Category: Business
Stats & Facts – Week of March 20, 2017
March 22, 2017
Read time: 1 minute Setting records The U.S. Commerce Department’s data shows Alabama exports totaled $20.55 billion in 2016, an increase of 6.4% from 2015 and an all-time record. Exports from Alabama companies have risen 15% since 2011 and 48% since 2006. A global situation Alabama-made goods were exported to 189 countries in every corner of the world. Congratulations are in order Advanced Optical Systems Inc. of Huntsville was one of eight recipients of the 2017 Governor’s Export [ more ]
Read MoreStats & Facts – Week of March 11, 2017
March 15, 2017
Read time: 1 minute How many engines? Toyota assembled its 5 millionth engine, that’s enough engines to stretch from Huntsville to Los Angeles, and enough engines to supply every registered vehicle in Alabama. Green boom Venture capital (VC) funds funneled $834 million into the clean-energy industry last year, the third consecutive annual increase and the most since Bloomberg New Energy Finance started collecting data in 2004. For a second year, VC for green projects surpassed [ more ]
Read MoreFebruary 2017: Monthly Development Review
March 13, 2017
Construction of a new industrial facility in Limestone County topped the list of non-residential permits issued last month. Residential permits increased, while certificates of occupancy (COs) decreased year-over-year. Residential Permits (new construction) in Huntsville city limits: In February, 111 housing units were permitted, 99 single- and 12 multi-family. The top tracts for building permits last month were 109.01 (Hampton Cove) and 112 (Martin-Zierdt), where 27 units were permitted each (all single-family). This is a 27.6% [ more ]
Read MoreHuntsville Embarks on Downtown Master Plan
March 9, 2017
A public invitation to help the City update its downtown master plan drew hundreds to the Huntsville Museum of Art on March 7 for a visioning session with planning consultants Urban Design Associates. Architect and Urban Planner Rob Robinson opened the workshop with a synopsis of the downtown’s strengths and challenges. “You are essentially building a downtown,” said Robinson. “You had one years ago that thrived, but what worked then doesn’t necessarily [ more ]
Read MoreStats & Facts – Week of March 6, 2017
March 8, 2017
Read time: 1 minute International Women’s Day was celebrated this week. In that theme, we’ve focused on stats & facts directly related to women and the economy. A major national impact Women own 11.9 million firms in the U.S., employing more than 9 million people and generating more than $1.4 trillion in sales as of 2016. State-wide powerhouse Alabama has an estimated 153,000 women-owned firms, employing just over 111,000 people with combined sales of $19 billion. We’re [ more ]
Read MoreStats & Facts – Week of February 27, 2017
March 3, 2017
Read time: 1 minute Jobs, Jobs, and well, you know GE Aviation’s plants in Huntsville are on track. Plant 1 will be complete in the summer of 2018 and Plant 2 will open spring of 2019. GE has hired 24 people in Huntsville right now and plans to employ 300 at full production. The International Franchise Association reports the franchising industry could expand by 1.6% in 2017…resulting in a potential increase of some 11,500 [ more ]
Read MoreStats & Facts – Week of February 20, 2017
February 24, 2017
Read time: 1 minute Gig, gig and more gig Mediacom announced it will launch of 1 Gig speeds in Huntsville, joining Google Fiber, AT&T, and Comcast that have all announced new services. Huntsville’s got the look…and skill Gallup reports Alabama workers are the most engaged workforce in the nation. Gallup classifies employees as engaged when they are “highly involved in and enthusiastic about their work and workplace.” Work Hard, Play Hard Stars and Strikes, an Atlanta-based bowling [ more ]
Read MoreJanuary 2017: Monthly Development Review
February 13, 2017
A new downtown hotel topped the list of non-residential permits issued last month. Residential permits and CO’s decreased year-over-year. Residential Permits (new construction) in Huntsville city limits: In January, 89 housing units were permitted, all single-family. The top tract for building permits last month was 109.01 (Hampton Cove), where 22 units were permitted. This is a 31.5% decrease over January 2016, when 130 housing units (70 single- and 60 multi-family) were permitted. Residential Certificates of Occupancy (new construction) in [ more ]
Read MoreStats & Facts – Week of February 6, 2017
February 13, 2017
Read time: 1 minute Housing findings from the 2016 Development Review 1,792 residential dwellings were issued building permits in Huntsville in 2016, up 2.3% over 2015. Single family lots approved increased 42.6% and multi-family increased 124%. Nearly $93 milion in new housing construction was permitted in 2016, up 18.8% from 2015. 3,030 homes were sold in 2016, a new high since records were first tracked in 1983. The average sales price of a home in 2016 was [ more ]
Read MoreNorth Huntsville Industrial Park Site Earns AdvantageSite Designation
February 10, 2017
Huntsville’s “advantage” in the intense competition for jobs has been its infrastructure, pro-business environment and talented workforce, but now local officials have another tool in the economic development toolbox. Mayor Tommy Battle joined Council Member Devyn Keith, the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County and State economic development officials on Feb. 10 to announce a 67-acre tract in North Huntsville Industrial Park–Phase III has achieved “AdvantageSite Designation” from the Economic Development [ more ]
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