohort will be highlighted during a Virtual Pitch Night on at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18. For more information and to RSVP, ​click here​.

The accelerator is supported by ​Bronze Valley​, ​Alabama Power​ and the ​Alabama Department of Commerce​. The Bronze Valley Accelerator is held three times per year, with five Alabama-based companies accepted per cohort to ensure a high level of individualized attention.

The Bronze Valley Accelerator works with companies across all industries and business models.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

• Dynetics is adding up to 200 new jobs associated with weapon development work and has hired hundreds of people this year in support of the Human Landing System and other projects, bringing its local employment to 2,740.
• Torch Technologies has had two recent expansion projects totaling 120 jobs and $32.3 million in investment. The first project was the construction of the Technology Integration and Prototyping Center, a two-story office space with an attached 10,000-square-foot high-bay facility.
• Invariant Corporation, a Huntsville-based engineering services and software development company, is creating 23 new jobs with investment of $430,000. A new 92,000-square-foot facility should be complete next summer.
• Nippon Express USA  is locating on the campus of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A. Within the next two years, Nippon Express, a logistics company, will hire 101 employees and invest $19.1 million.

Other companies that have added jobs and investment in the Huntsville area this year are Aldez, Palco, Ridgeview Industries, and TriRx Pharmaceutical Services.

$1 BILLION IN 2020 PROJECTS

According to the Chamber, new projects, expansions, and increased scope of previously announced projects so far in 2020 will generate 852 new jobs and more than $1 billion in new capital investment in the Huntsville metro area.

“With COVID-19, this has certainly been a challenging year, but in spite of all that is happening, Huntsville still continues to see job growth in all parts of our city,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. “Whether it’s Torch Technologies in South Huntsville, Dynetics in Cummings Research Park, or TriRx in Chase Industrial Park, there are buildings going up and sites being delivered.

“When you combine that with the ongoing work at North Huntsville Industrial Park with Facebook and Toyota and the numerous projects at Mazda Toyota, it’s a remarkable statement to the resiliency of the Huntsville market and its industries,” he added.

Madison County Commission Chairman Dale W. Strong said officials in the county and Huntsville have continued to work to bring new and innovative business and industry to the community while also supporting expansions among industry partners.

“Our diverse economy continues to be robust year after year. With a focus on workforce development the future of the Rocket City and Redstone Arsenal will continue to drive the economy of Alabama and southern Tennessee,” Strong said.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

“When we announced our intent to build A320 family aircraft in the United States, and to locate that facility in Mobile, Alabama, we also stated our intent to be a good neighbor, to create jobs and opportunities, and to help strengthen the U.S. aerospace industry,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, president & CEO of Airbus Americas.

“Five years later, we have become a major economic driver in creating an aerospace hub on the Gulf Coast,” he added.

EXPANDING PRESENCE

The Airbus facility at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley directly employs more than 1,000 people. Earlier this year, Airbus opened a second assembly line at the complex that produces A220 aircraft. The operation represents an investment of around $1 billion.

This month, the company announced that its newly expanded delivery center will be named after one of the company’s former leaders, Tom Enders. Enders supported and drove the establishment of an Airbus aircraft production facility in the U.S. during his tenure as CEO of Airbus.

“The achievements of the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing team over these past five years are just the beginning,” Knittel said.

“We are proud to call Mobile our American aircraft manufacturing home, and we look forward to many more years of partnership with the community, our customers and suppliers.”

In addition to the manufacturing facility, the company operates an Engineering Center at the Brookley complex. It also has a North American military customer services operation supporting U.S. Coast Guard aircraft located near the Mobile Regional Airport.

Our 5th anniversary of "Making it in Mobile!" A brief visual history of our manufacturing progress in one of our U.S. hometowns… @MobileChamber @ALcomMobile pic.twitter.com/h4tNGVfGWd

— Airbus in the U.S (@AirbusInTheUS) September 14, 2020

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

“This investment secures our position as a leader in our industry and provides us with full control of the entire manufacturing process, ensuring that our customers receive nothing but the best quality products,” said Randy White, CEO and co-founder of Wheel Pros.

“This was the ideal opportunity for expansion — the manufacturing assets and experienced workers are already in place. We look forward to joining the Alabama automotive sector and the Auburn community,” he added.

Colorado-based Wheel Pros is the only branded automotive aftermarket wheel supplier with cast wheel manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. The company designs, manufactures and distributes branded automotive aftermarket wheels, performance tires and accessories.

GROWTH PLANS

Wheel Pros expects production of casted aluminum wheels at the new Auburn facility to be up and running in the next few months. The company forecasts that its U.S. manufacturing operations will produce approximately 1.5 million wheels each year.

“Wheel Pros has joined a robust network of automotive manufacturers and suppliers that call our state home,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“We are glad that the company sees the potential in Alabama for sustainable growth and long-term success.”

The company’s facility is located in Auburn’s Technology Park North and operations include casting, machining and painting operations.

“We look forward to the impact Wheel Pros will have on East Alabama at a perfect time,” Auburn Mayor Ron Anders said. “We have a manufacturing facility and a workforce that are ready and more than able to meet the company’s needs.

“Wheel Pros’ arrival will bring more jobs to our community, which is great for our residents and our economy. We are grateful for Wheel Pros’ investment in our region,” he added.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

“Birmingham’s startup community is on the rise, and Techstars is a major step in its evolution as one of our country’s brightest entrepreneurial hubs,” said Nate Schmidt, managing director of Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator.

“One unique aspect of our accelerator is the focus on energy and cleantech. In the near future, when Alabama is viewed as a global leader for startups in these industries, this accelerator class will be viewed as the start of that movement,” he added.

INAUGURAL CLASS

The Techstarts startups are:

• Project Canary (Denver): Continuous air quality monitoring company
• Sync Energy (New York City): Artificial intelligence to aid forecasting and loss prevention
• Ashipa Electric (Birmingham): Microgrid integration and optimization
• Virimodo (New York City): Carbon offsets for multi-family dwellings
• doit (Birmingham): Cloud-based electrical system mapping
• Resilient Power Systems (Atlanta): Building block to reduce infrastructure upgrade costs
• EnergyHawk (Boston): Mapping solutions for C&I lead generation
• TruSpin (Birmingham): Nanomaterials manufacturing
• ShipShape AI (Austin, Texas): Smart home solutions management
• Elektrik (Salt Lake City): E-commerce platform for electric wholesalers

Over the next 90 days, startups will receive seed investment, mentorship through Techstars’ worldwide network of business leaders as well as Alabama’s business community, and business coaching through the program’s educational components.

The program will culminate in Demo Day, a public pitch event.

“We welcome these companies to our growing technology ecosystem and are excited for them to see firsthand the benefits of doing business in Alabama,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“At its core, the Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator is an economic development initiative, and this work will help solidify our state’s future in the 21^st century economy.”

The Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator is supported by Alabama Power, the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), the Alabama Department of Commerce, Altec, PowerSouth and The University of Alabama.

These supporters will have a key role in the accelerator process, with the common goal of growing the number of startup companies based in Alabama.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

“These high rankings indicate that Alabama offers the advantages that companies are searching for when they are making decisions about opening new facilities or expanding existing operations,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“Alabama possesses the skilled workers, effective training programs, and the low-cost business environment that companies from around the world need to compete and succeed,” he added.

Between 2012 and 2019, economic development activity brought $44 billion in new capital investment to Alabama, along with 135 ,000 new and future jobs, according to Commerce data.

Last year alone, new capital investment in Alabama totaled $7.1 billion, with nearly 13,500 job commitments. Read a story outlining the results.

HIGH RANKINGS

Secretary Canfield said Alabama’s individual category rankings reflect the state’s comprehensive approach to economic development:

• Speed of Permitting – No. 2
• Workforce Development Programs – No. 3
• Business Incentives – No. 4 (tie)
• Favorable Regulatory Environment – No. 5
• Available Real Estate – No. 5 (tie)
• Competitive Labor Environment – No. 6
• Site Readiness Programs – No. 6
• Energy Availability & Costs – No. 6 (tie)
• Cooperative & Responsive State Government – No. 6 (tie)
• Overall Cost of Doing Business – No. 7 (tie)

Alabama ranked No. 4 in Area Development’s survey last year.

This year’s list was topped by Georgia and filled with other Southern states in the Top 10.

“What we learned is that, even amid the earth-shattering change the current pandemic has wrought, there are important things that have not changed. States across the South continue to have their ducks in a row when it comes to making themselves attractive to businesses,” the magazine notes.

“They remain well-prepared for creating positive business headlines — they’re doing so now and will continue to do so as the economy regains its liveliness.”

In July, Business Facilities, another economic development publication, gave Alabama high marks for its workforce development programs and its “automotive manufacturing strength,” based on the state’s rapidly expanding auto industry.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

GROWTH PLANS

The new product line will make the plant in Wedowee one of JELD-WEN’s major U.S. door prehang facilities. The expected start of the additional assembly is Oct. 1, 2020.

“It is always great to see a local company in your area expand. JELD-WEN has been in Randolph County in excess of 19 years,” Randolph County Economic Development Authority Director Bryant Whaley said.

“They have done their part in expanding, and now we must do our part and fill those vacant jobs,” he added.

Previously, JELD-WEN’s Wedowee plant supplied doors to nationwide home improvement retailer locations throughout the Southeast, but the expansion means additional patio doors will be shipped as far north as Minnesota and Maine.

Over the next six to nine months, up to $500,000 in new equipment will be installed to aid in the assembly of patio doors at the Alabama plant.

“I am thrilled to have JELD-WEN in Wedowee. They are a great corporate partner for our community. Their expansion is a long-term investment in our community,” Wedowee Mayor Tim Coe said.

JELD-WEN, founded in 1960, operates manufacturing facilities in 20 countries, primarily in North America, Europe and Australia.

The company designs, produces and distributes an extensive range of interior and exterior doors, along with wood, vinyl and aluminum windows and related products for use in the new construction and repair and remodeling of residential homes and non-residential buildings.

(Courtesy of Made In Alabama)

The spec building is being made possible through a funding partnership between the Wiregrass Electric Cooperative (WEC), the PowerSouth Energy Cooperative and the Geneva County Commission.

“We’re happy to be in a position to partner with PowerSouth Energy Cooperative and the Geneva County Commission to bring this facility to Hartford,” said Brad Kimbro, WEC’s chief operating officer.

“This has the potential to change Geneva County. We’re always investing in opportunities to improve the health and well-being of our communities,” Kimbro added.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, commended the WEC and its partners for pursuing their strategic economic development goals through the construction of the spec building.

“Rural areas face their own specific challenges when it comes to economic development, so it’s critical that community leaders work together to provide smart solutions that can result in job creation,” Secretary Canfield said.

“In Geneva County, that is exactly what is taking place.”

Commerce has embraced rural economic development as a pillar in its overall economic development strategy for the state.

Over the past year, Commerce’s Rural Development Manager Brenda Tuck has worked with rural counties to emphasize the importance of having sites and buildings ready for occupancy so that they can better compete in the development process.

“We are always excited to see these projects coming together through the great partnerships that we have in our rural areas,” Tuck said.

“Many of Alabama’s great products are already being made in rural Alabama; with the addition of spec buildings like this one in Geneva County, rural Alabama continues to be poised for even more success.”

FACILITATING GROWTH

Economic developers know that most businesses considering a job-creating relocation or expansion project look for existing building space. Realizing the Wiregrass area lacked existing buildings, WEC utilized a program from its power distributor — PowerSouth — to initiate the construction project in Hartford.

PowerSouth has operated a Business Development Loan Program, which funds the construction of spec buildings, for more than two decades. The Geneva County facility will be the 23rd project funded through the program; all but one of the previous 22 buildings have been occupied.

“PowerSouth is committed to the communities it serves. We work with our members to educate them on the opportunities that are out there,” said Caleb Goodwyn, a PowerSouth community development and financing representative.

“The majority of companies that come to Alabama are looking for existing space. It’s exciting to see growth like this,” he added.

Under the program, PowerSouth will fund half of a building’s cost, up to $400,000. PowerSouth members like WEC must contribute 25 percent of the costs, up to $200,000, while other community interests fund the rest of the project.

“The Geneva County Commission has set economic development as one of its priorities, and one of our major goals was to construct a speculative building,” Seay said.

Birmingham-based Alabama Power also a spec building program, which it has operated since 1991. The utility joined with partners in Talladega County last year to construct a 60,000-square-foot spec building in Sylacauga

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

The investment reaffirms Mazda and Toyota’s commitment to produce the highest-quality products at all of their production facilities.

The investment also accommodates production line modifications to enhance manufacturing processes supporting the Mazda vehicle and design changes to the yet-to-be-announced Toyota SUV that will be both produced at the Alabama plant.

The new facility will have the capacity to produce up to 150,000 units of a future Mazda crossover model and up to 150,000 units of the Toyota SUV each year.

HIRING PLANS

MTM continues to plan for up to 4,000 new jobs and has hired approximately 600 employees to date, with plans to resume accepting applications for production positions later in 2020. Initial hiring began in January.

“Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is proud to call Alabama home. Through strong support from our state and local partners, we have been able to further incorporate cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, provide world-class training for team members and develop the highest quality production processes,” said Mark Brazeal, vice president of administration at MTM.

“As we prepare for the start of production next year, we look forward to developing our future workforce and serving as a hometown company for many years to come,” he added.

Full-scale construction of the Alabama plant continues, with 75 to 100 percent completion on roofing, siding, floor slabs, ductwork, fire protection and electrical.Construction began in early 2019.

“This newest investment by our partners at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing shows the company’s continued confidence in the ability of our community to provide a strong, skilled workforce to meet the demands for quality and reliability,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said.

“We look forward to the day when the first vehicles roll off the line,” he added.

“We are excited to learn of this additional investment being made by Mazda Toyota Manufacturing,” Limestone County Commission Chairman Colin Daly said.

“We continue to be grateful to MTM for their belief in our community and look forward to our partnership with them for many years to come.”

MAGNIFYING IMPACT

Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said MTM’s new investment will magnify the economic impact of a project that is poised to transform the North Alabama region.

“With this enhanced investment, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA is adding new technology and capabilities to a manufacturing facility that was already designed to be one of the most efficient factories in the automotive industry,” Canfield said.

“We’re confident that the groundbreaking collaboration between Mazda and Toyota will drive growth not only for the companies but also for North Alabama for generations.”

(Courtesy of Made In Alabama)

Alabama’s workforce development and talent attraction programs ranked No. 2 among the states in the ranking, while Business Facilities rated Alabama’s automotive manufacturing strength No. 5.

“Alabama’s economic development team will continue to work tirelessly to recruit high-caliber companies, and this ranking is another testament to the advantages that our state possesses for businesses across the globe,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“One of those key advantages is our workforce training programs, which are a key component of the support system we have in place in Alabama to help companies in many different industries find and develop the skilled workers they need to achieve success,” he added.

AIDT, the state’s primary workforce development agency, is a central player in Alabama’s strategic economic growth efforts, having worked with 5,200 companies and training nearly 1 million workers since its founding in 1971. Last year, AIDT’s economic impact on Alabama was calculated at $7 billion.

“Any success we have in Alabama regarding workforce development and talent attraction is due to a myriad of things,” said Ed Castile, director of AIDT and head of Commerce’s Workforce Development Division.

“This includes an available workforce with an extraordinary work ethic, world-class companies that choose Alabama and hire our citizens, a business-focused Governor and Legislature who are totally engaged in our workforce strategies, and a Secretary of Commerce who helped create the Accelerate Alabama strategy that is the foundation of all our work.”

Castile added: “The AIDT staff is among the best in the business of both workforce development and talent attraction, and I commend them and many others involved in this work for this recognition. We are very proud to be part of the ‘Made in Alabama’ and the ‘AlabamaWorks’ team.”

Alabama’s auto industry is poised for growth as Mazda Toyota Manufacturing completes its new assembly plant in Huntsville, and Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz move forward with major expansions in the state.

GROWTH PROJECTS

Other Business Facilities rankings for Alabama included:

No. 6 – Foreign Trade Zone activity (exports)

No. 7 – Manufacturing Output (percentage of GDP)

No. 10 – Birmingham/Hoover (GDP leaders, mid-size MSAs)

Both the Birmingham and Huntsville areas have recorded high levels of economic development activity.

Last year, Jefferson County, the heart of the Birmingham metro area, attracted $456 million in new capital investment, along with more than 1,100 jobs, according to Commerce’s 2019 New & Expanding Industry Report.

Major projects included the recruitment of a Carvana automobile distribution center in Bessemer with a projected 450 jobs and a $215 million expansion at a U.S. Steel facility, adding 150 jobs.

Madison and Limestone counties, comprising the Huntsville metro area, landed projects valued at nearly $2 billion in 2019, with more than 3,500 job commitments.

Companies such as Lockheed Martin and Toyota announced growth projects in the Huntsville region last year, as did several suppliers to Mazda Toyota Manufacturing.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

Bostwick, who joined the Birmingham-based research organization in 2013 after working for AstraZeneca and other bioscience companies, talks about the capabilities of the HTS Center and how his team is making a contribution to the fight against COVID-19.

What is the goal of Southern Research’s screening program as it relates to the novel coronavirus?

The goal is to discover drugs that can be used as therapeutic treatments for COVID-19. By screening compounds in our HTS Center, we can rapidly identify those that exhibit antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the disease.

These compounds can then be used as starting points for the development of new therapeutic agents.

If the screen identifies compounds that are already approved as drugs to treat various other diseases, they can potentially be repurposed for treating COVD-19.

What are Southern Research’s key capabilities in screening compounds as part of the drug discovery process?

Using automated robotic systems to perform testing is a key capability to enable high throughput screening. Southern Research’s HTS Center can also conduct screens that require containment of highly infectious agents and is internationally known for its infectious disease capabilities.

The HTS Center has screened over 15 million compound samples in over 50 different infectious disease assays. It currently serves as the screening core for the NIH-funded Antiviral Drug Discovery and Development Center (AD3C), based at UAB, our close collaborator on many projects.

 Describe the scope of Southern Research’s activities in screening compounds against COVID-19.

For the past six years we have been conducting a drug discovery effort for coronaviruses through the AD3C and have expanded that effort to include SARS-CoV-2.

In addition, we are providing screening services to several major pharmaceutical companies, over two dozen biotech companies, the Gates Foundation and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, which is part of the NIH.

Since early April, we have been generating over 30,000 data points weekly in screens to identify compounds with antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2.

How many compounds has Southern Research screened as part of its internal COVID-19 research program?

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, we had already screened over 305,000 compounds against SARS in support of the AD3C coronavirus drug discovery project. After the outbreak, we tested the hits from that campaign against SARS-CoV-2 and identified several compounds with antiviral effects against both viruses. We are making and testing dozens of new compounds for that program every month.

We also screened a collection containing FDA-approved drugs and late-stage clinical candidates against SARS-CoV-2 to identify drugs with potential for repurposing.

Why is ‘drug repurposing’ a smart approach in this pandemic?

It takes years to invent and bring a new drug to market. Since the safety profile of marketed drugs is already known, a drug need only be evaluated in clinical studies to determine if it can effectively treat a disease other than the one for which it is marketed.

Therefore, in a pandemic, it is much quicker to repurpose existing drugs for use in combating the pathogen as opposed to inventing an entirely new drug.

(Courtesy of Southern Research)

Pinnacle has signed an agreement with the State of Alabama that provides Alabama Pellets with incentives for job creation and investment under Alabama’s Job Act Incentives program.

Pinnacle holds a 70 percent stake in Alabama Pellets, with Tuscaloosa-based Westervelt Co. and Demopolis-based Two Rivers Lumber Co. LLC holding 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

“Pinnacle and Alabama Pellets have been part of the Alabama business landscape since October 2018 and are proud to be part of the economic growth of this community,” Pinnacle CEO Rob McCurdy said.

“Part of our commitment as a good corporate citizen in the communities where we operate is to think local, hire local, and use local vendors and contractors.”

‘POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT’

Incentives for Alabama Pellets include a tax credit for job creation totaling $848,000 over 10 years, as well as an investment credit totaling $9.5 million, also spread over 10 years, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“The Alabama Job Act incentives supports our approach to doing business, and we are pleased to be part of the state’s ‘Made in Alabama’ program,” McCurdy said.

The incentives are offered to businesses that provide benefit to the state and its citizens through positive economic impacts in the community and tax revenue to the state. In order to receive the wage incentive, Alabama Pellets’ facility will target employing a minimum of 45 employees who earn an average hourly wage of $20.

“We’re committed to helping create jobs in our state’s rural areas through strategic economic development, and the plans by Pinnacle and Alabama Pellets to locate a facility in Demopolis is a positive development for Marengo County,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“Alabama Pellets is making a major investment in this plant, which will drive economic growth in the region and spark the creation of direct and indirect jobs.”

PINNACLE RENEWABLE

Vancouver-based Pinnacle is the world’s third largest manufacturer and distributor of industrial wood pellets, a sustainable fuel for renewable electricity generation. This fuel is used by large-scale thermal power generators as a greener alternative to produce reliable baseload renewable power.

The company operates eight industrial wood pellet production facilities in western Canada and one in Alabama, with two additional facilities under construction in Alberta and Alabama. It also owns a port terminal in Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

Pinnacle has entered into long-term take-or-pay contracts with utilities in the U.K., Europe and Asia that represent an average of 99 percent of its production capacity through 2026.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

Revere Plastics Systems is headquartered in Novi, Michigan, and has over 50 years of experience in plastics and manufacturing. Revere’s leadership and technical expertise has earned the company a ranking as one of the nation’s top 50 plastic injection molders in sales.

“With the opening of its first plant in the Southeast, Revere joins Alabama’s great family of industries that have proven to be not only leaders in their field, but also great community partners,” Governor Kay Ivey said.

“We look forward to building a durable partnership with Revere and helping them to grow in Sweet Home Alabama.”

GROWING FOOTPRINT

The addition of its Auburn operation will increase the company’s footprint to seven North American locations. Their location in Auburn will allow the company to grow its presence in the automotive, outdoor power equipment, medical, HVAC and other end-markets.

“We are pleased to welcome Revere Plastics Systems into Auburn’s industrial family,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “Their timing couldn’t be better for our community as this technology-based, value-added company prepares to provide jobs locally.”

Revere Plastics Systems will operate at 204 Enterprise Drive in the Auburn Technology Park North. Formerly under the names Weidmann and Techniplas, the facility has been used since 2004 as an injection molding operation.

“We look forward to growing new customers, localizing existing Revere business, and attracting some of Auburn’s prior business to the facility,” said CEO Fish.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

The Alabama Innovation Fund, administered by Commerce, will provide $200,000 in funding, while the City of Auburn is providing $50,000 for OraSecure’s pilot program.

“The Alabama Innovation Fund is a key component in our efforts to spark the creation of high-impact ’Made in Alabama’ products by stimulating breakthrough research,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“With this support, we are helping OraSecure speed the development of a specimen collection device that can make a difference in the pandemic response while simultaneously raising the state’s profile in the bioscience industry.”

SAFER TESTING

The OraSecure device is designed to facilitate a safer, more comfortable, and less wasteful collection process for those seeking COVID-19 testing.

OraSecure was designed by five experts in the clinical and forensic testing industries with initial funding and support provided by Omega Laboratories Inc., a leading forensic drug testing laboratory with over 20 years of industry experience.

Under Omega Laboratories’ leadership, OraSecure LLC was spun-off as its own entity with the support of the City of Auburn and the State of Alabama. Initial operations will be based in Auburn.

OraSecure plans to offer the collection device as quickly as possible.

“It’s great to see innovative products being manufactured here in Auburn that will aid in public health efforts and the fight against COVID-19,” said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders. “OraSecure is a perfect example of the types of new technologies that we work to foster in our local businesses.”

CAPABILITIES

OraSecure said the city and people of Auburn feature a remarkable combination of expertise in bio-tech manufacturing, as well as the skills, resources, and capabilities needed for it to begin rapidly progressing through the prototyping and manufacturing process.

As the development and manufacturing of OraSecure progresses, Omega’s development team and distribution network will be key in the commercialization of OraSecure product.

The OraSecure collection device is especially attractive to laboratories because of its unique vacuum tube configurability. OraSecure can be configured in single and dual-tube collection options, and these vacuum tubes can be filled with a variety of different buffers.

OraSecure can be customized with a variety of vacuum type specimen tubes for automated testing and can provide a true split-specimen for laboratories interested in performing both active virus and antibody testing from a single collection.

Unlike the current nasal swab collections, OraSecure is patient driven, with patients depositing their saliva or sputum directly into the device. The secured tubes can be safely transported to the laboratory and be placed directly on automated equipment. This means that OraSecure greatly reduces the exposure risk to collectors and laboratory personnel.

Headquartered in Mogadore, Ohio, Omega Laboratories is a global leader in specialty drug testing, rapid alcohol testing, software solutions for clinical and forensic operations, and laboratory licensing. For more information on OraSecure, please visit www.orasecure.com.

INNOVATION FUND

The Alabama Innovation Fund was created as part of the Accelerate Alabama strategic plan in 2012 to help provide financial support for research and innovation-based commercialization taking place in the state.

Projects are selected for funding based on factors such as job-creation potential, the likelihood of successful commercialization and additional research possibilities. The program is administered by the Alabama Department of Commerce.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

“By boosting production capacity and flexibility, our dedicated work force can better serve customers and position our operations for stability and future success,” he added.

EXPANSION NO. 5

Upon the expansion is complete in 2021, the plant will add 450 new jobs. Toyota’s investment at the Alabama facility will climb to a total of $1.2 billion investment, solidifies the Huntsville plant as the automaker’s largest engine production center in North America.

Toyota Alabama supplies engines for one-third of all Toyota vehicles assembled in the U.S.

The latest expansion is the plant’s fifth since it began engine production in 2003. Annual engine capacity will increase 34 percent to 900,000, while total employment at the facility will top 1,800.

“Toyota has long been a pillar in our booming automotive industry, with its Huntsville engine plant operating in near-constant expansion mode since it launched production,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“Over the years, we have developed a special relationship with this world-class automaker and, working together, we will build a brilliant future right here in Alabama,” he added.

MAZDA JOINT VENTURE

Meanwhile, Toyota is teaming with Mazda to build a $1.6 billion joint venture assembly plant just miles away in another location in Huntsville. Production, split evenly between the partners, is expected to begin in 2021.

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, as the venture is known, will employ 4,000 workers at full production.

The Alabama Department of Commerce and AIDT, the state’s primary workforce development agency, have joined area governments and organizations to support the project, which was announced in January 2018.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)

“The top line metric of performance for the AOA is how well employers are served. The AOA will use the resources provided by this grant to expand our regional presence by locating project managers in the areas closest to the employers they serve,” Laney said.

“Even in times of COVID and social distance, proximity to the clients and a deep integration with the workforce entities in an area allow relationships to be built and joint efforts to flourish,” he added.

FUELING GROWTH

The funding arrives at a time for growth for Alabama’s apprenticeship effort, which has been expanding into new industries as part of the COVID-19 recovery. In June 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded Alabama a $1.3 million, three-year grant to support the expansion of apprenticeship efforts among members of difficult-to-serve special populations.

The new funding comes through the U.S. Department of Labor’s “Building State Capacity to Expand Apprenticeship through Innovation” program.

“We are extremely proud of the work our apprenticeship staff are doing as they work tirelessly to stand up our state apprenticeship agency, the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship,” said Ed Castile, deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce and head of its Workforce Development Division.

“Receiving this grant at this moment in time is extraordinarily important to the work and will help expedite the development of our Alabama program,” added Castile, who also serves as director of AIDT.

At AOA, Laney teams with industries and education providers across the state to develop and expand traditional and industry-recognized apprenticeships for youth and adults.

He also leads the AOA’s support of larger workforce development infrastructure for Alabama to identify and promote the recognition and use of valuable credentials.

“The AOA is very pleased to be able to secure funding from the U.S. Department of Labor for the expansion of apprenticeship in Alabama,” he said.

(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)