Nonprofit research institute adds to its economic development team in the Wiregrass
DOTHAN (May 2, 2025) – Aliyah Shine has joined HudsonAlpha Wiregrass as an Entrepreneur Program Specialist.
Shine joins HudsonAlpha after spending the last decade helping small businesses and startups grow and thrive. A seasoned entrepreneur and advocate for economic development, she recently relocated to the Wiregrass and has deep family roots in the area.
“We are so excited to have Aliyah join our team as we continue to grow this entrepreneurial spirit in the Wiregrass,” said Ann Carr, HudsonAlpha Wiregrass Economic Development Manager. “As we look to build an ecosystem of innovation, we believe Aliyah will bring a fresh, creative perspective to providing essential programs for local entrepreneurs.”
Shine will focus on providing services and information to startups and small businesses as part of HudsonAlpha’s economic development team. She is the seventh employee of HudsonAlpha Wiregrass, a public-private collaboration with the city of Dothan established in 2022.
HudsonAlpha Wiregrass extends HudsonAlpha’s agricultural focus in the region through agricultural research, economic development and genomics education and will be the anchor tenant of the Wiregrass Innovation Center. The state of Alabama and the Wiregrass Foundation are funding this 45,000-square-foot City of Dothan facility, which began construction earlier this year and is scheduled to open in 2026. The Wiregrass Innovation Center will provide a home for hands-on training and practical learning in science, genomics, research, technology, and innovation, creating an ecosystem for entrepreneurs and innovators in Dothan and the Wiregrass area.
For more information about HudsonAlpha Wiregrass, visit hudsonalpha.org/wiregrass.
About HudsonAlpha Wiregrass
The HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology is a non-profit organization with the mission to use biotechnology and basic biological research to make important discoveries, improve human health, stimulate economic development, inspire young people to seek careers in science and teach members of the public the importance of science in their everyday lives. The Institute launched the HudsonAlpha Wiregrass initiative in partnership with the city of Dothan in 2022.