Gulf state U.S. reps back fisheries disaster request
U.S. House members from three Gulf Coast states are backing their governors’ request for a fisheries disaster declaration, saying freshwater flooding into saltwater ecosystems has killed oysters, hurt fish catches and damaged livelihoods. The letter released Wednesday asked Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross for the disaster declaration being sought by the governors of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana. – Washington Post
Nissan will cut 12,500 jobs after its profits plunged 99%
Nissan warned last quarter that it was at “rock bottom.” Now it’s even more clear that its problems aren’t going away anytime soon. Japan’s second biggest automaker on Thursday said profits were almost completely wiped out in the first quarter of its fiscal year. Operating profit plunged 99% in the quarter compared to a year earlier. Revenue, meanwhile, dropped nearly 13% compared to a year ago. – CNN
MTC Logistics breaks ground on four-fold cold storage expansion
MTC Logistics, along with officials from the Alabama State Port Authority, Alabama Department of Commerce and elected officials, broke ground Wednesday on MTC’s 12 million cubic feet international temperature-controlled distribution center. MTC is investing approximately $61 million in Mobile, generating 50 to 70 direct jobs at the new facility. – News release
Alabama earns No. 3 spot in business climate ranking
Business Facilities, a national publication that focuses on economic development, ranked Alabama’s business climate among the top states in a new analysis that evaluated a range of key economic categories. Alabama earned the No. 3 spot in the magazine’s flagship business climate ranking, while also earning high marks for workforce training, manufacturing employment and the strength of its auto manufacturing industry. – Made In Alabama
Birmingham startup chosen for Atlanta accelerator program
An Atlanta business accelerator program has chosen Birmingham-based tech startup StreetMetrics from more than 350 applicants. TechStars Atlanta is a 13-week program which is aimed at helping companies build their business networks, receive support and learn how to build and scale a business. This year’s class includes startups from Illinois, New Jersey, Louisiana, North Carolina, Georgia and Arkansas. – AL.com
Sylacauga begins work on $1.35 million spec building
The City of Sylacauga will break ground this morning on a new $1.35 million, 60,000-square-foot spec building. The Sylacauga Industrial Development Board is developing the building with the help of the Alabama Power Speculative Building Program. It will be constructed in the S.B. Pinkerton Industrial Park in an effort to attract new industry, and can be modified for different uses. – AL.com
