Governor Bob Riley (R-AL) made a speech yesterday to the Economic Development Association of Alabama at which he discussed upcoming industries moving to Alabama. He stressed his administration’s continuing efforts to move large manufacturing facilities to the state. Riley will leave office this year due to term limits.
He is hoping that EADS North America will win the KC-X contract before he does go as one of the key industrial developments for the state. Now Riley is always going to be positive about this effort right up to the time a winner is announced but it does illustrate how well EADS has built relations with leadership in Southern states that have benefited from their investment.
Riley has seen some successes with the building of a Hyundai assembly plant in the state and the ongoing construction of a steel mill by ThyssenKrupp which will open in the near future.