By Wayne Vardaman

Existing industries provide jobs that supply our citizens with the means to live and support families. It’s often quoted that 75 to 80 percent of new jobs come from existing industry expansions.

The 2010 Alabama New & Expanding Industry Announcements report reinforces this statement. The Economic Development Authority reported six existing industry expansions in 2010 resulting in 260 jobs. Companies reporting expansions include: Crown Health Care Laundry, Globe Metallurgical, American Apparel, two projects at Hanil E-Hwa Interior Systems and Plantation Patterns Furniture Company.

Overall, new and expanding announcements, Dallas County ranks 14th in the number of projects at six, 13th in the number of new jobs with 260, and 23rd in capital investment at $18,197,759.

Dallas County reported more than twice the number of new jobs than any other county in the Black Belt. Most Black Belt counties reported no activity for this report. Only 51 out of 67 Alabama counties reported activity.

Our new jobs came from existing industry expansions.

In this category, we ranked 13th in number of projects, 12th in number of new jobs, and 20th in capital investment.

Dallas County was not alone in having no new industry announcements to report. Only 20 Alabama counties landed one or more new industries in 2010. As usual, expanding industry job announcements at 11,396 were more than double the new industry jobs announced of 4,383. Hats off to our existing industries! They are vital to the economy of Selma and Dallas County. Together We Work.