Bentley, Austal announce 1,000 new jobs

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Alabama Governor Robert Bentley announced on Tuesday a new project agreement with Austal USA that will see the shipbuilder add up to 1,000 new full-time jobs in Mobile.

"No one can have a great company unless they have great workers," said Bentley. "In Alabama we have a workforce and a work ethic that is second to none in the United States of America."

The five-year, $5 million agreement is called the Phase V agreement and officials say it will help Austal continue its workforce expansion efforts. As part of the agreement, the company will also receive employee training services from AIDT – the Alabama Industrial Development Training program.

Once the overall expansion is completed, total employment at the Mobile complex is expected to reach approximately 4,600 people.

“With this new project agreement, we are creating new jobs and new opportunities for the people of Alabama,” Bentley said. “We are moving forward with our Accelerate Alabama plan for long-term economic development. We are committed to creating a broad range of new jobs while also supporting existing companies.”

Bentley said Austal’s plan fits into the Accelerate Alabama plan and expressed appreciation to company leaders for “strengthening their commitment to Alabama.”

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According to Interim President and Chief Financial Officer of Austal, Brian Leathers, the company has increased job numbers from just over 100 in 1999 to nearly 3,000.

“And we are working to grow our operation to more than 4,000,” Leathers said. “The success of this partnership represents the American dream of hope and opportunity along the Alabama Gulf Coast.”

The new jobs from the Phase V Agreement are expected to be created over the next few years. Austal says they will advertise upcoming opportunities on their jobs website as they become available.

Earlier in the summer of 2012, Austal opened three new facilities at its Mobile River complex, greatly enhancing the size and scope of the company’s operations.

“Alabama has been a proud partner to Austal’s growth in this state for many years,” Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield said. “This partnership has helped the company expand and bring thousands of new jobs to the people of Alabama.”