Italian company expanding Auburn foundry in $15M project
2A USA, an Italian-based die-casting company, is planning a $15 million project to expand its foundry in Auburn. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says the expansion will create approximately 50 jobs in the Auburn area and double the die-casting foundry’s current area. 2A serves as a Tier 1 supplier to producers of automobiles and heavy trucks. The company found a home in Auburn in 2014 after acquiring a plant in Auburn Technology Park West. – WTVM
Mazda Toyota aims for diversity in plant construction
As work continues on the $1.6 billion auto plant in Huntsville, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA said Tuesday it’s aiming to spread the wealth, so to speak. MTMUS said that it’s planning to achieve at least 20 percent diversity spend on the construction with certified minority and women-owned businesses. – AL.com
Thanks, Takata: Daimler just booked first quarterly loss in 10 years
Luxury carmaker Daimler said it would intensify cost cuts after legal risks for diesel-related issues and the cost of replacing Takata airbags triggered a 1.56 billion euros ($1.74 billion) loss before interest and taxes in the second quarter. The company reduced its sales outlook for Mercedes-Benz cars and said 4.2 billion euros in one-off expenses hit earnings, mainly at the cars and vans divisions, contributing to an operating loss at group level, compared with a 2.6 billion profit in the second quarter last year. – Reuters Africa
Sheriff accused of scamming church, food bank pleads guilty
A former Alabama sheriff accused of scamming a food bank and church and pocketing leftover money meant for feeding inmates pleaded guilty Tuesday to two of nine federal charges lodged against him. Former Pickens County sheriff David Abston, in federal court in Birmingham, pleaded to committing one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return, The Tuscaloosa News reported. The remaining charges have been dropped. – AP
Future USS Oakland touches the sea for first time at Austal
Austal USA released the U.S. Navy’s 12th Independence-variant littoral combat ship into the sea in preparation for delivery in 2020. The service branch said Monday that its future USS Oakland or LCS 24 touched water for the first time on Sunday at the shipbuilder’s facility in Mobile. Kate Brandt, sustainability officer at Google, christened LCS 24 last month and had her initials welded at a keel laying ceremony last year as the ship’s sponsor. – GovConDaily
Hobby Lobby founder to speak in Mobile in October
Hobby Lobby founder David Green is the keynote speaker for the 14th annual University of Mobile Scholarship Banquet on Oct. 1, 2019. Tickets are on sale for the university’s signature event that raises scholarship funds for University of Mobile students, while bringing a speaker of national prominence to the Mobile community. General admission tickets are $150 and available at umobile.edu/banquet or through the University of Mobile Advancement Office at 251.442.2587 or advancement@umobile.edu. – News release
LifeSouth Community Blood Centers put out call for help
National blood shortages are impacting blood centers across the country, and locally LifeSouth Community Blood Centers also faces emergency need for all blood types. Summer months take a toll on the blood supply, and this year has been especially difficult in south Alabama. All blood types are necessary, and donors are asked to donate now to ensure local hospitals have the blood needed to help patients suffering from traumas, cancers and chronic illnesses. – News release
