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A Message from the President
Nothing pleases me more than to watch our state continue to advance in new directions. As evidenced in the stories below, there is a diverse range of activities taking place throughout Alabama to support continued economic growth. If EDPA can help your community to become more competitive, please don't hesitate to call on us-- we'll be more than happy to answer.
James P. Hayes, Jr.
Gambro to build new manufacturing plant in Opelika
Gambro Renal Products, part of Gambro Group, a Sweden-based global leader in renal (kidney) and cell-based therapies, will create approximately 150 new jobs and build a 100,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Opelika. The plant will produce 10 million Polyflux® dialyzers annually to serve patients with kidney failure.
Construction of the new plant, which will be built in Fox Run Business Park, will begin in 2006 and is expected to be operational in about three years.
“We are delighted to welcome a globally respected, high-quality medical technology company as part of our community,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “We are honored by Gambro’s confidence in our community and by the role our people will play in producing this life-saving product.”
Blue skies ahead for Covington County
Following a recruiting effort that spanned two and a half years, Covington County landed 300 high-wage, high-skills new jobs with EJM Aerospace Services setting up shop at the Andalusia-Opp Municipal Airport.
The Florida-based company plans to service both commercial and military aircraft, with a five-year, $96.77 million contract with the U.S. Air Force already in place. EJM's initial start up will require 75 to 85 employees, followed by an employment expansion within the next two years to 150 employees, and ultimately employing 300 workers.
Added side benefit...
In conjunction with EJM Aerospace Services arrival, the Andalusia-Opp Municipal Airport has yet another addition to welcome to its mix-- a new educational facility. In order to make FAA training available in Covington County, the aviation college in Ozark is opening a satellite campus at the airport where the state will provide certified FAA training.
Business incubators bring big buck impact to Birmingham
Over the four-year period 2000 to 2004, the Enterpreneurial Center (EC) and the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Office for the Advancement of Developing Industries (OADI), have had a combined economic impact on the City of Birmingham greater than $1 billion, according to year-end reports.
In addition to the two centers' cumulative economic impact on Birmingham, the EC and OADI had a $377 million combined total sales impact and a 1,668-job total employment impact in 2004.
The two centers are responsible for breeding local successes such as Emageon, Medmined, TransMolecular, Inc., and ComFrame Software, all of which were finalists for the Birmingham Venture Club's 2004 Jemison Award.
Local Economic Development News
The City of Auburn recently implemented a more thorough review process for development proposals with the formation of a "development committee." Intended to separate the financial aspect of a proposal from the planning aspect, the comittee will review and analyze both the city's and the developer's total financial responsibilities before submitting the proposal to the city council for approval. Committee members include:
The Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) program, focused on helping small communities be more competitive in economic development, recently announced its 2005 executive committee, naming:
Existing Industry Update
The Morgan County Economic Development Association recently hosted its first appreciation and anniversary luncheon honoring its existing industry, which provided more than 75 percent of the area's economic growth.
During the five-year period 2000-2004, Marshall County Economic Development Council exceeded its new and expanded industry job creation goals, creating 1,668 new jobs in new industries and creating 2,891 new jobs in expanded industries.
The Pike County Economic Development Corporation has joined the statewide effort to foster retention and growth among Alabama's existing industry by participating in the Synchronist Business Information System. A team of volunteers, recruited and trained by the PCEDC will begin conducting existing industry around mid-May.
Blane, Canada Ltd. is offering additional Synchronist training for Desktop and e-Synchronist Users at NO COST. This is a great opportunity for YOU and your staff to re-familiarize yourselves with the system functions and capabilities. All training sessions will be held on the four selected dates listed below at 10 AM Central. The teleconference company allows for a maximum of 10 participants per session, and reservations are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Seats are limited! To secure participation in one or more of the above-offered sessions, RSVP to Andrew Laidlaw at alaidlaw@blanecanada.com or 630-462-9222.
Not yet a Synchronist participant?
Coordinated by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama through its Foundations for Growth Foundation program, the Synchronist Business Information System is a statewide initiative to foster retention and growth among Alabama's existing industry. If your community is not yet a Synchronist participant and would like to learn more about the existing industry program, please contact Greg Sheek at 205.943.4724 or gsheek@edpa.org or contact Angela Wier at 205.943.4778 or awier@edpa.org.
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| Ozark's newest industry to create 80 jobs... and then some |
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Virginia-based C&S Door Corporation is investing $10 million to expand its operations into Ozark locating at the former Millbrook Distribution Center, an existing 229,000-square-foot facility. C&S Door will initially create 80 new jobs with plans to increase employment over the next three years.
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| Need INFORMATION? |
| Whether you're a consultant or community, EDPA's Business Information group is your source for proposal assistance. Working as a liaison between state and local groups, EDPA's Business Information team provides one-stop, prompt, confidential responses for your information needs. |
| For proposal assistance or general information, contact EDPA: 205.943.4700 or info@edpa.org For demographic requests, contact: Greg Sheek, 205.943.4724, gsheek@edpa.org. For assistance on buildings and sites, contact: Tammy Radmard, 205.943.4720, tradmard@edpa.org. |
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