oday we celebrated with Cubic Corporation as they expanded their GATR Technologies facility, which supports GATR's growing operations and combines the development, engineering, production, and administrative functions in one central location.
GATR started with two men in the back of a flower shop in Huntsville and now has over 150 employees in almost 100,000 square feet in Cummings Research Park. Cubic Corporation, which acquired GATR Technologies in 2016, assists with defense and intelligence in the public and private sector. (Recall that GATR Technology helped get Huntsville and Madison County back "on the grid" after the April 2011 tornadoes).Thank you, Cubic Corporation, for continuing to invest in the Huntsville community. Your innovative contributions to our economy and national security are invaluable! National Small Business Week is underway (29 April - 5 May). Thank you to WZDX Fox 54 in Huntsville for showcasing the importance of shopping locally for goods and services.
Fox 54 News Story: http://www.rocketcitynow.com/news/huntsville-kicks-off-national-small-business-week-at-new-vintage-store-located-downtown_20180427191027/1146912947 We have had the nicest weather in Panoply history. (Native and long-term Huntsvillians, you know what I mean!)
It was a joy to visit with many friends from our community. Panoply is one of the largest art festivals in the southeast and will be open again Sunday from noon to 6PM. Perhaps for the first time in history, weather is going to be beautiful and sunny the entire weekend for Panoply, one of the largest arts festivals in the southeast. We hope you can join us. Yesterday evening, Arts Huntsville honored our nation's military with a special fireworks show. It was also great to see so many of our area's children and grandchildren at the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra Discover Music Tent.
Today at Troy University, it was an honor to deliver the invocation as well as the inaugural Nicole Jones Student Excellence Award in Economics at a ceremony that recognized the top students within the Sorrell College of Business.
This year's winner was Cassidy Counter. The annual award will be given to an Economics major chosen by faculty who demonstrates academic excellence as well as leadership. Today at Troy University, it was an honor to deliver the invocation as well as the inaugural Nicole Jones Student Excellence Award in Economics at a ceremony that recognized the top students within the Sorrell College of Business. The Nicole Jones Student Excellence Award in Economics will be awarded annually to an Economics major chosen by faculty who demonstrates academic excellence as well as leadership. Here is a clip of my opening remarks for this brilliant group of students: Every year the US Small Business Administration (SBA) recognizes how small businesses and entrepreneurs contribute to local communities. This afternoon we kicked-off National Small Business Week 2018 (which runs from 29 April - 5 May) with a press conference at Preservation Company, which is an Alabama historian's dream! :) Thank you to everyone who participated and who recognizes the value of small businesses. #ShopLocal Tags: Nicole Jones, Huntsville AL, Alabama, Small Business Administration, Small Business Week, SBA, Tom Todt, press conference, Preservation Company, downtown Huntsville
Thank you to friends Reverend Alisa Lasater Wailoo and the team at Capitol Hill United Methodist Church for the beautiful sermon entitled, "Dare to Dance Again." We enjoyed visiting while in Washington and learning about your local missions opportunities.
Thank you to Mr. Elbert Peters for organizing 400 consecutive meetings of the Madison County Republican Men's Club. This club started in 1985 with twelve (12) men and has grown to over 500 members with an average of 200 in attendance, one of the largest in the world. And you even let a few ladies in as well, more than the 30 stated in the resolution... ;) #Our67 Happy 400th!
It brings us great joy to witness a homegrown Huntsville company continue to succeed as it aids with defense and national security efforts. Torch Technologies’ newest expansion will create 40 new jobs in Huntsville.
Read more about Torch's newest expansion here: http://www.alreporter.com/2018/04/18/torch-technologies-holds-groundbreaking-on-new-facility/ Thank you to the North Alabama International Trade Association (NAITA) for coordinating a meeting at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC. This week we discussed ways to mitigate unfair trade practices as well as the important role of small businesses in international trade.
While in DC, members of the Huntsville and Decatur delegation took a Capitol tour with Washington's best tour guide, Mrs. Martha Brooks.
Here we are pictured in the Rotunda in front of one of Alabama's statues, General Joe Wheeler. Today Torch Technologies held a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate their newest expansion, a 35,000 square foot new laboratory and solutions facility which will create 40 new jobs in Huntsville. The expansion will allow Torch to undertake projects of greater complexity, including the development of instruments that will change the process of warhead testing as well as the re-engineering of products that protect our nation. Congratulations to Bill Roark and your team of over 735 employees!
It was a joy to speak with Dr. John Ed Mathison. Alabama Methodists and/or folks from Montgomery may remember him as pastor of Frazier UMC for 36 years. After his presentation, we spoke about his studies at Princeton, full of buildings dedicated to Einstein.
Albert Einstein said that the more he studied the universe, the more he believed in a Higher Power. It is interesting, and beautiful, how God transforms people. Thank you, Dr. Mathison, for your work. #Our67 #Disciples Alabama made history with Google this week. Google’s newest Alabama Data Center project in Bridgeport, Alabama (Jackson County) is one of only fourteen (14) sites in the world, with eight (8) in the US and only two (2) constructed since 2007.
Read more here: http://www.alreporter.com/2018/04/10/google-holds-groundbreaking-in-jackson-county/ Rumor has it there is a new restaurant on the Square in historic downtown Troy...
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner? I suppose you will have to dine-in (or dine outdoors) and see. Rumors on the Square, now open at 72 North Court Square! Local restaurants serve the best food. If you want to try the best crepes in the state of Alabama and are in or near historic downtown Troy, try Dolce, a bistro on the Square. An excellent way to support small, Alabama-based businesses, the backbone of our economy - #ShopLocal
Today Google broke ground on a $600MM data center in Bridgeport (Jackson County), which will create 75-100 highly technical jobs. Google's newest project is one of only fourteen (14) sites in the world, with eight (8) in the US and only two (2) constructed since 2007. During the ceremony, Google donated $100,000 to the Jackson County School System to help train the next generation of tech workers. #MadeInAlabama
Economic development is a team effort. We are making history in the state of Alabama. When members of a community have the opportunity to collaborate, cities and towns are built.
Thank you to Delta Sigma Pi at Troy University for hosting an economic development-themed dinner that included leaders from the public sector, private sector, and students. Proceeds benefited Pike Medical Foundation, which aids with medical care in rural Pike County. |
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About Dr. Nicole Jones |
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Dr. Nicole Jones
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