EXPANSION
OPPORTUNITIES
In May 2020, Airbus officially launched production of A220 aircraft at its newly constructed Final Assembly Line hangar in Mobile, Alabama. (Image: Airbus)
ALABAMA:
Businesses Have the Skilled Workers Needed to Succeed
A
labama’s overall economic development effort focuses on creating 21st Century jobs that provide meaningful opportunities for citizens across the state. The Alabama Department of Commerce is the state’s primary economic development agency, coordinating and supporting the strategic efforts of its partners and allies across the state to secure new investment and jobs. Under the direction of Secretary Greg Canfield, Commerce’s project managers share a global outlook as they build relationships and pursue economic development projects that can make a difference to families and communities across Alabama. Commerce also plays a key role in the state’s workforce development efforts, which ensure that businesses operating in Alabama have the skilled workers they need to succeed. .......................................................................... Commerce and the Alabama economic development team have a long track record of winning game-changing projects that add important new dimensions to the state’s economy. In recent years, this team has worked with an expansive roster of global leaders in a wide range of industries, including Airbus, Mercedes-Benz, Honda,
Byungjin Jin, president and CEO of Hyundai Alabama, announces the automaker’s plans to build the Santa Cruz compact utility vehicle at its Montgomery plant during a Nov. 13, 2019 event. Hyundai will invest $410 million and create 200 new jobs.
Hyundai, and Toyota, among others. Most recently, the Alabama team worked to secure the $2 billion-plus Mazda-Toyota joint venture manufacturing facility, which will create 4,000 direct jobs and thousands more in the supply chain. Between 2017 and 2019, economic development activity in Alabama has attracted more than $20 billion in new capital investment and over 45,000 jobs. Alabama’s strategic economic development growth plan, called Accelerate Alabama, has been updated to reflect a more robust focus on recruiting knowledge-based jobs in activities such as R&D, engineering and design, as well as a greater alignment with the state’s research universities. Accelerate Alabama 2.0 identifies bxjmag.com
|
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020
|
BXJ
| 27
