The Alabama Supreme Court this month delivered the highest award in punitive damages to a plaintiff in state history: $10 million for wrongful death. A 54% increase from the previous $6.5 million high watermark awarded in a 2021 case signals a progressive escalation in punitive damage awards affirmed by the state Supreme Court.  While all […]

In a recent poll conducted by North Star Opinion Research at the request of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce registered voters, regardless of their party, revealed that they are overwhelmingly supportive of pro-business candidates going into the presidential election of 2024

A major change in leadership for corporate giant Austal USA took place yesterday. The company's former President, Rusty Murdaugh, resigned and was quickly replaced by Michelle Kruger, vice president of global services and support, who is now acting president until the position is filled.

The construction of a new Smucker's plant in McCalla, Alabama is proceeding as scheduled the company announced this week. The upcoming $1.1 billion dollar facility is expected to produce between 750-800 new jobs and is the largest capital investment by a company in Jefferson County.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) recently announced its third round of state grants to fund construction of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. This is good news for Alabama’s EV owners and the state at large. It is well known that range anxiety hinders widespread adoption of EVs. The fear that an EV […]

State Senator Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) emphasized the need for having more shovel-ready sites for the state to compete for economic development projects. Gudger said that the state has only one shovel-ready megasite, over 1,000 acres, and needs more as well as smaller sites with utilities in place to compete against other states. Gudger made the […]

BIO Alabama, a leading advocate for Alabama’s bioeconomy, has partnered with Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT), Alabama’s workforce training agency, to introduce a comprehensive Bioscience Technician Program, Gov. Kay Ivey announced. “We are leaving no stone unturned in developing our workforce to meet and exceed industry demands in Alabama,” said Ivey. “Bioscience has grown to […]

The Tennessee Valley Authority approved a 4.5% rate hike as it announced a $15 billion plan to build additional electricity-generating capacity and upgrade the system. The action came at the agency’s board meeting Thursday. The increase is set to go into effect on Oct. 1. The TVA said the increase translates to an average increase […]

In a first, Airbus has officially delivered an A320neo manufactured at it's Mobile facility to JetSMART, a South American ultra low cost carrier (ULCC) with operations in Argentina, Chile, and Peru.

Forbes released its annual “Best Employers By State” list, ranking its 44 best places to work in Alabama for 2023.  The magazine partnered with market research firm Statista to survey 70,000 workers at companies (minimum of 500 employees) in all 50 states, evaluating their employer based on working conditions, compensation packages, potential for development, company […]

The Alabama Wildlife Federation confirmed the arrival Wednesday of limestone at Cedar Point Beach in Heron Bay to craft an oyster cultch for a major restoration project for the Gulf Coast. The limestone was donated by Vulcan Materials Co. and was transported from from Tuscumbia in northwest Alabama to the Gulf Coast via the Tennessee, Tombigbee, […]

It looks like football season in Tuscaloosa may be filled with even more school spirit this year after the school's NIL group, Yea Alabama, announced on its social media pages that it has partnered with Foundry Distilling in West Des Moines, Iowa to produce Yea Alabama Vodka.

Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $1 million grant to help meet the nation’s increasing demand for solar power while providing more than 700 jobs in North Alabama. The Lawrence County Commission will use the funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission to provide the needed infrastructure for First Solar to construct a $1 billion photovoltaic […]

To compete with 49 states, Alabama needs to increase its economic arsenal, according to the top CEOs in the Yellowhammer State. That arsenal must include, among other things, shovel-ready sites. Jimmy Rane of Great Southern Wood said his company recently invested $46 million in a facility in Tyler, Texas. Tyler was chosen was because they […]

Central Alabama Community College may not be the largest institution, but it believes in being the best. As a testament to this commitment, CACC‘s nursing apprenticeship program stands out as the second-largest in the state, setting benchmarks in nursing education. The program hit a significant milestone this when the inaugural class of student nurse apprentices […]

Each year, July 20 marks the anniversary of one of humanity’s biggest triumphs: Landing on the moon. In 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to experience that “giant leap for mankind.” Few events in history capture the imagination as vividly as the launch of Apollo 11, its successful lunar […]

Launchpad Alabama has announced that two companies have won its Cycle 2 2023 competition. The finale of the competition, held at Auburn, pitted 11 finalist companies against one another for thousands in new, non-dilutive funding on the line. There were two categories, the early seed stage competition and the concept stage competition.

In more good news for Alabama's economy, the state's labor force participation rate (LFPR) of 57% for this July matches the rate of this time last year. Also, the July unemployment rate reportedly dropped to a new record low of 2.1%.

Huntsville-based Adtran is expanding its advanced telecommunications equipment manufacturing to meet the growing demand for domestically produced network electronics, the company announced. The first American company to increase domestic broadband electronics manufacturing for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, Adtran said it is investing up to $5 million and creating some 300 high-quality, good-paying […]

Alabama Power has withdrawn its notice of intent to attain a license to open and operate a pumped storage hydro facility on Chandler Mountain the company announced today.The decision follows many families in the area voicing their disapproval of the location proposed by the company.

Hyundai Motor Manufacturing, LLC is set to make a major investment in its Montgomery plant. That investment is set to come in the form of $290 million which will go towards enhancing the company's sports utility vehicles.

German supermarket chain ALDI is continuing its expansion through the Southeast. The company has bought long-time mainstays Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket. The purchase is part of a larger divestiture of Southeastern Grocers to various entities, according to a news release. “Like ALDI, Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket have long histories and many loyal customers in the Southeast […]

PowerSouth Electric Cooperative has announced a partnership with electric vehicle charging platform Optiwatt and it could pay off for EV owners. Optiwatt and 14 of PowerSouth’s distribution member systems invite EV owners across South Alabama and Northwest Florida to participate in the Electric Vehicle Research Pilot. The EV owners can receive a $25 reward. The Electric […]

Shinhwa Auto USA is investing $114 million to bolster its manufacturing presence in Auburn, Gov. Kay Ivey announced today. The expansion is expected to create 50 jobs. The project will see a 170,000-square-foot production building emerge on Shinhwa’s  campus at Auburn Technology Park West. This will mark the third expansion for the South Korean company […]