AGP Executive Report

Data Center Debate: Lowndes County approved a 20-year tax abatement for Nvidia-backed Project Red Clay, a planned hyperscale data center, in a 3-2 vote. The decision drew criticism over the short meeting and limited public input. Grid Investment: A $581 million federal-TVA initiative will add 2.5 gigawatts of transmission capacity across eight states and support about 800 jobs, with Alabama among the region’s key power markets. Defense Manufacturing: A $1 million federal grant will fund a water line supporting Lockheed Martin’s planned $35 million to $50 million expansion in Troy, expected to create 300 jobs and sharply increase THAAD interceptor production. Factory Growth: Hyundai is advancing a $500 million Alabama plan for hybrid manufacturing, while PPG plans a $70 million expansion of its Huntsville aerospace site. Agriculture: Heavy rain from Hurricane Isaias has raised concerns about cotton quality in Alabama, where much of the crop was still awaiting harvest.

Defense Manufacturing: Hanwha and the U.S. Army named the K9-based XM1776 mobile howitzer, with nine prototypes ordered and an option for nine more. Hanwha is establishing an integration and test site in Opelika and developing a U.S. supplier network. Automotive: Hyundai plans about $500 million in Alabama investment for Tucson Hybrid production, new engines and advanced powertrains, as it shifts more sourcing to North America. Power & Grid: TVA will receive $250 million in federal funding for grid upgrades across eight states, supporting 84 projects, added capacity and about 800 jobs; earlier transmission work includes Alabama. Workforce: Jasper’s roughly $100 million Heman Drummond Center of Innovation is aiming to begin classes in early November, expanding hands-on technical training. Alabama also ranked sixth nationally for skilled-trades employment growth. Energy Recovery: Hurricane Isaias temporarily shut in 63% of Gulf oil production and disrupted regional power; producers are restoring output as recovery continues.

School Energy: DeKalb County Schools says Plainview High’s new solar installation should cut electricity costs by about 46%, freeing funds for other needs. Space and Defense: Gov. Kay Ivey has put Huntsville forward to host the proposed U.S. Space Academy, building on the city’s aerospace expertise. Raytheon also won multibillion-dollar contracts to increase interceptor production at facilities including Huntsville. Alabama Manufacturing: PPG plans a $70 million expansion of its Huntsville aerospace site. Forestry: Alabama landowners can apply by Oct. 22 for cost-share grants of up to $10,000 to reduce southern pine beetle risks. Retail and Recovery: A $115.5 million Costco project in Irondale has set an opening date, while Alabama and Florida Panhandle ports have returned to operation after Hurricane Isaias.

Aerospace & Defense: PPG plans a $70 million expansion of its Huntsville aerospace operations. Raytheon also secured a five-year, $6.3 billion missile contract, with production in Huntsville and Tucson. Construction: Alabama issued 14 permits worth more than $1 million for the week ending Oct. 9, including work at Auburn’s Mark student housing project, Decatur Morgan Hospital and Birmingham’s Avondale Commercial Park. Irondale’s $115.5 million Costco is targeting a late-2028 opening. Workforce: Alabama ranks sixth nationally for skilled-trades employment growth; a visit to Gadsden State’s manufacturing center highlighted calls for more trade-school training. Energy & Recovery: Hurricane Isaias shut in nearly two-thirds of Gulf oil output and caused widespread outages. Out-of-state crews joined Alabama utilities’ restoration efforts. Construction & Labor: Alabama-based Caddell Construction workers in Milan are set to share nearly $35 million in settlement payments over alleged labor abuses; the company said the settlement is not an admission of liability.

Aerospace Manufacturing: PPG plans a $70 million expansion of its Huntsville aerospace operations, strengthening Alabama’s role in aircraft manufacturing. Workforce Pipeline: Wallace Community College Selma will host Career Quest on Oct. 23, giving K-12 students hands-on exposure to careers in logistics, energy, construction and manufacturing. Storm Recovery: Utility crews from EMEPA and Mississippi Power joined restoration work in southeast Alabama after Hurricane Isaias, while Mediacom says damaged lines and lingering power outages are slowing service repairs. Energy Infrastructure: Georgia Power and Alabama Power secured federal loans to modernize Plant Oliver; Isaias also forced major shutdowns of Gulf oil production, tightening regional energy supplies.

Storm Recovery: Hurricane Isaias left hundreds of thousands without power across Alabama and Florida and shut in about 63% of Gulf oil production. Southern Company crews are working to restore service as outages persist. Aerospace Manufacturing: PPG will invest $70 million to expand its Huntsville aerospace transparencies operation, adding production capacity and room for future equipment. Shipbuilding: Austal is weighing a nonbinding Hanwha bid for its Alabama-based U.S. business while pursuing new Navy repair work; any sale still requires due diligence and regulatory approval. Workforce: Contractors warn that aging skilled workers, tighter immigration enforcement and data-center construction are deepening shortages of tradespeople—a challenge for Alabama’s manufacturing and construction sectors. Industrial Growth: Novelis has produced its first coil at its $5 billion Alabama aluminum plant, a major step toward expanded domestic production.

Storm Recovery: Isaias left more than 50,000 Alabama customers without power Sunday. Southern Company crews are working to restore service, while Gulf oil production was curtailed by about 1.28 million barrels a day at the storm’s peak. Manufacturing Investment: PPG plans a $70 million expansion of aerospace manufacturing in Alabama, and Novelis has produced the first coil at its $5 billion Alabama aluminum plant. Defense and Advanced Industry: Raytheon’s contract worth up to $6.3 billion for missile interceptors includes production in Huntsville; Titan has also reached terms with the Army for an Alabama graphite plant. Workforce and Local Growth: Alabama A&M expanded space-sector training and research with Morningbird, while Buffalo Rock opened an expanded Oxmoor campus in Homewood.

Storm Recovery: Hurricane Isaias killed two people in Alabama and left about 190,000 utility customers without power. Southern Company says crews restored service to hundreds of thousands across its three-state system, with the hardest-hit areas in Alabama. Gulf shutdowns also idled about 63% of offshore oil output, prompting the Energy Department to authorize a release of up to 4 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Aerospace Manufacturing: PPG plans to invest $70 million to expand its Alabama aerospace manufacturing site in Huntsville. Separately, the GE Aerospace Foundation is putting $1 million toward workforce training in Auburn and Montgomery. Strategic Materials: Novelis has produced its first coil at its new Alabama aluminum plant, while Titan Mining and the U.S. Army reached a preliminary framework for a graphite-processing facility in the state. Workforce Development: Sen. Tommy Tuberville toured Gadsden State’s advanced manufacturing center, calling for more trade-school programs to help meet industry demand.

Storm & Energy: Isaias weakened after landfall, but left two Alabamians dead and roughly 300,000 utility customers without power. Gulf producers shut in about 70% of oil output, though major refineries were spared. The Energy Department authorized an emergency exchange of up to 4 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, while Shell began redeploying offshore crews as conditions improved. Aerospace Investment: PPG plans to spend $70 million expanding its Huntsville aerospace site. Boeing’s $14.7 billion Patriot seeker contract is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to Huntsville and sharply boost production. Advanced Materials & Workforce: Titan Mining reached a preliminary framework with the U.S. Army for an Alabama graphite processing facility. Alabama also ranked sixth nationally for skilled-trades employment growth, the Southeast’s top result.

Storm Recovery: Hurricane Isaias left hundreds of thousands without power across Alabama and Florida, with flooding, debris and road closures disrupting communities. Alabama’s insurance department is preparing for claims and says the state could account for as much as 21% of a projected $500 million to $2 billion in insured losses. Energy and Fuel: The storm shut in nearly 63% of Gulf oil output, raising concerns about fuel costs as refineries and offshore operations faced disruption. Manufacturing Investment: PPG plans to invest $70 million to expand its aerospace facility in Huntsville, while Buffalo Rock has opened an expanded Oxmoor Campus in Homewood with new blow-molding operations. Workforce: Alabama ranked sixth nationally for skilled-trades employment growth, leading the Southeast.

Storm & Energy: Hurricane Isaias strengthened to Category 3 as it approached the Alabama–Florida coast, bringing evacuation orders and threats of flooding, outages and storm surge. Nearly 63% of Gulf oil output was shut in, while flooding or power losses at refineries in Mobile and Pascagoula could push fuel prices higher. Manufacturing: Novelis produced its first coil at its new $5 billion Alabama aluminum plant; PPG is expanding its aerospace windows factory in the state, and Buffalo Rock has opened expanded Oxmoor operations with new blow-molding capacity. Hyundai also plans a $500 million investment in Alabama hybrid production. Workforce: Alabama ranked sixth nationally for skilled-trades employment growth, while GE Aerospace is investing $1 million in aerospace training in Montgomery and Auburn. Consumer Protection: State officials warn homeowners to check contractor licenses and get written quotes before hiring for storm repairs; emergency rules make some unlicensed repair work a felony.

Energy and Storm Risk: Hurricane Isaias has shut in nearly two-thirds of U.S. Gulf oil production, threatening energy supplies as Alabama braces for landfall. Manufacturing: Novelis has produced the first coil at its $5 billion Alabama aluminum plant, a major step toward expanding domestic production. Buffalo Rock also opened new blow-molding operations at its renovated Oxmoor Campus in Homewood, bringing bottle production in-house. Defense and Utilities: Raytheon won a contract worth up to $6.3 billion to replenish missile defenses, with production planned partly in Huntsville. Alabama Power and Georgia Power secured federal loans to modernize Plant Oliver. Infrastructure: Work has begun on the $3.2 billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, a major investment in Gulf Coast transportation.

Storm Readiness: Hurricane Isaias is threatening Alabama’s Gulf Coast with damaging winds, flooding and storm surge. Alabama declared emergencies across 40 counties, while offshore oil and gas operators cut production and power companies prepared for outages. Advanced Manufacturing: Novelis has produced its first coil at its new $5 billion Alabama aluminum plant, a major step toward expanded in-state production. Defense Industry: Raytheon won a contract worth up to $6.3 billion for missile production and sustainment, with work set to include its Huntsville facilities. Energy and Data Centers: Alabama regulators approved a new process for reviewing Alabama Power contracts with data centers, as officials weigh the industry’s growth and power demands. Infrastructure: Work has begun on the $3.2 billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, a major transportation investment for the Gulf Coast. Strategic Materials: Titan Mining and the U.S. Army agreed on a commercial framework for a graphite-processing facility in Alabama.

Aluminum Manufacturing: Novelis has produced the first coil at its $5 billion Bay Minette plant, a major commissioning milestone. The facility is expected to add 1,000 jobs and begin commercial shipments in 2027. Gulf Coast Operations: Hurricane Isaias is forecast to bring dangerous winds, flooding and storm surge to parts of southern Alabama; Gulf oil and gas producers have already shut in some output as utilities prepare crews. Data Center Power: Alabama regulators approved new procedures for reviewing large data-center power contracts, as state rules and local debates put the industry’s energy demands under scrutiny. Defense Supply Chains: Titan Mining has reached a preliminary framework with the U.S. Army to develop a graphite-processing facility at Anniston Army Depot, pending a signed lease. Aerospace Jobs: A $14.7 billion Boeing missile contract is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to Huntsville. Transportation: Work is underway on Mobile’s $3.2 billion bridge and Bayway project, a long-awaited upgrade for Gulf Coast travel and freight.

Energy & Industry: Tropical Storm Isaias could disrupt Gulf oil and gas production and threaten refineries, including facilities near Alabama, raising risks for fuel supplies. Defense Manufacturing: Boeing’s seven-year, $14.7 billion missile-seeker expansion is expected to support hundreds of direct and indirect jobs in Huntsville as Patriot interceptor component output triples. Data Centers: Alabama’s Public Service Commission approved a review process for large data-center power contracts, while new state rules face scrutiny over a potential loophole. Strategic Materials: Titan Mining and the U.S. Army reached a commercial framework for a proposed Alabama graphite-processing facility. Transportation: Construction is moving ahead on Mobile’s $3.2 billion River Bridge and Bayway project, a major freight and commuter link for the Gulf Coast. Workforce: The GE Aerospace Foundation will invest $1 million in training across the Auburn–Montgomery region, including a free entry-level aerospace bootcamp. Retail: Piggly Wiggly Food For Less is upgrading online shopping across its stores, with the new e-commerce platform expected to be fully implemented by the end of October.

Diesel Relief for Alabama Farmers: The Alabama Farmers Federation praised President Trump’s executive order suspending penalties on dyed diesel sold for highway use from Oct. 5 through Dec. 31, aiming to cut harvest-season fuel costs and keep farmers from getting hit when they cross state lines. North Alabama Defense & Missile Work: Huntsville and Colorado Springs leaders met to coordinate on Golden Dome missile defense, a move that could shape contracting and hiring for the region’s aerospace and defense supply chain. Data Center Push in Alabama: Brookwood City Council backed a TCEDA agreement with Applied Digital for an AI data center, while Childersburg advanced plans to surplus industrial park land for a 1G data center—both tied to power, jobs, and local infrastructure debates. Food Safety Alert: USDA warned consumers not to eat certain canned chicken Vienna-style sausages illegally imported from Jamaica, with distribution reported in Alabama. Local Infrastructure: Opelika approved a near-$975K sanitary sewer project and updated package liquor store rules; Franklin County approved a $20.9M budget including pay raises and solid waste fee changes.