Kay Ivey announces plans to open aviation training academy in Selma
On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that Resicum International LLC plans to open an aviation training academy at Craig Field in Selma. The company provides flight training and maintenance support to government, commercial, and general aviation customers. “I am proud to stand before all of y’all to announce Resicum International, a world-renowned woman and veteran-owned small business with a global reach will open an aviation training academy here at Craig Field!” Ivey announced at a public announcement event held in Selma. Resicum plans to invest $1.3 million, creating 70 jobs over three years at its new operational hub at the former Craig Field U.S. Air Force base in Dallas County. The new jobs will pay an average wage of $30 an hour. Resicum has signed a 10-year lease for a 50,000-square-foot hangar on the Craig Field flight line. Renovation work has already begun to prepare the historic facility for its new mission. “We are exceptionally pleased to invest in Craig Field and expand our company in Selma,” said Resicum CEO Jeanine Ziervogel. “The location is ideal for our company’s expansion, and we look forward to ongoing growth of our aviation operations in this storied place.” The Warrenton, Virginia-based company has made the decision to locate its aviation training academy at Craig Field, a facility where thousands of American and British pilots received flight instruction during World War II. “Craig Field has aviation training in its DNA, so it’s great to see Resicum establish a facility in such a historic location that will tap into this rich heritage while also solidifying the future for this Selma landmark,” Ivey said. “This project has significant potential, and I look forward to seeing how it unfolds.” Economic developer Dr. Nicole Jones told Alabama Today, “Resicum International‘s partnership with Craig Field will be an asset for Selma and Dallas County. Alabama has a history of leadership in aerospace and aviation. Not only will the training facility enhance Selma’s workforce, the redevelopment of the historic Craig Field will serve as a catalyst to bring other companies to the area.” Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, praised the company. “Craig Field offers growing aviation companies a lot of advantages, particularly when it comes to the preparation of the next generation of aviation professionals,” said Secretary Canfield. “Resicum represents an ideal partner as Craig Field continues to capitalize on these possibilities.” Canfield explained that Craig Field’s long runway, large parking apron, and excellent hangar facility make it a perfect match for Resicum’s project. The groundbreaking of a new remote tower facility and Air Traffic Control Training Academy will further enhance the complex’s flight safety and training opportunities. The Selma & Dallas County Economic Development Authority coordinated meetings with representatives from state agencies, including AIDT, the state’s primary workforce development agency, to assist in the recruitment of the project. AIDT, a division of the Alabama Department of Commerce, will work with Resicum to develop a local workforce training and hiring program. “I am extremely happy that I had a part in bringing more jobs and economic development to Selma and Dallas County,” said EDA Executive Director Wayne Vardaman. “This is a quality company with a great reputation in the aviation community.” “Our company is growing our aviation footprint nationwide and globally, and we look forward to welcoming students from around the U.S. and the world who wish to begin or enhance their aviation careers,” said Robert Baird, Resicum’s chief of operations. Craig Field Airport & Industrial Authority Executive Director Jim Corrigan said that he expects Resicum’s operation to act as a catalyst for growth in the region. “We are extremely happy to help bring Resicum International to Craig Field,” said Corrigan. “Their credibility and growth potential will bring more jobs and economic prosperity to the Selma and Dallas County area.” “It is exciting to have Resicum International expanding into Dallas County and providing such incredible career opportunities to our citizens,” said Judge Jimmy Nunn, chairman of the Dallas County Commission. “I am so grateful for our local leadership making Dallas County such a great place to invest and do business. Thanks to everyone for a job well done.” “Once again, this is great news for Selma,” said Selma Mayor James Perkins. “Our logistics planning strategy starting with aviation is working even better than I predicted. Thank you, Resicum, for choosing Selma. Great job, Team Selma.” Brenda Tuck, Rural Development Manager for the Alabama Department of Commerce, stated, “Aerospace and aviation are key industries for Alabama’s economy, and the contributions of the state’s rural communities are vital to their success. Resicum made a great choice in selecting Selma because all the resources are in place to make this venture a success.” Resicum is a corporate partner for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Special Operations Command. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Gulf storm damage causes polling place moves, power outages
Elections officials in the Deep South spent election eve tending to lingering damage from Hurricane Zeta and other storms that damaged buildings or left polling places without power ahead of Tuesday’s election. Storm damage caused polling places to be moved in Louisiana, and power companies and election officials scrambled to restore power, or make sure generators were available, at polling places in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. Election officials expressed confidence that the sites would be operational Tuesday. Thousands of voters in southwest Louisiana will be casting ballots in different locations Tuesday because Hurricane Laura wrecked their traditional polling sites in late August, and they have not yet been repaired. Across the state in the New Orleans area and in other southeastern parishes, several dozen voting locations will be running on generator power because outages caused by Hurricane Zeta last week have not been fixed. “No polling location will be without power on Election Day,” Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, the state’s chief elections officer, said in a statement. By far, the greater disruption in Louisiana was caused by Laura in southwestern Calcasieu and Cameron parishes, where Ardoin’s office provided charts showing locations for 95 polling precincts have shifted because of the destruction of the Category 4 storm. In rural Cameron Parish, most voters will be casting ballots at either a local fire station or a neighborhood market. Calcasieu Parish has created several consolidated voting sites, with most voters in Lake Charles casting their ballots at two mega-polling locations, the Burton Coliseum entertainment arena or the Lake Charles Civic Center. Elections officials have cautioned that the megasites may require longer waits for voters than usual. Some polling sites in southeastern Louisiana will be operating on generators to keep machines and lights running because of outages caused by Hurricane Zeta, which made landfall in the state as a Category 2 storm. The number of voting sites that will require generators “gets lower and lower as each hour passes” and power is restored, said Tyler Brey, a spokesman for Ardoin’s office. New Orleans Democratic Mayor LaToya Cantrell criticized the Republican-led secretary of state’s office Sunday for “failing to fulfill its duty” in providing the generators needed for polling sites, risking disenfranchisement of voters. But Brey said every polling location will have adequate power. He said the generators for voting sites were provided largely by Entergy, but also some by the state as well. Ardoin accused Cantrell of “trying to score cheap political points” with her criticism. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, had asked utility companies to prioritize restoration to voting locations even before Zeta struck. Across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, more than 148,000 electrical customers had outages Monday because of recent storms, according to the utility tracking website poweroutage.us. In Alabama, Zeta caused damage along a line stretching from the southwestern to northeastern counties of the state. Multiple Alabama voting places remained without power Monday, but generators will be provided to any that still lack service on Election Day, said Secretary of State John Merrill. He declined to say how many were without power, saying the number was rapidly reducing. Merrill said all 1,980 polling locations will have power on Tuesday, either through regular service or by generator. A spokesman for Alabama Power said the company has assessed polling locations provided by election officials and is working to ensure that all polling locations in its service territory have power before the polls open Tuesday. Officials in some of the hardest-hit counties spent the final day before the election trying to determine just how many places might lack electricity or have storm damage. In Talladega County, which has 26 polling sites, chief probate clerk Lawana Patterson said emergency management officials had told her “everything is in working condition.” “I’m not saying everything is perfect, but I’m working on it,” she said. Dallas County Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn said all but one of the county’s 29 voting places had power back on, and state emergency management officials were connecting a generator at the rural Beloit Community Center, where normal service had not been restored. “They’ll have lights and everything, so people won’t even know they’re out,” Nunn said. In neighboring Mississippi, seven counties still had power outages in homes or businesses. Electricity has been restored to all polling places in four of those counties — Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, and Stone. In Mississippi’s George, Greene and Perry counties, a small number of precincts were without power Monday, but generators were available in all three if they are needed Tuesday. Perry County Circuit Clerk Christy Pittman Mayo said “one little bitty precinct” might have to use a generator. In Georgia, two or three polling places remained without power Monday, said Gabriel Sterling, statewide voting system implementation manager. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press.
