Top Headlines: Mercedes expansion collects third grant, Sands Casino renamed

Mercedes expansion collects a third grant, this one for $643K
Mercedes-Benz’s expansion into Bibb County is getting another economic development grant. Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced a $643,840 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. That’s the third grant benefiting the project, which has already secured about $2 million in assistance. The money will be used to construct a 300,000-gallon water tank to accommodate Mercedes’ 1-million-square foot electric battery plant at Scott G. Davis Industrial Park in Woodstock. – AL.com

Sands Casino now known as Wind Creek Bethlehem
The Sands Casino Resort and Event Center have been renamed by their Alabama-based owners. The Pennsylvania properties have been rebranded as Wind Creek Bethlehem and the Sands Bethlehem Event Center. The properties were purchased for $1.3 billion last month by Wind Creek Hospitality, the entertainment arm of Alabama’s Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The purchase is the largest to date for Wind Creek Hospitality and about 80 miles from New York City. – AL.com

Jury convicts Alabama doctor, nurse for $7.8M health care fraud
A federal jury on Tuesday convicted Dr. Patrick E. Ifediba, 60, of Shelby County and his sister, Ngozi J. Ozuligbo, 49, of Trussville of numerous crimes stemming from their involvement with Care Complete Medical Clinic, located in Birmingham, federal offials said. Following a four-week trial before Judge David R. Proctor, the jury convicted Ifediba of thirty-five counts involving unlawful drug distribution, health care fraud, and money laundering. – Insurance News Net

Energy Storage Research Center opens in Birmingham
Birmingham’s Southern Research this week opened the new Energy Storage Research Center on its engineering campus. The center’s aim is to speed the development of the next generation of clean and sustainable energy storage technology. It will test chemical, mechanical and thermal energy storage systems. It will also allow research and development from the electric utility industry, academics, government and other entities. – AL.com

New Mobile River bridge may involve $90 a month commuter pass
Daily commuters across a planned Mobile River bridge could end up getting a discount from tolls by buying a $90 monthly pass, officials told AL.com on Tuesday. Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper told the website that the $90 pass for cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles, would give motorists a break from a $6 per-trip toll. – Fox10TV

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This weekend is the back-to-school sales tax holiday
Preparations to get Alabama students ready to go back to school next month are underway, and you can get some extra help with the Alabama Back to School Sales Tax holiday. The holiday runs from 12:01 a.m. Friday through Midnight Sunday. Be advised: Not all cities and counties in the state are participating. Clothing, computers, school supplies and books are included in the holiday, but there are rules for what is and is not included. – WAAY

Christian Struwe named VP, CFO at Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has appointed Christian Struwe to the position of vice president & CFO. Struwe replaces Harald Henn who has taken a position with Mercedes-Benz UK. In his new role, Struwe leads finance and operations for MBUSA. A 22-year employee of the Daimler AG family, Struwe has extensive international business experience in various leadership positions with a financial focus across the globe. His most recent post was director of controlling for Mercedes-Benz Cars in Stuttgart, Germany. – News release

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