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ALABAMA: Businesses Have the
In May 2020, Airbus officially launched production of A220 aircraft at its newly constructed Final Assembly Line hangar in Mobile, Alabama. (Image: Airbus)
Alabama’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
is a life science business campus accelerating new therapeutics, medical devices, diagnostics and other innovations to patients by co-locating genomic R&D, workforce training, startups and established bioscience enterprises.
Find a building site along the double helix park on the 152-acre biotech campus
Lease premier lab and office space with flexibility for growth
Access leading-edge research talent, sequencing team and a skilled life sciences workforce
Learn more about the advantages of locating your bioscience company to the HudsonAlpha campus by scheduling a visit to Huntsville – a top 10 tech town, visit hudsonalpha.org/innovate or call our Economic Development team at 256.327.9591.
Companies on Huntsville’s HudsonAlpha campus combating COVID-19
Cutting Edge
While the world continues its fight against novel coronavirus, researchers and private industry have banded together in order to slow the spread of the virus and develop new tests and treatments for COVID-19. Now, more than ever, it is evident that collaboration is necessary to overcome current challenges and nowhere is as uniquely qualified to help foster these collaborations than Huntsville’s HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology.
At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the companies residing on HudsonAlpha’s biotech campus have increased laboratory testing capacity, launched point-of-care testing diagnostics, advanced early stage antibody treatments for immune response, provided researchers with critical reagents for COVID-19 projects and researched personal protective equipment sterilization methods for the reuse of PPE equipment.
Much of this progress can be attributed to the HudsonAlpha ecosystem that promotes collaboration on solving some of the world’s most challenging problems.
Diatherix-Eurofins, a diagnostic testing laboratory, released it’s COVID-19 panel in mid-March and immediately began working with physicians and hospitals to test symptomatic patients. Since launching, Diatherix has increased its testing capacity by more than 50% by adding to their workforce and expanding into and repurposing lab and office space at HudsonAlpha. Diatherix-Eurofins recently Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for it’s COVID-19 panel and have provided diagnostic test results to more than 70,000 people nationwide.
We appreciate that HudsonAlpha removed many obstacles that have allowed Diatherix to scale up capacity for large volumes of COVID-19 testing, said Jen Cart, CEO of Diatherix Eurofins. Their swift accommodation of our needs demonstrated the incredible support and true purpose of the HudsonAlpha’s mission for collaboration and connectivity.
HudsonAlpha has additionally rolled out an FDA Advisory panel to help companies navigate the EUA and approval process for COVID-19 related devices, diagnostics and therapies. A one-of-its-kind advisory panel of associate company executives is working with companies across the state that need guidance and direction on navigating the regulatory pathways for approval.
HudsonAlpha has utilized its purchasing power to procure PPE, reagents and critical cleaning supplies for employees, the associate companies and community first-responders. The Institute acquired more than 7,000 disposable face masks and made them immediately available to companies on campus. When lack of high demand equipment threatened the procurement of reagents, HudsonAlpha stepped in to work with all the companies and labs on campus to overcome the barriers of a strained supply chain.
HudsonAlpha has advocated for the associate companies throughout this crisis and as local, state and federal policies are updated, many within the Institute work working daily with the associate companies on funding options, best practices on workplace safety and on return-to-work planning.
More than 10 companies are working on COVID-19 related projects at HudsonAlpha
Acclinate Genetics is working with clinical trial sponsors to ensure diverse representation in therapeutic testing. CFD Research’s Computational Medicine and Biology team is working on various aspects of COVID-19 respiratory viral infection, transmission, protection and treatment. Diatherix-Eurofins a diagnostic testing laboratory, is providing testing for COVID-19. Discovery Life Sciences is continuing to support the advancement of COVID-19 diagnostic testing and vaccine development by providing expert biospecimen solutions, genomic, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and flow cytometry services. iCubate is providing Alabama hospitals and health care organizations the recently launched “iC-COVID19 Assay”, which enables large cities and small towns the ability to offer an on-site, localized coronavirus test. iRepertoire has developed a technology that could collect the antibodies from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and produce them in large quantities. Microarrays is manufacturing Covid 19 diagnostic products. Prozone Water Products is researching and developing a device for PPE sanitation for healthcare providers. TransOMIC Technologies is currently supplying reagents and test kits for COVID-19 research.
To learn more about COVID-19 efforts on the HudsonAlpha campus, visit hudsonalpha.org/ hudsonalpha-updates-on-covid-19.
seven key industry target sectors whose growth prospects make them appropriate targets for economic development efforts. These are aerospace/aviation, automotive, agricultural/food products, chemicals, forest products, primary metals/advanced materials, and bioscience.
Automotive manufacturing has been a major driver of economic growth in Alabama. Assembly plants operated by Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Hyundai combine to produce around 1 million vehicles annually, earning the state a No. 5 ranking in the U.S. for the production of cars and light trucks. The Mazda-Toyota facility will add another 300,000 vehicles to that annual tally. In 2019, companies in the automobile manufacturing sector announced plans to invest over $2.4 billion in Alabama projects, creating more than 5,000 jobs. That followed strong growth in 2018, when auto companies announced plans for almost $3.3 billion in new investment and 5,500 job commitments.
Alabama’s aerospace industry is another major growth engine. The sector is broad and vast, with activities in virtually every segment of the industry. Over 300 aerospace companies from 30 different countries operate in Alabama, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, United Launch Alliance, GE Aviation, Raytheon, Collins Aerospace, GKN and Blue Origin. Airbus produces A320 aircraft in Alabama and is constructing a new assembly line for A220 aircraft. Huntsville is home to Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, as well as a large cluster of aerospace and defense firms.
eceda@elmoreeda.com
(334) 524-0817
ALABAMA:ELMORE COUNTY ................................................................................
The Elmore County Economic Development Authority is committed to improving the economic well-being of the business community and enhancing quality of life through the creation and preservation of jobs and wealth in Elmore County. Located in the heart of the River Region, Elmore County has a strong transportation infrastructure, a skilled and ready workforce, and an abundance of recreational opportunities. Elmore County has a strong and supportive business climate that attracts new business and industry to complement and enhance a vital and growing existing business community.
Boasting dynamic schools, unified leadership, extraordinary natural beauty and a superior quality of life, Elmore County Alabama has a rich history of being a predominantly agricultural area, but in recent years, it has started to make the transformation to the one of the fastest-growing counties in the state. The county offers the best of both worlds to individuals settling here: small towns with high-quality education, low-crime rates, and low-cost of living, next to a major metropolis in Montgomery.
Elmore County is defined by lush forests, flowing rivers, wide welcoming lakes and a population of hard-working citizens who honor their heritage, whether it is Native American, European, or African. Northern Elmore County lies home to two fresh water lakes with access to more than 70 square miles of recreational waterways. With distinctive lake homes lining its shores, Lake Martin is becoming known world¬wide for its sparkling waters and for wise land-use developments that honor the land and its waters. Lake Jordan boasts some of the best bass and crappie fishing in the South.
Throughout Elmore County there are cities and towns that welcome all who visit… and those who find reason to put down roots and join the gentle Southern way of life that are the envy of all who travel to the county.
Companies moving to Elmore County can be sure they will find a capable, experienced workforce to meet their needs, while individuals know they will find a place they can belong. It is no surprise that businesses world-wide are considering Elmore County for their base of operations or their next expansion. With the leadership of the Elmore County Economic Development Authority, and a spirited cooperation from municipal leaders, the county is poised to continue its development. The low tax rates and attractive climate that yields moderate winter temperatures and little to no snow each year make Elmore Count appealing to many executives. The days are beautiful with typically 214 sunny days per year and an average July high temperatures reaching about 92 degrees. Centrally located with two major Interstates, I-85 and I-65, passing through and bordering portions of the county, transportation routes for commerce and travel are abundant.
Elmore County Alabama - where business meets pleasure X
