September 2023

Aldi, the German-based Grocery Chain, is Acquiring American Supermarket Chains.

By Leada Gore for AL.com

Photo Credit: AL.com

Aldi, the German-based grocery chain with a cult following, is acquiring the Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket chains, according to a statement released last month.

Winn-Dixie and Harveys have 400 locations across the southeast, including almost 40 Winn-Dixie stores in Alabama. The acquisition also covers locations in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Harveys operates stores in Georgia and Florida.

“Like Aldi, Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket have long histories and many loyal customers in the Southeast and we look forward to serving them in the years to come,” Aldi CEO Jason Hart said in a statement. “The time was right to build on our growth momentum and help residents in the Southeast save on their grocery bills.

Aldi currently operates its 26th regional headquarters and distribution center in Loxley with plans to open 20 new Aldi-brand stores in the Southeast by the end of the year. According to its website, the firm currently operates 40 stores in Alabama.

Read AL.com's Full Story Here!



Next Generation Workforce Supported by the Automakers of Alabama

By Jerry Underwood for Made in Alabama

Alabama’s automakers are expanding their broad-based efforts to create new career pathways for Alabama students interested in developing the skills needed in high-tech workplaces.

Alabama’s automakers have a long-standing commitment to developing and supporting workforce development initiatives in Alabama to elevate interest in manufacturing careers and provide educational and training opportunities for the next-generation workforce.

“These automakers have engaged in multiple programs that stimulate interest in new career pathways and build valuable skills that can transfer to other industries,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“This represents the kind of forward thinking in workforce development that is making a difference across the state,” he added.

Mercedes-Benz is an active supporter of The Modern Manufacturing Program, recently donating a GLE sport utility to help launch the program at Brookwood High School and providing advisors to help the students.

It wasn’t the first such gift: In 2021, Mercedes announced the donation of 15 of its luxury SUVs, with a combined value of more than $700,000, to support workforce training at Alabama schools.

In addition, Mercedes’ Alabama operation recently implemented a youth apprenticeship program for 16- to 18-year-old students, according to AlabamaWorks, a state workforce development organization that honored the Vance plant with an innovation award late last year.

For around a decade, Mercedes has teamed with Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa to offer a mechatronics program that includes classroom instruction, hands-on learning in the plant, and a job offer for graduates.

The program, which combines mechanical engineering, computer science and electronics, has been praised as a model industry-education partnership.

Read Made in Alabama's Story Here

Dankeschön to our PATRON Members:

AGP Young Professionals EDPA Event in Birmingham

Join the AGP Young Professionals (age 17 to 39):

Thursday, September 14, 2023

5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA)

Birmingham

Come join us for networking and get an overview of EDPA's role in Alabama's economic development. The presentations will include topics like on EDPA’s work to support business attraction, innovation and entrepreneurship in Alabama; and EDPA’s talent retention and attraction initiatives 

REGISTER TODAY!

Thank you to our sponsor: 

AGP Traveling Stammtisch & German Dinner in Northport/Tusaloosa

Come join us for AGP traveling "Stammtisch" and German Dinner:

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Rolf's Café & Bistro, Northport

Come out to network! This is a great opportunity for German expats to meet and for others to practice their German. Speaking German is encouraged but not required. We meet every month (every other month is in Birmingham).

Rolf, owner of Rolf's Café & Bistro will be serving up a German sampler plate including a pretzel!

REGISTER TODAY!



Oktoberfest in Alabama

Look out for our mailing later this month that will list the many Oktoberfest's here in Alabama. Plan to come out and meet AlabamaGermany Partnership for some of them. Save Friday, October 6, for a German beer pairing dinner at Ghost Train Brewing Company in Birmingham. The brewery will produce up to 4 German style beer for this event and dinner is served by German Food, Gifts, and More (out of Phenix City).

We would love to list as many as the events as possible. Please help us out and let us know of any Oktoberfest's in Alabama that you know about to: director@alabamagermany.org.



Dankeschön to our SUSTAINING Members:

12th U.S.-EU Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Workshop

Small business stakeholders are cordially invited to attend the 12th U.S.-EU Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Workshop, in Birmingham, Alabama on Wednesday September 13, 2023.

The conference is convened by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, and the Small Business Administration with the European Commission’s Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs and the Directorate General for Trade. The U.S.-EU SME Workshop is an ongoing opportunity for small businesses to engage directly and discuss relevant topics with government officials from the U.S., the European Commission and EU Member States as well as SMEs and associations from both sides of the Atlantic.

The location alternates each year between the U.S. and the EU. The EU hosted the SME workshop in Augsburg, Germany in September 2022. This year the U.S. will host the SME workshop with the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Alabama and the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Topics for discussion include the U.S.-EU Technology and Trade Council work to promote transatlantic competitiveness and technological leadership and deepen trade and investment cooperation, SME access to finance in the current economic environment, developing successful international strategies to drive equitable growth in the U.S. and the EU, and Alabama-EU trade and investment opportunities.

REGISTRATION! 



Introduction to FOCI for Government Contractors

AGP Board Member David Vance Lucas, Partner with Womble Bond Dickinson in Huntsville, will provide “An Introduction to Foreign Ownership Control and Influence (FOCI)” for the Small Business Development Center Network – to be broadcast by the University of Alabama APEX Accelerator and Alabama’s Small Business Development Center. 

The program will be one in a series, intended to provide assistance to U.S. small businesses interested in doing business with State, Federal, and Local governments, but involving Foreign Direct Investment and resulting Foreign Ownership Control and Influence (“FOCI”).

The program will address factors U.S. small businesses should consider when engaging in Foreign Direct Investment, and how to mitigate possible FOCI.

More information and to register here!

German Courses All Levels at Goethe Zentrum Atlanta

Goethe Zentrum Language Programs are open for registration. Fall Quarter 2023 Early Bird Discount from August 19th through September 10th!

Fall Quarter 2023 courses at all levels start the week of October 2nd. For details and the contents of each course level, please see the individual course descriptions for all our in-person and virtual courses.

Are you a beginner? Enroll in one of our A1.1 standard courses, offered in Atlanta, Roswell, and via Zoom.

Not sure what course is the right one for you? Looking to take a placement test? Email us at language@goetheatlanta.org and we will be happy to help.

German-Americans

By German Consulate General in Atlanta

AGP Welcomes New Members

Please help us welcome our new members:

CORPORATE - PATRON

Southeast Gas

Vince Perez

Director of Business Development

The Southeast Gas will keep your home and company comfortable without breaking the bank. They care about your wellbeing and your wallet. They know you deserve a company you can trust and collaborate with to determine the best plan. Southeast Gas is dependable, determined and dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities they serve. Service is their mission, which is why they are not just a gas company – they are a good neighbor.

As an AGP member, you can connect with them through the AGP membership database.

Learn more at: www.southeastgas.com



CORPORATE - SUSTAINING

SCOPE Recruiting

Friddy Hoergener

President

SCOPE Recruiting bring a brings a diverse background and international experience to the recruiting world. They left successful careers in Supply Chain and Operations to start SCOPE Recruiting and have assembled some of the best supply chain and operations recruiters in the industry in order to deliver outstanding results to their partners. Their hands-on experience and comprehensive understanding of the roles they recruit for allow them to find the best candidate in the industry that match your specific needs.

Learn more at: www.scoperecruiting.com

CORPORATE - REGULAR

EMO TRANS, INC.

Greg Zieman

Account Executive

Established in 1965 in Stuttgart, Germany, EMO Trans has been on a path of continued expansion and success for over 50 years. Now with over 85 EMO Trans offices in 21 countries and 250+ network offices in 120 countries covering 6 continents, their solid infrastructure ensures that they can deliver exceptional logistics services to customers large and small.

They are a multi-national privately owned company, deeply invested in understanding and internalizing the needs and goals of our customers. Their goal is to forge partnerships, ensuring that they are able to facilitate the most efficient, effective supply chain solutions possible.

Global Logistics is what they love doing. Some of their customers have been with them for decades, they have stayed because they recognize that beyond rate tariffs and automated processes, the relationships they build add value.

Learn more at: www.emotrans.com

EDUCATIONAL - PROFESSIONAL

Adam Toth

Visiting Assistant Professor of German

The University of Alabama in Birmingham

As an AGP member, you can connect with them through the

AGP membership database.



Join AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP)

AlabamaGermany Partnership (AGP) is an extremely active organization. Many of Alabama’s leading German and American companies are active participants in AGP. The organization facilitates:

• Networking Events
• Educational Outreach
• German Dinners
• Cultural Workshops
• Business Seminars
• Young Professionals Events
• Roundtables for German Company Leaders
• Study Trips to Germany

Join us today and be a part of our diverse group of industrial, corporate, cultural, educational, and governmental leaders. 

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