October 31st, 2011
Private-sector payrolls carry a combined value of $4.6 trillon in America's 938 metropolitan and micropolitan areas. More than one-third of that money — $1.7 trillion — is paid out by businesses in the nation's 10 biggest metros. Atop the list is the New York City area, where private-sector workers earned $445.4 billion in 2009, the latest year for which figures are available from the U.S. Census Bureau. The runners-up in the private-sector payroll rankings are Los Angeles ($240.9 billion), Chicago ($192…
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October 31st, 2011
The one thing that is becoming very obvious in The Business Journal’s Brand Madness is that food and beverage brands are very popular in southeast Wisconsin. This time it was Sprecher, known throughout the area for its popular soda and beer, knocking off retailer Allen Edmonds in a second-round brand matchup. Sprecher and its popular root beer soda, garnered more than 70 percent of the vote to beat Allen Edmonds, known for its upscale shoe lines. Just two days earlier, Leon’s Frozen Custard upset Harley-Davidson in a second-round matchup…
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October 31st, 2011
Mobile has been selected by online search giant Google Inc. as the launching pad for a new initiative aimed at getting more businesses to create mobile versions of their websites. According to the Press-Register, Rich Sullivan, president of Red Square Agency, said Mobilizing Mobile will begin Nov. 14. Sullivan said Google will open up a storefront in downtown Mobile where business owners will be able to get a free mobile-optimized version of their website set up in about half an hour.
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October 31st, 2011
A $124 million contract to expand operations of Counter-Rocket, Artillery and Mortar defense systems in Afghanistan and Iraq has been awarded to Northrop Grumman. According to the Huntsville Times, the first portion of the contract includes a $76 million first-year option of the task order for the Afghanistan operations issued under a contract from the Defense Information Systems Agency at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The second part includes $48 million for increased operations in Afghanistan and to provide personnel for C-RAM sense-and-warn operations in Iraq.
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October 31st, 2011
Parts shortages caused by recent flooding in Thailand have resulted in a decision by Honda to reduce production at its plant in Lincoln beginning Wednesday. According to the Anniston Star, Honda spokesman Mark Morrison said in a phone interview that upper management at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama in Lincoln told employees Monday that production would be reduced by as much as 50 percent from Wednesday through Nov. 10. Morrison added that production will cease completely on Nov. 11.
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October 31st, 2011
Ground was broken Monday in Northeast Opelika Industrial Park for California-based vitamin manufacturer Pharmavite’s 330,000 square-foot facility that is expected to create 280 jobs. According to the Opelika-Auburn News, Pharmavite officials project that the facility, which will produce Nature Made soft gels and tablets, will be operational in early 2013. Pharmative will invest approximately $76 million in capital during the construction phase of its facilities.
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October 31st, 2011
On the heels of hosting 6,000-plus chest physicians for the annual CHEST meeting just last week, the Hawaii Convention Center has one more small convention to get through before its biggest event of the year, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. The Society of American Foresters’ 91st-annual national convention, which starts Wednesday and runs through Sunday, is expected to attract more than 1,000 attendees, mainly forestry professionals and ecologists from 10 countries. The convention is expected to generate nearly $5 million in state revenue and more than 8,000 room nights for local hotels…
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October 31st, 2011
Hawaiian Electric Co. has selected Renewable Energy Group for a new contract to supply biodiesel to its 110-megawatt Campbell Industrial Park Generating Station. The Ames, Iowa-based biodiesel manufacturer currently supplies biodiesel to the HECO plant under a contract that expires in July 2012. Under the new three-year contract, REG will supply 3 million to 7 million gallons of biodiesel made from used cooking oil and animal fats. The awarding of the new contract, which was the result of a request for proposals issued in February, is subject to approval by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission…
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October 31st, 2011
Exciting amenities are on the way for students in Central Oahu. Central Oahu, you say? Yes, referring to the University of Phoenix Hawaii Campus, which is in the final stages of completing a major renovation of its Mililani Learning Center, located in the Mililani Town Center. The 15,000-square-foot facility’s upgrades are scheduled to be done by the end of the year. They will include a 1,600-square-foot common area similar to the one in the university’s main campus in downtown Honolulu. There also will be an academic skills assistance room for one-on-one student-faculty tutoring, additional meeting rooms and 23 computers for student use…
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October 31st, 2011
Bank of America was criticized by several members of Congress, including one of Ohio's Senators, last week for transferring a reported $55 trillion in risky Merrill Lynch derivatives onto taxpayers by moving them into the retail banking unit that holds federally insured deposits. Monday’s bankruptcy filing by MF Global (NYSE: MF) is likely to fuel concerns that the cowboys on Wall Street are still riding high. Many were in disbelief over the amount of leverage the firm was using to place big bets on European sovereign debt…
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Workers in top 10 metros earn $1.7 trillion per year
