Spotlight on Mobile County: Economic Engines

Aviation

Mobile is the 4th largest manufacturing location for commercial aviation in the world. Aerospace is the city’s fastest growing industry sector, with large employers in the region showing 56% growth in 5 years.

Leaders in flight include Airbus US Manufacturing Facility with more than 2,000 employees and Continental Aerospace Technologies with a 375-plus workforce, and an array of supplier firms.

Mobile County education institutions — college level and high schools — have greatly emphasized aerospace industry success. Several schools are leading in implementing a strategic framework within the Mobile County Public School System. Aviation curriculums allow high school students to pursue aviation technology career pathways that lead directly to employment.

Both Bishop State Community College and Coastal Alabama Community College have designed curriculums that align with the demand of the region’s job market.

The Alabama Aviation Center at Coastal Alabama offers specialized tracks in aviation manufacturing, airframe technology and powerplant technology. Bishop State features adult education pathways and dual enrollment opportunities leading to certificates in aerospace manufacturing.

Alabama Port Authority

Established in 1928, the Port of Mobile contributes $98.3 billion annually in economic value to Alabama. It provides 351,359 direct and indirect jobs, and state and local revenues topping $2.4 million.

The Alabama Port Authority serves all 67 counties in Alabama and oversees the deep-water public port facilities in Mobile. The Port Authority’s container, general cargo and bulk facilities have immediate access to two major interstates, five Class I railroads, four short-line railroads, and nearly 15,000 miles of inland waterways.

The port is also adjacent to the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, an industrial complex and airport. The scope of connectivity at the port allows reach of 50% of the U.S. population within 48 hours of unloading cargo.

It has invested more than $1.4 billion in the last 20 years to modernize and grow its facilities.

Shipbuilding

A center for shipbuilding for centuries, Mobile is now home to the massive Austal USA plant, consistently the county’s largest industrial employer. Silver Ships, Master Boat Builders and Birdon craft vessels along coastal waterways.

Chemicals, Metals & Paper

From stainless steel to tissue paper, Mobile County’s chemical and metal manufacturing covers a wide path of production.

Prominent participants in the industrial field include metal producers Outokumpu Stainless, AM/NS Calvert and SSAB Americas.

In a 2024 announcement, European steel producer ArcelorMittal revealed plans for a $1 billion electrical steel plant near Calvert, in Mobile County. With construction expected to begin in 2025, the target start-up date is 2027.

Alabama plays a leading role in the U.S. chemical industry. The Alabama Gulf Coast chemical corridor is home to a cluster of chemical companies stretching 60 miles through the Mobile area. Chemical manufacturing is Mobile’s top export and Alabama’s second largest export. Chemical producers include Evonik Corp., Lenzing Fibers and BASF.

Kimberly-Clark Corp. makes paper products, including bath tissue and paper towels under the Scott, Cottonelle and K-C Professional brand names.

Health Care

In addition to being a regional center for medical care, research and education, according to Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, approximately 15% of Mobile’s workforce is employed in the health care sector.

Mobile also has a cancer research center, associated with the University of South Alabama.   

The top three employers in healthcare are the University of South Alabama, which educates physicians, nurses and other health care workers and provides several hospitals and multiple clinics, and has 9,400 employees; Infirmary Health System with 4,700 employees across multiple hospital facilities and clinics, and Springhill Medical Center with 1,600 employees.

Mobile is also a regional center for medical care, research and education. The health care workforce is directly built through health and science career pathways at all local high schools.

Logistics and Transportation

The Port of Mobile is a major hub in the United States, requiring a diverse workforce with skilled laborers, engineers and professionals experienced in logistics, supply chain management and international trade.

To meet this demand, every four-year educational institution in the Mobile area provides comprehensive training and educational programs to prepare students for logistics careers.

Business Briefs:

APRIL 2025: Primo A/S opens a plastic extrusion facility in Mobile, its first in the U.S., to support SLB OneSubsea, which makes subsea cables and umbilicals.

FEBRUARY 2025: Birmingham-based trucking firm Robbie D. Wood Inc., which specializes in transportation of chemical products and hazardous waste, has broken ground for a terminal in Saraland. It expects to employ 100 people.

FEBRUARY 2025: ArcelorMittal announces plans to invest $1.6 billion in a new mill alongside AM/NS Calvert to produce non-grain-oriented electrical steel.

OCTOBER 2024: Birdon announces a major expansion at its Bayou La Batre shipyard. The move will create 136 new jobs.

OCTOBER 2024: The Alabama Port Authority and APM Terminals kick off the fourth major expansion of cargo facilities to double the capacity for containerized cargo.

OCTOBER 2024: Austal breaks ground for a new submarine module facility at its Mobile plant as part of its $450 million contract with General Dynamics Electric Boat.

OCTOBER 2024: Proplate announces plans to invest $1 million in a new facility in Chunchula.  Proplate is a turnkey provider of manufacturing services.

OCTOBER 2024: Aerostar announces a $4.7 million expansion at its plant at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, adding 50 jobs.

AUGUST 2024: SSAB is set to enhance its Mobile operations with a $12 million capital investment to increase production capacity.

AUGUST 2024: Frito-Lay announces plans for a 25,000-square-foot distribution center in Prichard to open in June 2025. The facility will serve as the direct store delivery hub for the greater Mobile area.

JULY 2024: Stimpson Strong-Tie is investing $7.5 million in a move to the South Alabama Logistic Park.

JANUARY 2024: Meyer Companies reported plans to expand its operations by constructing a state-of-the-art 10,000-square-foot steel building to house its coatings department in Mobile County.

JANUARY 2024: Eco Material Technologies announces a project to produce supplementary cementitious material (SCM) using coal ash from Alabama Power generation. SCM is used in construction projects including roads and bridges.

JULY 2024: Veyer, a wholly owned subsidiary of Office Depot, is moving to the South Alabama Logistics Park.

JUNE 2024: Gulf Sterilization announces plans for a medical device sterilization and decontamination facility in Mobile.

FEBRUARY 2024: Austal USA announces plans to increase manufacturing capacity with an additional final assembly building and ship lift. The $228 million expansion will add more than 1,000 jobs.

DECEMBER 2023: MAAS Aviation plans to add two additional paint hangars to its current three at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. The project is a $1.6 million expansion.

JULY 2023: Core Industries entered into an agreement with CM Biomass to construct a processing and storage facility at its Theodore location, an $8.75 million investment.

This article appears in the June 2025 issue of Business Alabama.