MONTGOMERY— Automotive suppliers in Alabama will have an opportunity to reduce energy costs, improve their bottom lines and keep more Alabamians employed with a new program supported by Gov. Bob Riley.

Riley awarded a $600,000 economic stimulus grant to the University of Alabama in Huntsville for a program to help up to 40 suppliers increase energy efficiency and reduce waste in the manufacturing process. The program will lower production costs and could retain up to 2,000 jobs, according to the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association, a trade group helping UAH identify participants for the program.

“Automotive manufacturing has become a vital component of Alabama’s diverse economy,” Riley said. “Helping these manufacturers reduce waste and cut energy costs will boost their competitiveness and provide increased job security for many Alabamians.”

Experts from UAH and the Alabama Technology Network will conduct one-week site visits to help participating companies identify areas for improvement, develop solutions and implement as many solutions as possible during the week. UAH will help companies develop a project schedule for improvements that cannot be made immediately and will follow up after the site visits to assess the impact of the changes.  

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Riley notified Dr. David Williams, president of UAH, that the grant had been awarded.

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Contact: Mike Presley, Larry Childers