Visit the photo gallery of the
recent ribbon cutting events. »

Download the List of 2008 New and Expanding Industries (PDF) »

The Huntsville Metro, which includes Madison and Limestone Counties, saw the state’s greatest population increase in 2008. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the metro grew by 9,323 people or 2.4 percent. The metro area now has 395,645 residents, which makes this metro area the 27th fastest growing area in the nation.

Also, Madison County led the state in new and expanding jobs with 3,464 jobs announced, according to the Alabama Development Office, the State of Alabama’s economic development agency. The State does not include the areas of Huntsville that extend into Limestone County. The number of jobs for Madison County including those jobs is 3,811. The runners-up included Jefferson County and Mobile County with 2,088 and 1,677 new and expanding jobs, respectively.

The article can be viewed in full here:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123837422461168013.html

World Trade Day recognizes the significance of international trade in the growth and economic well-being of the region. NAITA and the Madison County Commission will co-sponsor the luncheon, which focuses on the importance of international trade to the world economy and what it means for local communities. During the luncheon, the 2009 NAITA Global Trade Award will be presented to a regional entity for its contributions to international trade.

As part of the 2009 Defense Trade Series, co-sponsored by the Alabama International Trade Center, a NAITA Foreign Military Sales Briefing will be held following the luncheon. The briefing will highlight the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM)'s involvement in Security Assistance through Foreign Military Sales. This briefing to the business community will provide AMCOM's Security Assistance role/function through Foreign Military Sales as it supports U.S. National Security and our allies.

For more information, visit www.naita.org.

Randy Morgan, President, Defense Sector, Cobham Analytic Solutions, displays his new Cobham name badge.

Cobham has revenues of $2.2 billion and employs more than 12,500 people worldwide on five continents, with customers in more than 100 countries. In the past, individually branded business units have provided products and services to primarily aerospace and defense customers, many of whom have been unaware of the breadth of capabilities available to them from across Cobham. The unification of all businesses under a single unified brand is designed to make it easier for customers to understand the group and highlight the career opportunities available to current and future employees.

“We are proud of our reputation for technical excellence and the contribution we make to our country’s defense and national security. We look forward to further growth in our customer-focused systems engineering and technical assistance as part of the larger Cobham family,” Tim Heely, president of Cobham Analytic Solutions, said.

Members of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County will have numerous opportunities to take advantage of the strength of the local economy by growing and advertising their businesses through the 2009 Total Resource Campaign—Chase for the Championship.

On Tuesday, March 24, veteran drivers, also known as returning TRC volunteers, received the green flag for the first lap of the 2009 qualifying race and are eligible to renew contracts until Monday, April 20. Companies that participated in last year’s campaign are now eligible to renew their sponsorships.

Since many key sponsorships sold out last year, the renewal option offers a significant advantage to those companies who benefitted from their specific, targeted sponsorships. However, any sponsorship that has not been renewed by April 20 will be made available beginning Thursday, April 23 on a first-come, first-served basis to all 2,300 Chamber members. Already the 2009 TRC Campaign has brought in almost $60,000 in its first week in sponsorships that will not only help support business growth and recognition, but economic growth in the Huntsville/Madison County community.

With only three weeks remaining for companies to renew their previous sponsorship before the track is opened up to all members, the race for pole position is heating up.

So far, Sandra Baker of Beason & Nalley is the first lap-leader for the 2009 TRC, but the race has just started. Don’t miss your opportunity to attend or sponsor some of this year’s biggest business and community events. Sponsorships and events will be selling out fast. Call Donna McCrary at (256) 535-2027 or email her at donnam@hsvchamber.org for more information.

Ron Poteat (l) accepts a $10,000 check for the Huntsville Regional Growth Initiative from L-3 Communications, Mark Curran (r) to support ongoing efforts to expand the economy and recruit workforce.

In 2003, the Chamber recognized that economic development would continue to be the foundation for its activities and that it was not a five, 10 or 15 year scope of work but rather a program that would exist as long as this community focused on economic advancements. From this philosophy, the Huntsville Regional Economic Growth Initiative (HREGI) strategic plan was born.

The plan includes working with local businesses to address their needs; recruiting targeted industry; protecting and growing the aerospace and defense industry; developing capacity for new and sustained economic growth; developing and recruiting a skilled workforce; enhancing our community’s image; and remaining accountable to our stakeholders. Continue »

For the list, click here »

Gov. Bob Riley

During the event, Riley awarded the Governor’s Trade Excellence Award. The award was created in 2005 to recognize Alabama’s successful exporters as role models for the Alabama business community.

Taylor Edge, president of Rescue ONE Connector Boats, said that he was thrilled to win the award and that honor shows the reach of his company.

“It is an honor to be recognized by the governor, and it brings awareness to what our company can provide not only locally, but also internationally,” said Edge.

Award winners were nominated from industries within the manufacturing, service and agribusiness sectors, and were selected by the Export Alabama Alliance based on innovation in exporting, amount of sales from exporting, sustainable growth in export sales and the use of assistance from the Export Alabama Alliance, which assists in the guidance and facilitation of Alabama’s export promotion and assistance programs.

The training/launch for companies will be Thursday, April 9 at 2 p.m. at CohesionForce. Please RSVP for a seat and directions - 256.533.4661 or info@janaonline.org. The training for schools will be the following week.