Entries Tagged 'Business' ↓
July 28th, 2009 — Business
Every little bit helps when it comes to the cash generated by tourism. That’s the idea behind a new advertising and public relations push designed to persuade guests of Carnival Cruise Lines to visit area attractions while they’re in the neighborhood, instead of confining their memories of the Gulf Coast to the interior of a cruise terminal
The results of a survey just released by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell College of Business indicates that although Baldwin County is currently reaping some of the benefits from the cruise industry, it is only a small piece of the pie.
Baldwin County stands to gain when Fantasy replaces Holiday
February 5th, 2009 — Business
Birmingham-based Bruno’s Supermarkets LLC said this morning that it would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but would continue its business operations.
The company said it believed cash from operations would be enough to meet normal business obligations but is working to secure additional financing.
Bruno’s operates 66 Bruno’s and Food World stores in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. At least 14 of those stores are in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
Bruno’s files for bankruptcy
Bruno’s stores file for bankruptcy reorganization
July 31st, 2008 — Business, Robertsdale
As a Teamsters strike against Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated stretches into its third week, union representatives presented a proposal Wednesday that is being reviewed by company officials.
Lauren Steele, spokesman for the Charlotte, N.C., based company, said the distributor could enter into negotiations again with the union by the weekend.
About 300 employees in the Ocean Springs, Mobile and Robertsdale, Ala., centers are on strike, which has affected distribution of some Coke products.
Coca-Cola strike may be near end
July 30th, 2008 — Business
Shoppers statewide will scoop up school supplies and clothing this weekend without worrying about anything other than the sticker price.
The state’s third annual sales tax holiday weekend begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday and lasts until midnight Sunday.
Retailers in Mobile and Baldwin counties are preparing for larger crowds than last year during the sales tax holiday weekend, al though some are still being careful in their estimations.
Stores prepare for tax holiday
July 27th, 2008 — Business
Economic activity in Baldwin County was basically flat from the fourth quarter, though the economy is 3.98 percent larger than in 2007’s first quarter.
Epley projected that Mobile and Baldwin counties would grow between 1.2 percent and 1.4 percent in the second quarter.
Baldwin economy essentially flat in 1st quarter
July 25th, 2008 — Business, Foley
The company, based in Charlotte, N.C., with an 800-employee Foley plant, reported profits of $186.6 million, up from $124.8 million in same quarter of 2007
The company’s nacelle and interior systems business, which includes the Foley plant, continued its run as the company’s main profit center. It accounted for $160.7 million, or 51 percent, of the operating profits of Goodrich’s three business units
Goodrich profits jump, Foley business strong
July 18th, 2008 — Business
State Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said the state’s 4.7 percent in May and June mirrored the national rate, which was unchanged at 5.5 percent.
Alabama’s June rate was up from 3.5 percent a year ago.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Alabama tied Vermont for the nation’s 20th lowest unemployment rate. That was an improvement from May when Alabama was 21st.
Surtees said the lowest county unemployment rates were Shelby with 3.4 percent, Madison at 3.9 percent and Baldwin at 4.0 percent.
Alabama unemployment rate steady at 4.7 percent
July 17th, 2008 — Business, Daphne
Gas prices have soared into the $4-per-gallon stratosphere, but an Eastern Shore car dealership will ease the pump pain — for one day — later this month.
Terry Thompson Chevrolet plans to sell gas for 66 cents per gallon, beginning at 7 a.m. July 28. The dealership plans to sell 5,000 gallons, or enough for 330 customers. All proceeds will be donated to charity.
Customers will be allowed to buy 15 gallons, and each 15-gallon tank will cost $9.90, or about $50 less than the retail price of a 15-gallon fill-up. Gas will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Cheap gas promotion planned
July 14th, 2008 — Business, Fairhope
The City Council is considering an agreement that would allow AT&T to bring cable television service to local homes through the company’s broadband lines, in the same way that Media com currently bundles phone service with Internet and video service in the area, city officials said.
AT&T has signed similar agreements for the new video service with more than 30 other Alabama counties and cities, including Bay Minette and Saraland, said AT&T Alabama spokeswoman Gigi Armbrecht.
The proposed Fairhope agreement, which will be the subject of a special City Council work session today, has special significance to some city leaders who worked for years to establish a municipal broadband cable television service to compete with Mediacom.
Fairhope residents may get AT&T cable TV service
Competition is always good for consumers
June 24th, 2008 — Business, Orange Beach
Economic developers in Alabama are disappointed about failing to get legislation passed that would have provided incentives for the state’s motion picture industry.
Members of the legislative committee of the Economic Development Association of Alabama on Monday told members gathered here for its annual summer conference that the measure will be re-introduced next year. It could even happen sooner if Gov. Bob Riley includes it in a possible special session for Volkswagen incentives.
The state Senate passed the bill, which would have provided up to $10 million in incentives for the film industry. But the House Education Appropriation Committee deemed it unconstitutional and a subsequent debate was not completed before this year’s session ran out.
Developers want tax breaks for state’s movie industry
June 21st, 2008 — Business, State News
Limestone County’s 3.2 percent tied with Baldwin County for the third lowest unemployment rate in May.
Alabama’s unemployment rate jumped sharply in May to 4.7 percent, up from 4 percent in April and 3.5 percent in May 2007. Madison County’s jobless rate of 3.1 percent was the second lowest in the state, trailing only Shelby County’s 2.7 percent.
The U.S. unemployment rate is 5.5 percent and it has been seven years since Alabama’s jobless rate was higher than the national rate.
Baldwin County jobless rate: 3.2%
June 17th, 2008 — Business
Although the United States is in a period of economic uncertainty, Baldwin County has added another feather to its cap. A report entitled Economic Strength Rankings — 2008, issued by POLICOM Corp. of Palm City, Fla., indicates the county (designated as the Daphne-Fairhope-Foley Micropolitan Area) ranked 25th out of the 577 micros studied, putting it in the top 4 percent of the 694 counties included in the survey.
According to William H. Fruth, POLICOM president, “The top rated areas have had rapid, consistent growth in both size and quality for an extended period of time.” The study analyzes the economic strength of 363 Metropolitan Statistical Areas containing 1092 counties, and 577 Micropolitan Statistical Areas containing 694 counties.
Baldwin County was once under the umbrella of the Mobile Metropolitan Area in such rankings, but a population shift prompted the federal Office of Management and Budget to designate Baldwin as a micro for economic classification.
County receives favorable POLICOM ranking
June 2nd, 2008 — Business
Less than five years after Roussos traded in its downtown Mobile digs for this city’s emerging Eastern Shore Centre, the seafood restaurant with a Greek twist is moving.
Last week, Roussos served its last meal at the center, and started packing for the move. Owners said they are negotiating to lease the former Ruby Tuesday’s building on the west side of U.S. 98 in Daphne, where they hope to open at the end of June.
Roussos restaurant moving again
June 1st, 2008 — Business, Fairhope, Orange Beach
The arrival of the Florida-based supermarket chain in southwest Alabama figures to be the biggest change in how local residents buy food since the 1990s.
But now the nation’s fourth-largest supermarket chain, based on sales, is wading into this part of the Gulf Coast, with a store going up in Orange Beach, a lease signed in Fairhope, and the company nibbling around sites in Malbis.
Publix arrival major change for shoppers
June 1st, 2008 — Business, Real estate
The economic forecast is strong in Baldwin County, but the real estate market is soft, according to the latest reports from the Center for Real Estate Studies at the University of South Alabama.
The median price for a Baldwin County home in 2007 was $211,250, an 8.2 percent drop compared with 2006, according to the center’s residential housing market report for Baldwin. The median price means half the homes sold for more and half sold for less.
Baldwin forecast: strong economy, soft housing market
