PHOTO COURTESY BUSINESS WIREAlabama senate majority leader Steve Livingston and state representative Mike Kirkland toured Yamaha’s test facility in Bridgeport, Ala., on June 18. They met with employees and learned about the company’s economic impact in the state. The facility is used to test new and existing Yamaha marine products.
“Yamaha’s presence in Jackson County has the potential to create jobs within the community,” Livingston said in a statement. “I’m encouraged by the recruiting possibilities which could occur between Yamaha, the local school system and the community college, which could lead to future workforce development in northern Alabama.”
Livingston is responsible for spearheading many projects, including the transformation of the Alabama Department of Labor into the Alabama Department of Workforce Development, ensuring that state residents can secure good jobs.
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit’s government relations senior specialist John O’Keefe and site manager of the Bridgeport facility, Travis Watkins, led the tour.
“Inviting elected officials to tour our facilities provides Yamaha with an opportunity to share our story,” O’Keefe said in the statement. “More importantly, though, it gives officials an occasion to meet and connect with the men and women who make up the Yamaha team and gain a better understanding of the workforce development options available through the company.”
During their visit, the legislators were taken on a ride on a 44-foot Pursuit OS 445 Offshore powered by triple 450-hp Yamaha XTO Offshore outboards.
“It’s been about 20 years since I was last here and I am just amazed at Yamaha’s progress,” said Kirkland. “The Tennessee River is an economic engine for our communities here, and I think it’s great that Yamaha recognized the importance of the river and decided to build an important facility right here in our backyard. Jackson County is a great location, and the facility is outstanding.”
Kirkland serves on the house committee for state government, transportation, utilities and infrastructure and ports, waterways and intermodal transit. In 2023, he was appointed to serve on an ad-hoc committee that studies Alabama’s labor force participation and identifies barriers to workforce entry.
