Port of Huntsville receives 2019 Governor’s Trade Excellence Award
March 27, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Governor Ivey Honors Port of Huntsville with 2019 Trade Excellence Award
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced the winners of the 2019 Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards, which recognize companies that fuel Alabama’s robust export business and sell their innovative designs and products in markets worldwide.
This year’s eight honorees include key players in the critical transportation industry, which has sparked new jobs and investments in communities across the state.
“Our winners this year range in size from the small business to the large corporation, and also hail from different parts of Alabama. They each represent the type of company that makes us strong as a state,” Governor Ivey said. “We also see a concentration of firms in the aerospace and automotive industries, which underscores the importance of these industries to our economy.”
The 2019 winners of the Governor’s Trade Excellence Awards are:
Aerostar
GKN Aerospace–Alabama
Help Lightning
Polyvance
Port of Huntsville
RMCI Inc.
Trinity Highway Products
Zorn Molds Inc.
CUTTING-EDGE COMPANIES
The value of Alabama exports topped $21 billion last year as shipments reached 191 countries, according to data released by the Alabama Department of Commerce earlier this month. The total, which came during a year marked by global trade tensions, is just 2 percent shy of the record $21.8 billion in exports set in 2017.
“We are proud to recognize this year’s Governor’s Trade Excellence Award winners,” Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said. “Their success comes as a result of the hard work and ingenuity of our business people, as well as the commitment and cooperation that exist among our federal, state and local entities that work together to help Alabama companies increase their exports.
“These companies are on the cutting edge in their industries, both in the U.S. and globally,” he added.
Hilda Lockhart, director of the International Trade Office at the Alabama Department of Commerce, said the companies and organizations claiming the 2019 Trade Excellence Awards have shown a remarkable commitment to be the best in their field, not only domestically but also internationally.
“The eight companies range from large to small, but the common theme is the growth they have shown by selling abroad, the tenacity to stay innovative and the agility to incorporate whatever changes are necessary to deliver a first-class product to the buyer,” she said.
“We are especially pleased to recognize the Port of Huntsville this year,” Lockhart continued. “Without this first-class multi-modal transportation operation, many of Alabama’s products would not be shipped from our state. This facility is certainly a critical part of our state’s international infrastructure.”
“The Port of Huntsville is honored to be acknowledged by Governor Kay Ivey and Export Alabama Alliance for trade excellence. We are grateful to our partners LG Electronics, Toyota, Panalpina and Norfolk Southern for joining us today. We also thank Mayor Tommy Battle, Chairman Dale Strong and representatives from NAITA for supporting us not just today at the Capitol as we received this award, but always in our efforts to stimulate the economic growth and development of the Tennessee Valley region,” said Richard Tucker, Executive Director, Port of Huntsville.
About The Port of Huntsville: Known officially as the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority, the Port of Huntsville incorporates Huntsville International Airport (HSV), International Intermodal Center and Jetplex Industrial Park. It is an inland port facility and has the only scheduled international cargo flights in the state, with round-trip cargo flights to Europe and Mexico, inbound flights from China and outbound flights to Brazil. HSV ranks 18th among continental U.S. airports in international air cargo volume. The International Intermodal Center ships and receives ocean containers, by rail, to and from both East and West Coast seaports.