LINCOLN, Alabama — If you line up all the Honda vehicles that have been built at the automaker’s Talladega County plant since it opened 15 years ago, they would stretch across the U.S., from New York to Los Angeles, more than four times. That’s what 4 million Alabama-made Hondas look like. Today, Honda Manufacturing of […]

DOTHAN, Ala. – CAE USA, a company specializing in aviation training, plans to begin offering flight training to U.S. Army aviators at a training facility opening in Dothan next year as part of the company’s $75 million investment in the state. Tampa-based CAE USA also announced it has taken delivery of the first three Grob […]

By Dawn Azok When it comes to Japanese investment in Alabama, auto manufacturers Honda and Toyota and their broad network of suppliers across the state immediately come to mind. But the Asian nation is behind a significant number of non-automotive companies here as well, from chemical and steel producers to pharmaceutical and life insurance firms. […]

By Dawn Azok Latin America is the latest target for Alabama trade leaders seeking growth markets for state businesses. Representatives of a dozen companies are participating in a trade mission this week that started Sunday in Mexico and continues Wednesday in Chile. It’s being held in conjunction with the U.S. Commercial Service’s Trade Winds program, […]

Alabama-made Atlas V rockets will launch a NASA spacecraft on a dramatic mission to rendezvous with an asteroid and later send Mars 2020, the space agency’s next-generation robotic rover, to the Red Planet. First up is the lift-off of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, scheduled for Sept. 8 at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The United […]

By Dawn Azok Alabama’s auto industry continues to power new investment and jobs across the state. Over the past year, auto suppliers have announced new facilities and expansions worth at least $924 million and more than 2,500 new jobs in activities ranging from precision machining to engineering. Among the companies growing in Alabama is Lear […]

Business Facilities magazine rated Alabama among the top states for workforce training programs, auto manufacturing strength, and foreign direct investment in its 2016 rankings. In addition, the economic development-focused publication rated Huntsville No. 1 among U.S. cities for STEM job growth, and No. 3 for economic growth potential. The Rocket City was No. 5 for […]

Global consulting firm Ernst & Young says companies from around the world poured more than $5 billion into capital projects in Alabama last year, earning the state a place near the top of its investment rankings. Ernst & Young’s closely watched “US Investment Monitor” ranked Alabama No.5 among the states for mobile capital investment last […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Huntsville International Airport is moving closer to a goal of becoming the first commercial airport that will be a landing spot for Sierra Nevada Corp.’s Dream Chaser spaceplane. A project team is working to secure funding to conduct additional studies this year and to submit an application for a commercial landing license […]

A group of 12 youngsters from Morocco and Algeria got an intensive look at what it’s like to be an astronaut during a visit last week to Space Camp at the U.S Space & Rocket Center. The students – six from Morocco, six from Algeria – spent the week undergoing hands-on drills while learning about […]

LONDON — As aerospace companies continue to grow their operations in Alabama, their shipments of local products sent around the world are also on the rise. In 2015, Alabama’s aerospace industry exports topped $869 million, a 16 percent growth from the previous year, U.S. trade data shows. So far this year, the numbers are increasing […]

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – At a groundbreaking ceremony today, German auto supplier Gerhardi Kuntstofftechnik announced plans to invest $37.9 million and create 235 jobs in Montgomery to create its first North American manufacturing facility. “This is a great opportunity for Gerhardi, and we are very excited,” Gerhardi Managing Director Reinhard Hoffman said. “Montgomery Industrial Park offers […]

Alabama’s aerospace industry is soaring to new heights. With Airbus ramping up passenger jet production in Mobile and companies such as GE Aviation and UTC Aerospace Systems expanding their presence in the state, Alabama is primed for growth in the sector. “Alabama has a long history in aerospace and aviation, but the future for this […]

Alabama’s bioscience industry is robust, and key indicators show the sector is growing to support new, high-paying jobs, according to a report from TEConomy Partners LLC and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, or BIO. The “Value of Bioscience Innovation in Growing Jobs and Improving Quality of Life 2016” Report examines metrics including the number of employees […]

MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Alabama’s economic development team earned a Silver Shovel Award from Area Development magazine for its strong performance in 2015, keeping alive a winning streak that dates back a decade. The publication, which targets economic developers and site selection experts, announced the award today, noting that Alabama secured 2015 projects involving $7.1 billion […]

PELL CITY, Alabama – German auto supplier Eissmann Automotive will invest $14.5 million to expand its St. Clair County facility with a 130,000-square-foot building and advanced manufacturing equipment for a new production line, officials said today. Eissmann, which has expanded its Pell City facility six times since opening a decade ago, will hire 200 additional […]

MOBILE, Alabama – The Mobile Airport Authority announced today that Panasonic Avionics Corp. will open an office at Mobile Aeroplex, adding another prominent industry player to the aerospace cluster growing around the Airbus final assembly plant. Panasonic Avionics is a leading supplier of inflight entertainment and communication systems in passenger aircraft. A unit of the […]

Companies across Alabama are investing millions of dollars in new and expanded specialty food processing operations that tap into growing national trends. From pickled okra and salsa in Pike County to dehydrated fruits and vegetables in Foley, the projects were part of a record year of economic development for the state in 2015, with overall […]

HANNOVER, Germany – The Berghoff Group announced plans today to set up its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Auburn, where it will invest $30 million and create 100 precision-machining jobs over the next five years. John Emerson, the U.S. Ambassador to Germany, announced the deal today at the 2016 Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial […]

Barber Motorsports Park is preparing to welcome about 80,000 visitors this weekend for the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, the annual three-day event that showcases the Birmingham racing venue. Many will take in the sights at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of motorcycles and is undergoing a major […]

On the day the latest batch of major component assemblies made the trek from the Port of Mobile to Airbus’ U.S. Manufacturing Facility, the Mobile Airport Authority inked its latest tenant agreement with a service provider integral to the operation. Pennsylvania-based Miller Transfer will operate out of the second floor of the authority’s Ninth Street […]

MOBILE, Alabama — The maiden flight of the first Alabama-made Airbus A321 lasted for less than four hours, but the dramatic images capturing the test mission will linger as a reminder of a pivotal moment in the future of the state’s aerospace sector. Monday’s test flight from Mobile Aeroplex was designed to test the aircraft’s […]

Alabama’s agriculture industry leaders are exploring new methods and markets to extend the reach of the state’s farmers. Agriculture, forestry and related industries have a $70.4 billion economic impact in Alabama and are responsible for more than 580,000 jobs. Products from farms and forests represent key categories in Accelerate Alabama, the state’s strategic development growth […]

Spain and Morocco put out the welcome mat this week for Alabama business leaders, who visited the countries in an effort to strengthen trade ties. The 16-member state delegation is nearing the end of the trade mission, which kicked off in Spain with business-to-business meetings, networking opportunities and visits to several companies with a major […]