Governor Robert Bentley held a press conference at the Old House Chamber Tuesday to announce new jobs coming to GE Aviation in Huntsville. Bentley said GE Aviation is investing more than $200 million to create adjacent factories to mass-produce silicon carbide materials. These materials will be used to manufacture ceramic matrix composite components for jet engines and land-based gas turbines. When the factories are operational later this decade, they are expected to employ up to 300 people.
Stem Grants
Two Alabama universities are among the minority schools receiving federal money to enhance education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The U.S. Education Department says A&M will receive nearly $119,000 through the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program. Alabama State will receive $250,000 through the program.
Legal Fees
Alabama lawyers are due about $20 million in legal fees connected to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement. Half of the legal fees, about $10 million, will benefit the Alabama Attorney General's Office budget; the other half flow to private firms. According to Al.com Mike Lewis, a spokesman for the office, says staff attorneys spent five years. Overall, Alabama's portion of the settlement is worth more than $2 billion dollars, with nearly $1 billion going to the state's general fund.