Manufacturing

Governor Awards $177,000 in CDBG Funding to Support Operations

June 17, 2008 -- Columbus, Neb. -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman was among those celebrating the opening of a new business today. Katana Summit, LLC, selected Columbus as the site for its new manufacturing facility.

At the event, the Governor announced $177,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to help city and county officials construct a road to provide access to the site. Katana Summit manufactures 80 and 90 meter steel wind turbine towers and the grant will help build and pave a road to support traffic at the facility.    » read more »

May 28, 2008 -- VERO BEACH – Florida Governor Charlie Crist today joined Jim Bass, president and chief executive officer of Piper Aircraft, to announce the aviation manufacturer’s plans to keep its headquarters in Florida and further expand manufacturing operations in Vero Beach.

Piper Cub: Photo by kptyson (CC)

Today’s announcement concludes Piper’s two-year site selection process. Piper, a manufacturer of general aviation aircraft, will receive a $32 million incentive package as part of the agreement between the company, the state and Indian River County.    » read more »

May 14, 2008 – Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in April declined three-tenths of a percentage point to 6.9 percent, according to data released today by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG). The state's labor force fell by 15,000 over the month due to reductions in both total employment and unemployment levels.

An abandoned factory in downtown Detroit: Photo by Derek Farr (CC)

Michigan's April 2008 jobless rate edged downward by two-tenths of a percentage point from the state's April 2007 rate of 7.1 percent. In the same period, the national jobless rate rose by half of a percentage point.    » read more »

Governor also signs additional bills promoting Georgia industries

May 14, 2008 -- ATLANTA – Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed legislation capping the sales tax on energy used in the manufacturing process. HB 272 provides a cap for certain energy prices over which no additional state sales and use tax will be paid by manufacturers. Commodities subject to this partial exemption include natural gas, No. 2 fuel oil, No. 6 fuel oil, propane, petroleum coke, coal and the fuel cost recovery charge component of retail electricity rates.    » read more »

At Macomb Community College, Obama outlines plan to strengthen domestic manufacturing to create jobs and meet the challenges of the 21st Century

Warren, MI -- May 14, 2008 -- Warren, MI - Senator Barack Obama today visited Macomb County, Michigan to unveil his manufacturing agenda.

Barack Obama visits a Chrysler plant in Michigan: Photo courtesy Barack Obama campaign    » read more »

11 May 2008 -- Chinese state media says Beijing has established a company to manufacture passenger jumbo jets.

The Xinhua news agency says the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China was established in Shanghai Sunday.

Xinhua said the company will be responsible for researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing large passenger aircraft.

The news agency said the central government and China's two largest aircraft manufacturing and servicing companies are among the major shareholders.

The company was launched with capital of $2.7 billion.

Source: VOA News

Trinity Facility to Bring 140 New Jobs to Newton, IA

April 17, 2008 -- Newton, IA – Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver, Newton city officials and Trinity Structural Towers, Inc. (TSTI) announced plans to build a world-class wind turbine production facility in Newton, creating 140 new, high-quality, green-collar jobs. Production could start as early as the beginning of next year.

Wid turbine crop circle, Iowa: An image of a windmill is made into a crop formation by Greenpeace and Iowa Farmers Union. The groups partnered with others to call on Congress to look to Iowa for solutions to global warming like wind power. Photo by B.G. Johnson (CC)    » read more »