Yes, Alabama has a presence at the world’s coolest electronics show
CES 2020, the world’s largest consumer technology event, got under way Monday in Las Vegas, and Alabama companies are on hand to show off their forward-thinking products and technologies. Vince Perez, a senior project manager at the Alabama Department of Commerce, said the state’s presence at CES 2020 aligns with a strategic economic development goal of fostering growth in Alabama’s innovation economy and creating new knowledge-based jobs. – AL Department of Commerce
Apply to Alabama’s new Mazda-Toyota plant starting Jan. 13
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing will begin accepting applications for its new Alabama plant on Jan. 13 in a process that will eventually add 50 new production employees a week to its payroll through 2022. The new plant is located in Huntsville. The company plans to produce 300,000 vehicles a year at the 3.7 million-square-foot plant now under construction. The production team employees will be the largest percentage of the plant’s workforce. – AL.com
Boeing 737 Max grounding blamed for Frontier’s exodus from Mobile
The grounding of the Boeing 737 Max following deadly crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia last year can be linked to a decision by Frontier Airlines to cancel flights out of Mobile, officials and airline industry analysts said Tuesday. But Frontier’s exodus won’t disrupt the focus of the Mobile Airport Authority and Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s office to proceed with a transformation of commercial airline service to the Downtown Mobile Airport at the Brookley Aeroplex. – AL.com
State’s poor ranking for women entrepreneurs doesn’t bother her
More women-owned businesses are starting around the country than ever before, according to the United States Census Bureau. But a new study claims Alabama isn’t the best place for female entrepreneurs to thrive. In a stark contrast from a 2019 study by fitsmallbusiness.com, which found Alabama to be the fifth best state for women entrepreneurs, a 2020 follow-up study puts Alabama in last place. “I’m pretty surprised by that. I think that we have an extraordinary experience here in Alabama,” said Ashlee Ammons, president of Mixtroz. – WBRC
Tuscaloosa engineering firm acquires Tennessee operation
Tuscaloosa’s TTL has announced that it has acquired engineering firm DBS & Associates Engineering, Inc., with offices in Nashville and Clarksville, Tenn. Terms of the deal, which was effective Jan. 1, were not disclosed. It is TTL’s third acquisition in the last four years. TTL is an engineering consulting firm with offices in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas, working in the energy, transportation, industrial, institutional/municipal and commercial markets. DBS & Associates specializes in the transportation, municipal and industrial markets. – AL.com
Alabama gets $5.8M in Volkswagen settlement money
Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded nearly $5.8 million to nine public agencies and two businesses in the first allocation of funds the state received as part of a nationwide settlement against Volkswagen. The grant recipients will use the funds to buy or upgrade pollution-reducing equipment and vehicles. The aim is to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions to offset environmental damage from Volkswagen Group of America Inc.’s manipulation of emission tests. – NBC
