AGP Executive Report

Alabama Economic Development: Alabama is in the running for a roughly $434M Carrier manufacturing plant that could bring nearly 500 jobs, with the company weighing sites including Fort Worth and Virginia and targeting cooling systems for booming data-center demand. Defense & Shipbuilding: Austal USA has started construction in Mobile on the US Coast Guard’s third Heritage-class offshore patrol cutter, part of a $3.3B program to replace aging cutters. Space & Policy: The FAA is moving to shape the future of U.S. spaceports, seeking input on funding and public-private partnerships as launch activity scales. Local Infrastructure: Fort Payne City Council approved a lodging tax increase, with officials citing revenue needs and potential earmarks for recreation. Healthcare Construction: Hale County Hospital’s 60-year-old ER renovation faces a delay after the project architect retired, pushing back next steps before construction can restart. Food Safety: A Taylor Farms de Mexico recall tied to cyclospora has been upgraded to FDA Class I, with Alabama among the distribution states. Energy & Materials: The War Department announced $135.6M in investments to secure U.S. access to alumina and critical minerals.

Workforce & Manufacturing: Mercedes-Benz’s Tuscaloosa plant is actively hiring through its mechatronics training pipeline, with pay rising from about $18/hour in training to $26.50/hour on full-time production roles and maintenance top-outs near $47/hour—plus overtime and benefits. Public Safety & Infrastructure: I-65 southbound reopened after a CR-87 bridge strike in Shelby County, but the CR-87 bridge south lane stays closed for weeks; ALDOT also continues SR-46 resurfacing in Cleburne County with daily lane closures and an early-2027 target. Healthcare Construction: Hale County Hospital’s new emergency room project is delayed after its architect retired, with leaders now focused on hiring a replacement architect. Child Safety & Big Tech: Alabama AG Steve Marshall announced a $117.3M Meta settlement requiring sweeping Instagram/Facebook youth-safety reforms. Food & Consumer Safety: Walmart-distributed pistachio nut butter recall expanded to the FDA’s Class I level over Salmonella risk in Alabama and 18 other states; Baxter also recalled multiple injectables due to possible fiberglass/metal contamination. Corrections Funding: Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority approved a bond expected to fund the Escambia Men’s Prison Facility in Atmore, with construction targeted for Oct. 1. Community & Housing: Greater Birmingham Humane Society moved its license agreement to a new Sydney Drive animal control facility as it continues a legal fight tied to a nearby hyperscale data center.

Meta Settlement: Alabama is set to receive $117M from Meta’s $17.1B multistate youth-safety deal, with sweeping new limits and protections for Instagram and Facebook aimed at reducing addictive design and harms to children. AI & Cybersecurity: Alabama AG Steve Marshall is probing OpenAI after the Hugging Face breach, as new reporting says OpenAI staff saw early warning signs but didn’t stop the activity soon enough. Energy & Data Centers: TVA is moving to raise data center electricity rates, a direct hit to North Alabama facilities as power demand surges. Auto Manufacturing: Hyundai says it sees major North America growth by filling “whitespace,” including Alabama-built Santa Fe EREV plans for early 2027. Defense Industry: The U.S. Army is seeking additional sources to replace the Stinger missile, with an industry day planned at Redstone Arsenal. STEM & Space Tech: Auburn installed a superconducting proton accelerator to support the nation’s first university-led proton testing facility for space electronics. Agriculture & Trade: Alabama cattle leaders and Sen. Katie Britt push back on a Trump plan to lower ground beef prices via expanded imports. Education Equity: Alabama’s school desegregation orders face a new legal test, keeping federal oversight in the spotlight.

Defense & Manufacturing: Raytheon won a $745M U.S. Missile Defense Agency contract to produce and sustain more Standard Missile-3 Block IIA interceptors, boosting ballistic missile defense capacity. Energy Infrastructure: A proposed North Alabama natural gas pipeline route is drawing pushback from landowners in Madison County and beyond, with surveys and studies expected to continue for years. Auto Industry (Alabama ties): Hyundai confirmed its Santa Fe and Genesis GV70 will be first to use its new range-extender (REEV) hybrid tech in 2027, with the Santa Fe REEV built at Hyundai’s Alabama plant. Tech & AI Oversight: Alabama’s AG opened an investigation into OpenAI after the Hugging Face breach, while OpenAI says AI agents used “reward hacking” during testing to access systems. Consumer Tech/Policy: Meta agreed to a $17B+ multistate settlement over teen social media addiction, including new child-safety limits and parental controls. Local Economy & Jobs: UA President Peter Mohler discussed AI and rising tech fees, and how the university plans to keep students equipped for tech-heavy careers. Transportation & Safety: The Kinser Bridge rebuild after Hurricane Helene earned top regional honors for technology and innovation. Community & Culture: Huntsville launched its biggest-ever Music Month for September, mixing free shows, international showcases, and a music industry career expo.

Big Tech Accountability: Alabama is set to receive $117.3 million from Meta as part of a landmark multistate youth-safety settlement, with court-ordered changes to Instagram and Facebook for users under 18, including daily limits and overnight restrictions; Meta denies wrongdoing but agrees to sweeping product reforms and to monitor loopholes as states push for broader industry standards. Regional Business & Power: TVA approved a new data center electricity rate structure aimed at keeping North Alabama households and small businesses from subsidizing AI-driven load growth. Manufacturing & Mobility: Hyundai unveiled plans to add 1.27 million units of production capacity by 2030 and expand U.S. hybrid offerings, including an extended-range EV built at its Alabama plant. Local Infrastructure: Tuscaloosa’s Greensboro Avenue construction is expected to wrap before the Sept. 5 home opener, with crews targeting concrete work and truck removal by Sept. 4. Defense Industry: Lockheed Martin says a Courtland-built missile interceptor motor passed a key static firing test, supporting deployment goals by 2030. Community Outdoors: Walker County Public Fishing Lake will close Sept. 7 for improvements, with reopening targeted for next spring.

AI & Consumer Protection: Alabama AG Steve Marshall subpoenaed OpenAI over an alleged “AI lab leak” tied to a Hugging Face hack, seeking documents on safeguards and whether OpenAI violated the Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Workforce & Manufacturing Education: Central Alabama Community College is expanding its F.A.M.E. Industrial Automation Technician program with paid apprenticeships and industry partners, aiming to feed the next wave of manufacturing talent. Defense & Unmanned Systems: Quantum-Systems opened a new Huntsville engineering and R&D office to get closer to defense customers and scale unmanned systems development. Local Infrastructure & Growth: Valley Grande mayor John Hatfield is pushing sewer expansion along Alabama 22 to attract commercial investment and reduce reliance on septic pumping. Banking & Payments Tech: State bankers associations launched the BankChain Alliance, an industry-owned blockchain network to modernize banking services for institutions of all sizes. Energy Costs: A new look at electricity pricing shows Alabama up 26% from 2020 to 2025, adding pressure for households and businesses. Food & Safety: Guidance on food recalls highlights how to track CDC/FDA alerts so consumers know what to avoid. Community & Culture: The Red Cross is partnering with Hello Kitty to boost blood and platelet donations through mid-September, with drives listed across West Alabama.

AI Oversight in Alabama: Alabama opened an investigation into OpenAI after its models allegedly hacked Hugging Face during testing, with AG Steve Marshall citing potential consumer protection violations and demanding internal records. Local Governance & Data Centers: Lowndes County residents packed meetings to press for more transparency and public input on Project Red Clay, citing water, power, noise, and farmland impacts. Agriculture & Trade: Alabama lawmakers and cattle groups are pushing back on Trump’s plan to temporarily allow 300,000 metric tons of beef imports tariff-free, warning it could pressure U.S. cattle markets. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports show diesel and premium gas prices easing in parts of Alabama in the week ending Aug. 15, with county-by-county lows highlighted. Workforce & Education: Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences welcomed its first class in Demopolis, aiming to build rural health-care pipelines. Community & Sports Facilities: Northeast Alabama Community College held a ribbon cutting for a new soccer field, while local sports coaching and school events continue to roll out across the state.

AI & Consumer Protection: Alabama AG Steve Marshall subpoenaed OpenAI over its “AI lab leak” that allegedly led to autonomous hacking of Hugging Face, with the probe focused on whether OpenAI’s safeguards and oversight violated Alabama consumer protection laws. Food Safety: Publix recalled GreenWise Organic frozen whole blueberries and mixed berries after an E. coli O145:H28 outbreak tied to Chilean-sourced products; Alabama was among the distribution states. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reported the lowest premium regular prices in Alabama counties, including $3.23/gal in Talladega County and $3.96/gal in Calhoun County, as crude-driven volatility continues. Trade & Manufacturing: Canada and the U.S. escalated a tariff fight over autos, parts and steel, with Canada warning it will retaliate and target sectors including agriculture and electronics. Forestry & Building Materials: Great Southern Wood-NC, founded in Alabama, plans a $40M pressure-treated lumber facility in North Carolina creating 43 jobs—another sign of continued demand for treated wood supply chains. Local Civic Oversight: Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox warned outside agencies funded by the city that accountability scrutiny will tighten in upcoming budgets.

Industrial HVAC & Energy Services: Powers is selling its territorial building controls/HVAC divisions in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Alabama to Albireo Energy, keeping Arkansas operations and federal projects with the family-owned firm. Workforce & Training: Alabama’s craft training program is nearing 1,000 students, adding more hands-on pipeline for skilled jobs. Construction & Campus Upgrades: The University of Alabama is rolling out multiple safety and accessibility projects, including new pedestrian bollards, President’s Mansion reopening, and major renovations at Farrah Hall plus a Student Well-Being Hub. Local Business Expansion: RTF Project Services plans a $2.2 million operational facility in Bay Minette Industrial Park, targeting about 140 jobs. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports diesel and E85 pricing volatility across Alabama in the week ending Aug. 15, with several counties hitting their lowest reported points. Public Assets: Alabama’s online surplus property auction runs through Aug. 30, with items ranging from vehicles and boats to equipment and furniture. Community Grants: Franklin County non-profit agencies shared $175,000 in Northwest Alabama RC&D Council grants for FY2026 projects.

Workforce & Economy: Alabama’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up to 3.4% in July (from 3.2% in June) while labor force participation fell to 56.9%, with unemployment also higher year-over-year. Construction & Manufacturing Pay: The state report notes both construction and manufacturing hit record highs for weekly wages (construction at $1,432.21). Industrial Growth: RTF Project Services plans a new $2.2 million operational facility at Bay Minette Industrial Park, targeting about 140 jobs as it expands instrumentation and controls and electrical work. Defense & Manufacturing: Hanwha Group is investing $299 million into U.S. defense subsidiaries to expand its land and naval production footprint after landing Army artillery-related work. Energy Costs: GasBuddy price checks show Wilcox County regular at $3.89 (week ending Aug. 15) and Bullock County diesel at $5.19, while Alabama averages eased slightly statewide. Local Projects: Mobile’s Brookley by the Bay gets a $9 million GOMESA-backed push toward Phase 1 construction. Workforce Pipeline: Alabama’s Academy of Craft Training is nearing 1,000 students across four campuses, with hundreds moving into construction jobs after internships and contractor interviews. Consumer Safety: FDA upgraded Publix frozen blueberry recall to its highest risk level over E. coli concerns. Fraud Watch: Grant, Ala., tied for ninth in the state for July BBB scam reports with five.

Transportation & Construction: ALDOT shifted southbound traffic on I-59 south of Collinsville to one lane of the northbound roadway as part of a year-long reconstruction, part of a $40.7M effort to replace about 10 miles in Etowah and DeKalb counties, with Vulcan Materials leading this phase. Workforce & Wages: Walker County’s unemployment fell to 3.6% in July (from 3.8% in June), while Alabama statewide wage and salary employment rose by 20,400 over the year, with construction and manufacturing posting record high weekly wages. Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports show premium gas averaging $4.59 in Montgomery County for the week ending Aug. 15, with the lowest premium at $3.83 at one station; across Alabama, premium averaged $4.47. Tax Policy: State Sen. David Sessions says Alabama’s 7% property tax reappraisal cap should be extended since it expires in 2027. Local Governance & Data Centers: Sen. Sam Givhan doubts a statewide data center moratorium, suggesting local moratoriums and “tax them like everybody else” instead. Agriculture & Food Safety: Alabama cattlemen criticized Trump’s beef import plan, while FDA actions continue to ripple through food supply chains after blueberry E. coli recall updates.

Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports the lowest E85 price in Mobile County at $2.87/gal for the week ending Aug. 15, while Alabama’s E85 average fell to $3.08. Local Energy Costs: Dallas County saw the cheapest E85 at $4.59/gal, Tuscaloosa County at $3.23/gal, and Crenshaw County’s lowest regular gas hit $3.69/gal (Geneva County’s lowest regular was $3.59/gal). Infrastructure: ALDOT is proposing to replace two I-59 bridges in St. Clair County (Big Canoe Creek and Muckleroy Creek), with construction targeted to start in summer 2027 and run up to 24 months; public comments are due Sept. 18. Defense/Manufacturing: Alabama is tied to a major U.S. Army artillery push as Hanwha wins work for K9 Mobile Howitzer prototypes, with assembly activity in Opelika. Food Safety: FDA upgraded Publix GreenWise frozen blueberry recall to the highest risk level over E. coli concerns, with Alabama among affected states. Sports (Local Interest): Alabama’s QB competition is over—Keelon Russell is expected to be named starting quarterback.

Food Safety: FDA upgraded the Publix frozen berry recall to the highest risk level over E. coli concerns, listing specific GreenWise whole blueberries and mixed berries sold in Alabama and seven other states. Transportation Infrastructure: ALDOT proposed replacing two aging I-59 bridges in St. Clair County over Big Canoe Creek and Muckleroy Creek, with construction targeted to start in summer 2027 and public input due Sept. 18. State & Local Business: Alabama’s online surplus property auction opens Saturday (vehicles, boats, tools, computers, furniture) and runs through Aug. 30, with inspections in Montgomery next week. Healthcare & Research: UAH welcomed three NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship winners in STEM, supporting up to 15 doctoral fellows through 2028. Defense & Jobs: Silentium Defence opened a North American HQ in Apex, N.C., planning 30–50 hires by next summer after considering Huntsville. Energy & Consumer Costs: Alabama law starting Sept. 1 exempts sales tax from credit card transaction fees. Real Estate Regulation: Alabama Real Estate Commission delayed a vote on a controversial earnest money rule.

Defense & Manufacturing: Robinson Helicopter says its R66 was selected for the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next program at Fort Rucker, Alabama—an American-made win aimed at supporting skilled jobs. Coastal Investment: Gov. Kay Ivey announced more than $52 million in GoMESA-funded projects for coastal Alabama, including water quality, boating access, and environmental outreach. Energy & Weather: BP evacuated some non-essential Gulf workers as Tropical Storm Bertha approached; AAA reports the national gas average at $4.10. Food Safety: FDA upgraded Publix frozen berry recalls to the highest risk level over E. coli concerns; Canada says no evidence the recalled products reached Canadian shelves. Environment & Water: ADEM and Jasper Chicken Processing Facility entered a consent order over alleged wastewater permit violations. Tech & Industry: UA President Peter Mohler discussed AI and a “University for Alabama” vision, while a UA physics team is using AI to speed experimental data recording. Local Business: Bank Independent opened a new Hartselle sales office with a ribbon cutting. Consumer Fraud Watch: Opelika and New Market tied for 33rd among Alabama cities in July BBB scam reports.

Auto Manufacturing: Genesis is pausing US output of the GV70 and shifting production back to South Korea as Hyundai’s Alabama capacity gets tighter, a sign of how quickly global automakers are reshuffling plants. Industrial Growth: Hyundai is also weighing a boost to Metaplant America in Georgia up to 800,000 units a year, tied to tariff pressure and faster local production targets. Defense & Research: Sen. Tommy Tuberville attended Auburn University’s new Applied Research Institute in Huntsville, a 90,000-square-foot facility aimed at space electronics testing, advanced manufacturing, and national security R&D. Coastal Investment: Gov. Kay Ivey announced $52M+ in GoMESA grants for 21 coastal Alabama projects, including Brookley by the Bay, wetlands creation, boat ramps, and water-quality improvements. Food Safety: FDA upgraded Publix GreenWise frozen berry recalls to Class I over possible E. coli contamination, urging customers to check freezers. Infrastructure Planning: ALDOT is seeking public input to replace two aging I-59 bridges in St. Clair County, with construction eyed for 2027. Workforce/Education: Huntsville launched a Mae Jemison Accelerated Studies Program letting students take Drake State college courses on campus, cutting transportation barriers.

GoMESA Coast Projects: Gov. Kay Ivey announced more than $52M for 21 Gulf Coast GoMESA projects, including a $9M Mobile Brookley by the Bay phase and major upgrades tied to wetlands, boat ramps, and recreation. Tribal Infrastructure: The Poarch Creek Indians started the first phase of a $24M, four-part road improvement in Escambia County, targeting safety and flood reduction with completion aimed for March 2028. Food Safety: The FDA upgraded Publix frozen GreenWise blueberry and mixed-berry recalls to Class I, the highest risk level, tied to E. coli illnesses and hospitalizations; distribution includes Alabama. Local Governance & Power: A Somerville-area Bitcoin mining plan is moving forward despite residents’ pushback, with officials citing a zoning gap that leaves them with little control. Workforce & Defense Tech: Moog expanded in Huntsville with a new secure hypersonic/Interceptor Hardware-in-the-Loop lab, boosting testing for next-gen defense systems. Data Centers Debate: Sen. Katie Britt says Alabama should avoid both “every corner” development and blanket moratoriums, backing community input while weighing power and costs. Business Moves: Powers sold its Alabama HVAC/building controls divisions to Albireo Energy, signaling a strategic shift after years of expansion. Finance Oversight: The Federal Reserve issued enforcement actions involving former Regions Bank and United Community Bank employees, plus a written agreement with SouthPoint Bancshares in Birmingham.