Issue 3 10 26 17 d

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The SpringHillian

Vol 105 Issue 3

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

see SUDENTS STAND WITH THE PINK RIBBON on Page 2

New Jetliner Flies in New Job Opportunities

Camryn Nethken | Editor

“We are intentional about every decision that we make, and part of our intentionality is including people,” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said on Oct. 17. During his second campaign for mayor, Stimpson advocated for a united Mobile. In his efforts to enact this pledge, the mayor has put multiple initiatives in place. These programs are meant to provide growth within the city and promote equality. Fixing infrastructure, providing youth programs and creating jobs are some of the measures that the city’s government has taken in order to unite Mobile. In a meeting, Stimpson accompanied by Director of Communications and External Affairs, George Talbot, touched upon how Airbus would affect the future of Mobile’s job market. This week the mayor announced that Airbus has chosen Mobile to build its second final assembly line. The first manufacturing facility opened in Mobile during September 2015. As of 2016, Airbus has become partners with a Canadian aerospace company, Bombardier. Together, the companies will produce smaller jetliners from the C Series. “Airbus has been very pleased with what has occurred in Mobile since their announcement here to build a [final assembly line],” said Stimpson, gesturing to SHC student media. This new facility will be located at Brookley Air

Force Base, which opened in 1940 and became a large employer within the city of Mobile. According to Mobile Aeroplex, “When Brookley closed officially in June 1969, nearly 10% of the local workforce lost their jobs.” By adding this second assembly line, the mayor hopes that the location will create more jobs for the citizens of Mobile. The aviation business and construction of airplanes calls for a large amount of suppliers. Stimpson hopes that these suppliers will want to be located in Mobile to be in closer proximity to Brookley. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mobile County’s unemployment rates have dropped from 7.1% in Aug. 2016 to 5.2% in Aug. 2017. Mobile is home to several universities that have seniors preparing to be in the workforce. Many of these students are from out-of-state and may not remain in Mobile after graduation. Stimpson said, “I think Mobile is progressing in the realization and creation of a city where young people want to live.” In efforts to attract and retain these graduates, the mayor explains that it is essential to be a city that includes a stable workforce along with different extracurricular activities. SHC senior Allie May is a marketing major from St. Louis, MO. May explains that she will be returning to home due to Mobile’s unstable job market. “I wouldn’t feel very secure finding a job here,” said May. She also notes that if a student is not from the Mobile area, Spring

Hill offers multiple resources that help to find a job. Mobile is not new to creating a mass amount of jobs within manufacturing facilities. According to Stimpson, Austal, a major shipbuilding facility, employed nearly 120 individuals about 14 years ago, and have over 4,000 employees today. There are about 600 employees that are associated with Airbus’ first final assembly line. “I don’t even want to speculate how many employees will be in the new [final assembly line],” said Stimpson. Government officials hope for more positive reactions from Airbus in the future. “Airbus has opened people’s minds to look at Mobile through a lens that they had not previously looked at Mobile,” said Stimpson.

Mayor Stimpson speaks to SHC Student Media. | Photo: Ryan Flynn


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