3M to cut more jobs amid U.S. manufacturing slump
3M Co. posted lower revenue in significant U.S. markets and set plans for fresh layoffs, the latest manufacturer to exhibit signs of strain at a time of weakness for the industrial economy. 3M sells its diverse array of products in a wide swath of the economy, including to consumers, offices, manufacturers and hospitals. 3M also said Tuesday that it received a grand-jury subpoena in late December related to chemical discharges from a facility in Decatur, Alabama. – Wall Street Journal
State’s workforce development may not keep up, report claims
A new report warns that a gap is widening between Alabama’s workforce development system and expected workforce needs. It calls for increased collaboration and alignment between business, education, and career and technical training programs to better define what skills and credentials a highly skilled worker in Alabama needs. The Business Education Alliance of Alabama included these findings in its latest report, Education Matters. – AL Political Reporter
Distinguished real estate industry leaders to attend ACREcom as featured speakers
Four leading industry professionals will participate on the Industry CEO Panel at the 2020 ACREcom conference on Friday, Feb. 7, 2020 at The Club in Birmingham. This influential panel will feature Greg Fine, CCIM; Tom McCormick, SIOR; Jim Amorin, Appraisal Institute; and Denise Froemming, IREM. The theme for the 20th ACREcom conference is “Building the Future.” – AL NewsCenter
Research funding jumps 43 percent at University of South Alabama
Research funding at the University of South Alabama topped $87 million in 2019, a significant increase from the previous year and the result of an ongoing strategy to raise the institution’s profile across the U.S. and beyond. External grant and contract funding awarded to the university’s researchers rose 43 percent, with most of that growth in engineering, computing and other STEM fields. – Made In Alabama
Coastal Alabama Chamber adding Orange Beach location
The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber will soon have two locations to better serve its members thanks to a partnership between the City of Orange Beach, Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and The Wharf. Greg Alexander took the position as Chamber President and CEO 18 months ago and said the need for expansion was obvious. According to Alexander, 65 percent of the chamber members are in Gulf Shores and only 35 percent in Orange Beach. – Gulf Coast News Today
Nissan planning white collar cuts in U.S. and Europe
Nissan is planning aggressive cost cuts to deal with an unexpected slump in sales as the expansionist strategy it inherited from fugitive former Chairman Carlos Ghosn flounders, four people familiar with the plans said. It will slash jobs mostly at head offices in the United States and Europe, and reducing advertising and marketing budgets, they said. – Reuters
