Airbus' success in Mobile has helped "open doors" in Europe, say members of the Port City's delegation to the Paris Air Show.
Alabama has a state-level presence, including Gov. Kay Ivey. But as in other recent years, a substantial contingent from Mobile is making the rounds at the international event. Troy Wayman, vice president for economic development at the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, said this year's delegation includes himself and another Chamber economic development official, plus Chamber President and CEO Bill Sisson. Others attending include Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and his director of communications, George Talbot; Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson and county attorney Jay Ross; Lee Lawson of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance; and Mark McVay of the Mobile Airport Authority.
Wayman and Stimpson, speaking between afternoon and evening meetings in Paris, said that Mobile's profile was bolstered by the fact that the Airbus Final Assembly Line in Mobile has now been operational for a year.
"Everybody's really waiting to see how Airbus continues to do," Stimpson said. The Mobile facility is on track to hit "Rate 4," its goal of building four jets per month, later this year. Smooth progress toward that benchmark speaks well for the business environment and work force in Mobile, Stimpson said: "As Airbus tells that story ... that speaks volumes to these other companies."
"It's been interesting to watch the Genesis of Mobile, the reputation in the aerospace industry," Wayman said. "We've had a long history with companies like VT/MAE and Continental Motors. But then when you mix in Airbus and the cachet that it brings with it as well ... it really puts us in the forefront of people's minds. It opens doors for us. Which has been really nice. People know where Mobile is, they know what Mobile does, and they've seen the success that these companies have had in Mobile."
That helps in a highly competitive environment, Stimpson and Wayman said.
"If you look around, the state of Mississippi has a huge booth, as does Florida, as does South Carolina," said Stimpson. "If Alabama did not have representation here, you can rest assured that these other states would be wooing potential suppliers away from us to their states. So it's imperative that we be here to wave the flag for our city and state."
"All of our competition is here ... We would be conspicuous by our absence," said Wayman. "Everybody is here and we're just fortunate that we've got a great story to tell and a company like Airbus to leverage."
Stimpson said he believed specific deals were taking shape that "I'm very confident will bring jobs to Mobile." But he said "we're not ready to announce anything yet."
"I can't tell you we've got a definite announcement coming out of the meetings here," seconded Wayman, "but economic development, this is the long game. It's a marathon, not a sprint." The meeting was a chance to maintain and buildpersonal relationships within the industry, he said, and those were likely to bear fruit in the future.
Wayman said one highlight of that process is a "Mobile Bay Reception" to be held Tuesday, providing a casual atmosphere for a gathering of "around 200 aerospace executives." On the downside, he said, it won't offer much regional flavor: "It's difficult to get gumbo and crawfish over here."
"We're also taking the opportunity to meet with some other non-aerospace-related projects we've been working, and to further those other projects as well," Wayman said of the trip.
Stimpson said a Monday incident on the Champs Elysees, in which a driver rammed a police van, had generated little to no concern that the air show might be attacked.
"Security getting into the show is quite heavy," Stimpson said. "And there's a lot of security throughout the show, because there are heads of state and a lot of military people here."