American-Israel Chamber of Commerce

The Greenhouse Accelerator is the Green Chamber of the South’s flagship economic development program. It now has sixteen companies participating in the various phases of its program. This unique accelerator uses the combined experiences and skill sets of the chamber’s membership to help, free of charge, entrepreneurs with green startups to create green jobs by providing mentoring assistance, industry introductions and networking opportunities over a period of about eighteen months. For more information please see www.greencs.org or contact greenhouse@greencs.org.

Mississippi Offers Incentive Package for HCL CleanTech

In a special session on September 2nd, the Mississippi State Legislature approved a $100 million economic development package for Herzliya-based HCL CleanTech which is planning to invest a reported $1 billion to establish a number of operations in the state including the company’s headquarters in Olive Branch, a small-scale commercial facility and research & development center in Grenada, and three large-scale commercial plants that the company intends to locate in the Booneville, Hattiesburg and Natchez areas. The incentive bill included a $95 million loan and $5 million grant that could be used for training, infrastructure or equipment.

“HCL CleanTech is delighted to receive this incentive package from the State of Mississippi to move our company’s headquarters, R&D and four commercial factories to Mississippi. Just as the Midwest, with its thriving agriculture, created significant economic wealth since the 1970′s, the Southeastern wood basket carries the enormous potential to be the nexus for a new breed of industries, ranging from renewable plastics to drop-in biofuels. We thank Governor Barbour for his vision and business acumen that put Mississippi at the core of this new industrial revolution,” said HCL Cleantech’s CEO Philippe Lavielle.

“We’re excited that the state will be the place where Israeli technologies will join the best of US forestry, engineering and manufacturing to extract great values from wood,” added Eran Baniel, General Manager & VP Business Development of HCL Cleantech Ltd. in Israel.

HCL CleanTech expects to create 800 jobs in the state with an average salary of $67,000 plus benefits. Later, they plan to relocate their existing pilot facility to Mississippi from Oxford, North Carolina. HCL CleanTech converts biomass to sugars that can be utilized as industrial bio-products. “HCL CleanTech shows how Mississippi has become a top site for high-tech, high-skilled manufacturing, with high paying jobs for our citizens,” said Governor Haley Barbour.

AICC has been involved with HCL CleanTech since they first began to look at the US market. “We have supported their successful efforts for BIRD Foundation funding, and are very excited that they have chosen to make this very impressive investment in the Southeast,” added Tom Glaser, President of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, SE Region that also represents BIRD in 6 Southeastern states.

Insights into US-Israel Business at AICC Professional Seminar

Keynote speaker Todd Dollinger, CEO of The Trendlines Group	Panelists for the Centerity presentation. (L to R: Murray Bookman, Cisco Systems; Tal Cohen, My Seed Tech Fund; Gilly Segal, Alston & Bird)

As the ‘Start Up Nation’ has matured, the nature of US-Israel business is growing and changing.  This was the theme of the 13^th annual Professional Seminar on August 25^th that attracted almost 80 participants from the legal, accounting, real estate and financial professions as well as others who were hungry to gain insights into various aspects of US-Israel business.   Organized by AICC’s Professional Committee, the seminar featured a variety of presentations, panels, case studies and the luncheon keynote by Todd Dollinger, CEO of The Trendlines Group,

“This year’s seminar was certainly one of the best programs we’ve offered in this long series.  It demonstrated once again the vitality of Israel business to our region and the many interesting ways it expresses itself to the benefit of our community and Israel,” said Ben Fink (Berman Fink Van Horn), chairman of the Professional Committee.

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Georgia Trade Mission to WATEC-Israel

Georgia envirotech companies are invited to participate in a trade delegation to WATEC-Israel 2011 to showcase their water, renewable energy, and environmental technologies, products and services. The show, November 15-17, 2011, attracts over 20,000 business executives, political decision-makers, and leading researchers from 90 countries.

Led by Chris Cummiskey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Chris Clark, President of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the mission will offer a strategic business gateway for Georgia companies to approach global markets through Israel. To register and for further information, contact Dawn Townsend, 678-640-4373 or dawn@georgia.org…

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Israeli Companies to Exhibit at Water Security Conference in Nashville

Seven Israeli technology companies are exhibiting at the American Water Works Association’s Water Security Conference in Nashville from September 11-13. Participating companies include Atlantium, Blue I, Checklight, EZPack, Miltel, Universal Link, and Whitewater Security, all offering unique solutions designed to protect water systems from intentional and unintentional security breaches.

“Throughout its history, Israel has faced a variety of challenges to its physical security and to its water supply.  As a result, we have developed a remarkable and innovative cluster of water technology companies,” said Israeli Consul for Economic Affairs, Yariv Becher. For further information, contact Steven Slivnick, 312-332-2160 ex. 21 or steven.slivnick@israeltrade.gov.il…

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Economic News from Israel