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FY 2011 Third Edition
SEDA News
Available
Building Highlights
Meeting
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SEDA
News
The Shoals Receives Primary Data
Center Site Designation
 A
site located in the
Florence-Lauderdale Industrial
Park has been designated as a
Primary Data Center Site
by Deloitte Consulting. According to
the recent economic
development study sponsored by
the Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA), the Florence
Advantage Site was selected
because of its accessibility,
availability of reliable
electric power, and strong
telecommunications
infrastructure.
More than 50 sites across the
TVA service area were assessed
for their capacity to
accommodate data centers --
specially designed facilities
that house computer systems and
components for Internet search
engine companies, financial
transaction processors, and
other high-tech industries.
To date, 18 sites have been
named as ready for development
and TVA anticipates others will
be determined as
development-ready in the future.
The Primary Data Center Site
designation gives our community
an opportunity for growth by
attracting an industry that
represents large investments and
offers higher wages for
employees. Detailed
information can be found at
www.tvaed.com/datacenters.
Alabama Robotics Technology
Park
 The
Alabama Robotics Technology Park
is a collaboration between the
state of Alabama, Calhoun
Community College, AIDT, and
robotics industry leaders across
the nation. When completed, the
RTP will consist of three
individual training facilities
each targeted to a specific
industry need. The three
buildings will have an
investment of approximately $73
million, including robotics
equipment.
The mission of the RTP is to
provide a technically trained,
highly skilled, and educated
workforce for automation and
robotics technologies, to assist
public and private entities in
developing new robotics systems
and technologies, and to promote
the growth and expansion of
companies through new robotics
technologies.
The RTP will offer free training
to industry employees from
within the state. Customized
industry specific classes
include:
-
Robotic-Material Handling,
Paint, and Weld
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Overhead Crane
-
Forklift
-
Aerial Lift
-
OSHA 10 Hour
-
70E Arc Flash
-
Robotic Safety
-
AWS Weld Certification
-
CRAW Certification
For more information regarding
the RTP, please visit their
website at
www.alabamartp.org.
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Photo Gallery |
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Robotics Maintenance Training Center |
Robotic Arm Training Cell |
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Rick Maroney, AIDT Project Manager |
Tommy Riner, National Alabama Corporation |
Remembering Former Board Member
Jim McCarty
 SEDA
remembers former board member
Jim McCarty who passed away
earlier this year. Mr.
McCarty served on the SEDA Board
of Directors for eighteen years.
In honor of Mr. McCarty, the
SEDA Board passed the following
resolution.
WHEREAS, the Shoals
Economic Development Authority
has been commissioned to create
economic diversity and enhanced
employment opportunities for the
citizens of Colbert and
Lauderdale Counties; and
WHEREAS,
Jim McCarty was called upon and
did faithfully serve eighteen
years as a Board member of the
Shoals Economic Development
Authority; and
WHEREAS, Jim McCarty
exhibited a professional and
progressive attitude toward a
unified Shoals area economic
development effort;
WHEREAS, Jim McCarty
provided for proper oversight
and accountability in all
actions and activities of the
Board;
BE IT THEREFORE
RESOLVED, this 19th day of
April, 2011, the Shoals Economic
Development Authority Board of
Directors and Staff commend and
express their deepest
appreciation to Jim McCarty for
his support and leadership in
the pursuit of our goals.
Shoals Economic Development
Authority
 ES
Robbins Expanding
ES
Robbins is constructing a major
addition to its facility at 2802
East Avalon Avenue in Muscle
Shoals. The $2.166-million
expansion includes a
53,640-square-foot building,
which will primarily be used for
warehousing and distribution.
Approximately 25 new employees
will be added over a three-year
period as a result of this
expansion.
ES Robbins Corporation was
established in 1967 and is a
world-leading manufacturer of
plastic products through its
five divisions: ES Robbins
Office Products, ES Robbins
Consumer Products group, Aleco ®
Food Service and Industrial,
Centaur®
HTP®
Horse Fencing, and Kleerstrip®
Flexible PVC. ES Robbins
has experienced growth of 128%
from 2006 to 2009 and has added
innovative new products such as
printed chairmats and deskpads.
They have also added the new
ecoKleer™
chairmat.
 North
American Lighting Moves Forward
With Expansion
Construction has begun on North
American Lighting's $35 million
expansion of its manufacturing
facility located in Muscle
Shoals. North American
Lighting (NAL) is a leading
manufacturer of automotive
exterior lighting. NAL
supplies the world's most
advanced lighting products to
virtually every automobile
manufacturer in the United
States.
With
the recent strengthening of the
auto market, the company is
running at or near full capacity
and this expansion is needed to
respond to the company's
continuing growth.
The expansion will allow the
Muscle Shoals facility to be
equipped with state-of-the-art
technology and operations,
further enhancing NAL's
industry-leading position.
The expansion will begin
operations in January of 2012,
allowing 1.2 million headlamps
to be produced per year by 2014.
NAL is a wholly owned subsidiary
of Koito Manufacturing Co.,
Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo,
Japan.
 Net
Direct Merchants Warehouse
Expansion
Net Direct Merchants, an
ecommerce distributor of
electric fireplaces and
accessories, grills, and outdoor
furniture, is doubling the size of
its facility on Parkway Drive in
the Florence-Lauderdale
Industrial Park. This expansion
represents a $320,000 capital
investment and five new jobs.
Congratulations Net Direct
Merchants!
New Retail Growth in the Shoals
 Construction
has begun on the site
that will house the new Publix
shopping center. Publix will be
located in the area currently in
use by Books-A-Million across
from Regency Square Mall.
Books-A-Million has a
temporary home
in the nearby Target shopping center.
 Renovations
have begun on the Old Rogers
building on Court Street in
downtown Florence. The building,
which has been vacant for more
than a decade, will be host to
Jos. A. Bank and will bring
another retail attraction to the
Shoals. Jos. A. Bank is a
national chain that specializes
in men's apparel.
Shoals Training Alliance Hosts
Leadership Skills Classes
 The
Shoals Training Alliance
coordinated leadership training
classes for 23 employees of
companies located in The Shoals.
Two-day Leadership Skills I
and II classes were held on
April 13-14 and April 26-27. A
four hour Empowering Teams class
was held April 12.
Christine
Smart, AIDT, instructed trainees
on skills needed in team-based
work environments and how to
demonstrate leadership skills
that benefit their employers as
well as themselves.
Empowering Teams classes
will be held on August 16 and
23. A two-day Leadership
Skills I class is scheduled for
August 17-18. Also, there will be
a two-day Leadership Skills II
class on August 24-25. To enroll
employees in any of the upcoming
classes, please contact Christi
Graham or Ryan Hall at (256) 764-0351.
TVA
Offers Incentives to Commercial
and Industrial Customers
 To
help businesses reduce project
costs and accelerate payback,
TVA EnergyRight® Solutions is
now offering financial
assistance to all commercial
customers and industrial
customers with a contract demand
of 5,000 kilowatts or less.
Standard rebates and custom
incentives are available if they
are served by a participating
distributor of TVA power. To see
if your business can benefit
from this service, please visit
TVA EnergyRight® Solutions
Sixteenth Annual Shoals Industry
Classic
 SEDA
is excited about the upcoming
Sixteenth Annual Shoals Industry
Classic Golf Tournament.
It will be held on Monday,
September 12, 2011, at the
Robert Trent Jones Golf Course
at The Shoals. The
tournament brings together
golfers from local industry,
sponsors, government, and
economic development to promote
support for industry in The
Shoals and build camaraderie
among stakeholders in The Shoals
economy.
If you would like more
information about the upcoming
tournament, please contact
Christi Graham or Ryan Hall at
(256) 764-0351.
SEDA
Welcomes Two New Board Members
SEDA would like to welcome our
newest Board members Greg Ezell
and Tommy Thornton.
 Greg
Ezell has been appointed by
Lauderdale County to the SEDA
Board of Directors. Greg
is a member of the Local 760
Plumbers and Steamfitters since
1992. He has been a
Business Agent since 2006.
He and his wife, Rena, have been
married for thirteen years.
Their son, Tyler, is ten years
old.
 Tommy Thornton
has been appointed by the city
of Muscle Shoals to the SEDA
Board of Directors. Tommy serves as Vice
President/General Manager of
Casting & Reclamation Operations
for Wise Alloys LLC. He has
managing responsibilities for
the company’s Alabama
Reclamation Operations and
Alloys Casting Operations. He
has 21 years of operational &
maintenance management and
engineering experience in the
manufacturing industry. Prior
to joining Wise Alloys LLC, he
was employed by Reynolds Metals
Company, Wolverine Tube, Inc.
and Norandal USA.
Tommy and family are life long
natives of The Shoals and have
lived in Muscle Shoals the past
eleven years. Prior to being
appointed to the SEDA Board, he served on the Muscle Shoals
Parks & Recreation Board.
Tommy’s wife, Wendi, is a
teacher at Webster Elementary
School. They have one son, Greyson, who attends McBride
Elementary School.
We are proud to have Greg and
Tommy on our SEDA Board of Directors.
SEDA
Welcomes New Staff Member Ryan
Hall
 SEDA
welcomes new staff member Ryan
Hall, who will be taking over
the Existing Industry/Research
Coordinator position. Ryan is
pursuing a Bachelors of Business
Administration degree in
Computer Information Systems at
the University of North Alabama
and will be graduating this
August.
Ryan is married to the former Amy
Beth Pace. He recently moved
to Tuscumbia, but has lived in
the Shoals area for 24 years.
Please join us as we "WELCOME"
Ryan Hall to the SEDA staff.
SEDA Is on Facebook
If you are a member of
Facebook,
be sure to visit our page and
click the "like" button so that
you can become a member of our
group. You can post pictures and
comments there as well as see
the latest SEDA news.
"The way a team plays as a
whole determines its
success. You may have the
greatest bunch of individual
stars in the world, but if
they don't play together,
the club wont be worth a
dime"
Babe
Ruth
"The winners in
life think constantly in
terms of I can, I will, and
I am. Losers, on the other
hand, concentrate their
waking thoughts on what they
should have or would have
done, or what they can't
do."
Dennis Waitley
"The successful
man will profit
from his
mistakes and try
again in a
different way."
Dale Carnegie
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Available Building Highlights
|
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Rogersville Spec
Building
101 Industrial
Park Rd
Rogersville,
AL 35652
Lauderdale County
41,500 Square Feet |
|
Click here
for building
form (.pdf) with
details about the
building |
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Humann
Building
2860
Denton Road
Tuscumbia, AL
35674
Colbert County
10,400
Square Feet |
|
Click here
for
building form
(.pdf) with
details about
the building |
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Meeting Schedule
SEDA Monthly Board of Directors
Meetings
August 11, 2011
September 13, 2011
Shoals Manufacturers Association
July 13, 2011
September 14, 2011
Shoals Industry - Education
Training Alliance
July 26, 2011
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Previous E-Newsletters
FY 2011
Second Edition
FY 2011
First Edition
FY 2010
Third Edition
FY 2010
Second Edition
FY 2010
First Edition
FY 2009
Third Edition
FY 2009
Second Edition
FY 2009
First Edition
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