AGP Executive Report

Infrastructure: Gubernatorial candidate Tommy Tuberville says he would fund a plan to widen I-65 to three lanes each way from the Tennessee line to Mobile in his first year. Data Centers: Tuberville also says data centers should get no special tax breaks and local communities should decide whether projects proceed; in Bessemer, QTS shared permits after the mayor sought to halt construction. Manufacturing: Nucor plans a $60 million expansion at its Decatur facility, adding 60 jobs. An Auburn auto-parts maker has opened a $30 million facility, while a Huntsville company secured a $10 million EXIM loan to expand manufacturing. Forestry: Alabama’s forest industry generates a reported $37.5 billion in economic impact and supports 123,000 jobs.

Defense and Aerospace: Dayton T. Brown opened a 104,000-square-foot testing and qualification center in Toney, expanding capacity for aerospace and defense programs near Huntsville. AFCEA Huntsville will bring government, industry and academia together at its inaugural TechNet Rocket City conference Nov. 4–5. Manufacturing: Nucor plans a $60 million expansion at its Decatur operation, expected to add 60 jobs. Data Centers: QTS supplied permits for its Bessemer construction after the mayor sought a halt, as questions continue over the project’s approvals. Forestry: Alabama’s forest industry generates $37.5 billion in economic activity and supports more than 123,000 jobs, according to a new study.

Steel & Manufacturing: Nucor will invest $60 million to expand its Morgan County operation, adding 60 jobs. An auto-parts maker has opened a $30 million Auburn facility, while a Huntsville company secured a $10 million EXIM loan to grow manufacturing capacity. Transportation Infrastructure: Alabama’s Black Belt Rail will receive a $27 million boost for upgrades, and ALDOT awarded $167 million to replace the Woolsey Finnell Bridge and expand McFarland Boulevard. Data Centers: A Lowndes County lawsuit challenges approval of a proposed hyperscale facility, while QTS has responded to concerns from Bessemer’s mayor about its data-center project. Agriculture & Forestry: Auburn University plans to reopen its renovated Beef Cattle Evaluation Center in early 2027, and Alabama renewed a forest stewardship agreement aimed at reducing wildfire risk and improving recreation.

Manufacturing: Nucor will invest $60 million to expand its Decatur operation, adding 60 jobs. A Huntsville company also secured a $10 million EXIM loan to grow manufacturing capacity. Defense Production: L3Harris says its Huntsville production line has begun delivering VAMPIRE counter-drone systems to the Army, while a new Arkansas facility will help boost rocket-motor output. Transportation: Rep. Terri Sewell announced $27 million for Black Belt rail upgrades, targeting freight infrastructure in the region. Data Centers: Lowndes County’s approval process for a proposed hyperscale data center faces both resident protests and a lawsuit, highlighting local concerns as large projects advance.

Manufacturing: Nucor will invest $60 million to expand its Decatur utility-structures plant, add 60 jobs and boost production as utilities upgrade the nation’s power grid. Biotech and Research: UAB has opened its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building, expanding space for biomedical research. Workforce: Alabama plans to direct part of $203 million in rural health funding to training, as state officials cite nursing shortages and participation challenges. Space Economy: New Marshall Space Flight Center Director Stephen Cash leads a workforce of more than 5,000 civil servants and contractors, reinforcing Huntsville’s role in aerospace. Freight Infrastructure: A $27 million federal grant will upgrade Black Belt rail lines and 34 crossings, improving safety and goods movement in rural communities.

Manufacturing: Nucor will invest $60 million to expand its Decatur utility-pole operation, adding production and inspection space and 60 jobs. Research and Health Care: UAB opened its $192 million Shelby Biosciences Research Building, an eight-story facility designed to grow biomedical and clinical research. Distribution: An $11 million permit will fund a fleet-maintenance facility at Publix’s McCalla distribution center, with completion expected by summer 2027. Transportation: A $27 million federal grant will modernize Black Belt and Gulf Coast rail infrastructure, including track, signals and 34 crossings; ALDOT also awarded $167 million for the Woolsey Finnell Bridge replacement and McFarland Boulevard expansion. Forestry: Alabama landowners can apply through Oct. 22 for Southern Pine Beetle prevention assistance, with reimbursements of up to $10,000 for eligible thinning work.

Agriculture: Marshall County proclaimed October Beef Month, spotlighting a statewide cattle industry with 1.2 million head and nearly $969 million in cattle and calf receipts. Rail and Infrastructure: Birmingham and Trussville are advancing the first phase of a nearly $10 million rail-crossing project to reduce train delays and improve safety; separately, a $27 million federal grant will modernize rural rail in Alabama’s Black Belt. Business Investment: Fairfield leaders are weighing a C-PACE financing program to help businesses fund building upgrades, including at a proposed Patmos data center, but tabled the decision. Aerospace: NASA named former agency engineer Stephen Cash director of Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center, where he’ll oversee more than 5,000 civil servants and contractors. Rural Economy: U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville argued that bringing manufacturing jobs to rural Alabama could help sustain local hospitals.**

Banking: Birmingham-based ServisFirst Bancshares reported third-quarter earnings per share of 80 cents, up 33% year over year, with loans growing 11% to $1.43 billion. Defense Manufacturing: The Army is seeking additional manufacturers for its Precision Strike Missile program through a notice issued by Redstone Arsenal, creating a potential opening for Alabama suppliers. Rail Infrastructure: Rep. Terri Sewell announced a $27 million federal grant to modernize rural rail in the Black Belt. Transportation: ALDOT awarded a $167 million contract to replace the Woolsey Finnell Bridge and widen US-82 in Tuscaloosa. Construction: The $1.25 billion Elmore County prison missed its deadline and is more than 85% complete, keeping a major state project behind schedule. Tourism: Cheaha State Park dedicated its $28 million, 32-room lodge, built with Alabama-sourced southern yellow pine.

Transportation & Construction: ALDOT awarded Scott Bridge a $167 million contract to replace Tuscaloosa’s Woolsey Finnell and Campus Drive bridges and widen the US-82 corridor, including up to eight lanes on part of McFarland Boulevard. Project Delivery: Alabama is withholding $14.2 million from the Elmore County prison contractor after a missed deadline; the facility is 85% complete. Tourism & Development: Cheaha State Park dedicated its new $28 million, 32-room lodge, with reservations expected to open in November. Energy & Infrastructure: Federal funding is planned for 84 TVA projects to strengthen the grid and expand capacity. Manufacturing & Workforce: Alabama Trucking Association CEO Mark Colson was tapped to lead the national association, while state community college enrollment topped 100,000 for the first time since 2010. Forestry & Mining: Westwater reported progress advancing its Coosa graphite mine; Hurricane Isaias caused an estimated $33.5 million in Alabama timber damage. Agriculture: Rainwater harvesting cut water costs by 54% at a North Alabama broiler farm, and Alabama Extension issued new guidance for managing whiteflies in vegetable crops.

Tourism Investment: Cheaha State Park has opened its $28 million, 32-room mountaintop lodge, with reservations expected to begin in late November. Prison Construction: The $1.25 billion Elmore County complex is about 85% complete after missing its Oct. 15 deadline; contractor Caddell faces $14.2 million in damages, with another $7.1 million due if it misses a Nov. 16 deadline. Forest Products: Alabama Woods to Goods Week highlights an industry that generates about $37.5 billion in economic output and supports 123,692 jobs, according to the Alabama Forestry Association. Defense Manufacturing: The state awarded $1 million for a water line supporting Lockheed Martin’s expansion in Troy. Transportation: A $167 million contract will replace Tuscaloosa’s Woolsey Finnell Bridge.

Forestry: Alabama landowners can apply through Oct. 22 for cost-share grants to thin pine stands and reduce southern pine beetle risk; reimbursements reach $10,000. Defense Investment: An autonomy and AI startup plans to establish operations in Washington County, adding a potential foothold for Alabama’s defense sector. Tourism: A new 32-room lodge at Cheaha State Park has been dedicated, with reservations expected to open in late November. Manufacturing and Mining: McWane Plant & Industrial opened an Alabama glass-lining facility, while Westwater Resources reported progress advancing its Coosa graphite mine. Transportation: Rep. Terri Sewell announced a $27 million grant for rural rail modernization in the Black Belt.

Tourism Investment: Alabama dedicated a new 32-room lodge at Cheaha State Park, a $28 million project with reservations expected to open in November. Forestry: Landowners can apply through Oct. 22 for state-administered cost-sharing to thin pine stands and reduce southern pine beetle risk, with reimbursements of up to $10,000. Transportation: ALDOT awarded a $167 million contract to replace the Woolsey Finnell Bridge and widen U.S. 82 near Tuscaloosa; a separate $27 million federal grant will support rural rail modernization in the Black Belt. Manufacturing: McWane Plant & Industrial opened a glass-lining facility in Alabama, adding industrial capacity. Energy and Materials: TVA received $250 million in federal funding for grid upgrades, while Westwater Resources reported progress advancing its Coosa graphite mine.

Infrastructure: Cordova approved a $3.3 million paving contract, with the city’s total local share potentially topping $2 million. Alabama also awarded a $167 million contract to replace Tuscaloosa’s Woolsey Finnell Bridge and widen US-82. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing: Callan JMB ordered about $28 million in equipment for a planned 90,000-square-foot facility in Marion, targeting initial production before the end of 2027. Energy: TVA is using a new LiDAR-equipped aircraft to survey its 16,500 miles of transmission lines, making inspections faster and safer while reducing costs. Industry: McWane Plant & Industrial opened a glass-lining facility in Alabama, while Westwater Resources reported progress on its Coosa graphite mine. Forestry: Hurricane Isaias caused an estimated $33.5 million in Alabama timber damage, affecting about 2.5 million tons. Trucking: Alabama Trucking Association CEO Mark Colson was tapped to lead the national association.

Prison Construction: The $1.25 billion Governor Kay Ivey Correctional Complex in Elmore County missed its Oct. 15 deadline and is over 85% complete. Alabama is withholding $14.2 million in damages, with another $7.1 million potentially due if the project remains unfinished by Nov. 16. Transportation: ALDOT awarded Scott Bridge Co. a $167 million contract to replace Tuscaloosa’s Woolsey Finnell Bridge and upgrade US-82, with work expected to begin in early 2027. Power Grid: TVA will receive support for 84 projects across eight states, adding about 2.5 gigawatts of capacity; the $581 million initiative includes $250 million in federal funding and is expected to support 800 jobs. Industry Leadership: Alabama Trucking Association chief Mark Colson was named president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations. Manufacturing Investment: PPG plans to invest $70 million in its Huntsville aerospace operations, while a state grant will support a water line for Lockheed Martin’s Troy expansion. Agriculture: A North Alabama broiler farm cut its municipal water bill by about 54% using harvested rainwater, saving roughly $17,000 in a year.

Transportation: ALDOT awarded Scott Bridge Co. a $167 million contract to replace Tuscaloosa’s Woolsey Finnell Bridge with a six-lane span and widen US-82; work is set to begin in early 2027 and take up to four years. Huntsville’s $34 million Memorial Parkway overpass at Mastin Lake Road has also opened after more than three years of construction. Agriculture: East Alabama farmers say rising diesel costs are adding tens of thousands of dollars to harvest expenses as they contend with lower yields. Trucking: Alabama Trucking Association chief Mark Colson will become president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations on Dec. 1. Energy and Development: Lowndes County approved a 20-year tax abatement for a proposed data center, despite public opposition. Separately, DOE and TVA announced $581 million for grid projects across eight states, expected to add about 2.5 gigawatts of capacity and support roughly 800 jobs. Manufacturing: PPG plans a $70 million expansion of its Huntsville aerospace operations. Lockheed Martin also received a $1 million grant for a water line supporting its Troy expansion; its separate $300 million Texas plant upgrade will supply components to the Troy facility.

Data Centers: Lowndes County commissioners approved a 20-year tax abatement worth about $1.15 billion for an Nvidia-backed data center, despite local opposition. Infrastructure: Alabama awarded Scott Bridge Company a $167 million contract to replace Tuscaloosa’s Woolsey Finnell Bridge and widen McFarland Boulevard; construction is expected to start in early 2027. Defense Manufacturing: The state awarded $1 million for a water line supporting Lockheed Martin’s Troy expansion. Trucking: Alabama Trucking Association chief Mark Colson was named the next president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, effective Dec. 1. Workforce: West Alabama’s Worlds of Work expo brought students face-to-face with local employers and hands-on career pathways. Energy: Federal support for TVA grid upgrades aims to expand capacity and strengthen power reliability across the region. Manufacturing: PPG plans a $70 million expansion of its Huntsville aerospace operations, while Hyundai’s $500 million Alabama plan advances hybrid vehicle manufacturing.