Alabama Governor Riley Announces New Economic Development Office in North Alabama

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March 28, 2008 -- HUNTSVILLE - Alabama Governor Bob Riley today announced that the Alabama Development Office will open a satellite office in Huntsville to cultivate the defense and aerospace industry throughout the state, particularly in North Alabama.

“Having an ADO satellite office in North Alabama will bolster our continuing efforts to attract defense and aerospace companies to the state,” said Governor Riley. “We have had tremendous success in the past several years recruiting world-class companies to Alabama. This office is part of our aggressive economic development strategy that is making Alabama one of the most sought-after places to do business in the world.”

ADO has several international satellite offices, but the Huntsville office will be the first in-state satellite office. The Huntsville area is no stranger to the aerospace and defense industry, serving as the home of Redstone Arsenal and the Marshall Space Flight and Rocket Center.

The 2005 BRAC process is expected to bring 4,700 direct jobs to the Huntsville area, while an additional 5,000 indirect jobs are expected to be created by private contractors.

“The opening of a satellite location in Huntsville is part of our efforts to continue our aerospace and defense industry marketing strategy,” said Neal Wade, director of the Alabama Development Office. “We have been working on a major strategy for some time, and this move will strengthen the effort to bring additional aerospace business to Alabama.”

Bruce Anderson has been selected to run the new office. He is currently employed as the Chief Operating Officer at NASA’s National Space Science and Technology Center, a scientific partnership of Marshall Space Flight Center and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He has more than 30 years of experience in the aerospace industry, having worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NASA and the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company.

The Alabama Department of Industrial Training is donating space for the Huntsville office. The office is expected to open on April 1.

Source: Alabama Governor