Tucked quietly inside Shelby County&8217;s 400 acre Shelby West Corporate Park is AGC Automotive Americas. Inside an attractive building, the team of skilled workers prepare windshields and other automotive glass just in time for installation into one of several cars manufactured in our state.

So just what is AGC Automotive Americas?

AGC Automotive Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi Glass, is an automotive glass and glazing systems supplier serving Alabama&8217;s booming automotive manufacturing sector.

With 22 manufacturing plants and 44 strategically located sites [like the one located in Shelby County], AGC Automotive is the world&8217;s largest automotive glazing supplier.

If you imagine that any company involved in the automotive industry would conduct its business in a remarkably efficient and clean environment, one teaming with people and robots performing jobs to exacting standards then you would have a clear vision for what goes on at AGC Automotive Americas.

AGC Automotive Americas chose Shelby County, I would imagine, chiefly as a result of its location; three of AGC&8217;s customers are Mercedes, Honda and Hyundai making our county near the center of their customer base. But certainly, land readily available such as that found in the Shelby West Corporate Park made the decision even easier. Couple these two factors with the assistance of James Dedes, Executive Director of Shelby County Economic and Industrial Development Authority [SCEIDA], and you begin to see why such a large, international manufacturer would expand its business here.

And, you begin to see new jobs and a growing economy.

Many other business&8217; have picked our county for expansion or relocation; each having their own reasons for doing so.

Perhaps it was the school system or quality of life. Perhaps it was location or transportation. Perhaps it was a skilled workforce. Regardless, we can consider ourselves fortunate to live in a place where others choose to come; same provides jobs and opportunity for our children and neighbors.

And in most cases, such as with Alabaster&8217;s AGC Automotive Americas, we welcome a good corporate neighbor to our community.