Alabama leaders network at 2025 Paris Air Show

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7 hours ago

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — Over 150 delegates are representing Alabama at the 2025 Paris Air Show.
Alabama delegates include U.S. Senator Katie Britt and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers. The seven-day event brings together aerospace industry leaders from around the world. Businesses and other attendees said they hope to boost economic development in the state.
Jeremy Shaffer is in attendance and representing SEA Wire and Cable. The Madison-based company makes cable ties, tubing and other goods for the U.S. Department of Defense and aerospace companies.
'It's really plugging in even more people that are interested in coming, putting their manufacturing, putting their jobs and putting their business investments into the state,' Shaffer said.
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Those investments can really elevate communities, according to John Sweatman, the director of economic development for the city of Opelika.
'We're all here vying for those aerospace aviation defense projects that bring those really good paying jobs to the state,' Sweatman said. 'My job is to raise Opelika's hand and to say, 'Opelika is a great community.''
Opelika is home to manufacturers like Niagara Bottling and Golden State Foods. Sweatman said he hopes to bring more companies home with him.
'We have the network to support their efforts from trying to figure out if it's the right place for them to come,' Sweatman said. 'Then, once they land in Alabama, particularly in Opelika, we will support them long term.'
Shaffer said SEA Wire and Cable can also support growth in Alabama. After meeting with potential customers from Japan and India, he said he wants to take their business worldwide.
'Hopefully, that will lead to expansion of our current facility, which we're currently in the process of adding an additional 30,000 feet of warehouse space,' Shaffer said. 'So if we continue this level of expanding, it's just going to bring more jobs into the area.'
Shaffer said with companies like Airbus in Mobile, the state has become well known around the world. He said Mobile has become one of the largest airplane manufacturers in the world.
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