Jackson County EDA Newsletter.
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Photos of Brown-Forman Cooperages'
Stevenson Mill Groundbreaking ceremony
December 15, 2011
Brown-Forman Cooperage to open new stave mill in Stevenson, Alabama
November 5, 2011
Brown-Forman Cooperage, a subsidiary of Brown-Forman Corporation, producers of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, plan on opening a new mill in Stevenson, Alabama. The mill will produce white oak stave and heading material to be used to produce whiskey barrels. With the continued long-term growth of the Jack Daniel's Family of brands, including recently introduced Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Brown-Forman Cooperage is expanding its supply chain capacity for white oak material to meet growing production demand. When fully operational, the mill will employ over 30 people. Brown-Forman Cooperage currently operates mills in Jackson, Ohio and Clifton, Tennessee.
Greg Roshkowski, Vice President, General Manager, Brown-Forman Cooperages said, "Brown-Forman Cooperage is very excited about opening a stave mill in Stevenson and we look forward to becoming a partner in the local business community." The mill will be known as Brown-Forman Cooperages'Stevenson Mill. Brown-Forman conducted an extensive search in the Tennessee Valley Region and considered dozens of potential sites. This mill will use grade white oak logs and studies done by Ken Muehlenfeld, Director, Auburn University Forest Products Development Center, show an abundant supply within the tri-state region.
Stevenson Mayor Rickey Steele is pleased to welcome Brown-Forman to the Stevenson community. Steele said,"We are excited to have this quality company select our community to build their next mill. I would also like to thank the Stevenson Industrial Development Board, The Stevenson Utility Board, North Alabama Electric Co-Op, and the Jackson County Economic Development Authority for all of their work on this project. These groups worked tirelessly behind the scenes on this project. Brown-Forman will make a significant investment and add 30 jobs during a tough economy. We are grateful for their investment in our community."
Dus Rogers, President and CEO, Jackson County EDA said,"This project, known as Project Magnolia, initially visited in July and visited numerous times and considered many sites in the county before selecting a privately owned 55-acre site north of Stevenson. This is a great utilization of a renewable natural resource and a great fit for Jackson County. The Jack Daniel's name, owned by Brown-Forman, is world-renowned and they are a terrific company. They have a significant investment in Lynchburg, TN and we are delighted they have chosen to locate their next manufacturing facility here, and we welcome them to Jackson County." Rogers thanked Tate Godfrey, President & CEO, North Alabama Industrial Development Association (NAIDA) and Gary Faulkner, Senior Project Manager, Alabama Development Office for working closely with JCEDA on this project. He also thanked Lynn Washington, Alabama Forestry Commission, for sharing his forestry expertise and knowledge of the local timber business with a company representative.
For 140 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Jack Daniel's & Cola, Canadian Mist, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, New Mix, Tuaca, and Woodford Reserve. Brown-Forman's brands are supported by nearly 3,900 employees and sold in approximately 135 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit Brown-Forman's website.
Bellefonte...It's a Go
The Scottsboro Clarion
Published August 23, 2011
The Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors on Thursday began putting into action the Integrated Resource Plan that will meet the region's electricity needs today and into the future. The actions embrace TVA's vision for cleaner, reliable and competitively priced power.
"With today's actions, TVA will add more clean energy from nuclear and natural gas sources to its generating fleet and install air-quality controls at two additional coal- fired power plants," said Tom Kilgore, president and CEO.
The TVA board authorized completion of one nuclear unit at TVA's Bellefonte site near Scottsboro, Ala.; approved the purchase of a combined cycle gas plant in north Mississippi; and announced plans to add emissions controls at Gallatin and Allen fossil plants to reduce sulfur dioxide and particulate emissions.
"These strategic investments are key to providing reliable, low-cost electricity now and into the future while being responsible, good stewards of Tennessee Valley resources," Kilgore said. "To achieve our vision of being one of the nation's leading providers of low-cost and cleaner energy by 2020, TVA must continue to reduce air emissions, offer a balanced power mix and encourage energy efficiency."
To meet the power requirements in the Valley, make nuclear safety modifications as a result of Fukushima, bolster cyber-security and continue investing in clean-air initiatives and energy efficiency, the board approved a 2 percent rate increase in TVA's average wholesale rate, effective Oct. 1. The average increase amounts to about $1.60 a month on a 1,000 kilowatt-hour residential electric bill.
"As we build Bellefonte we will integrate safety modifications from the extensive review of the lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear plants in Japan," Kilgore said. "Making Bellefonte a productive asset with state-of-the-art equipment will add an additional supply of clean, base-load power to TVA's generating mix."
"Nuclear energy is the best option for clean, reliable and lower-cost electricity, compared to coal, gas and alternative fuels," Kilgore said. Once complete, Bellefonte will generate 1,260 megawatts, enough to power about 750,000 homes in the region.
The $4.9 billion project is expected to add about 2,800 construction jobs in the north Alabama area with about 650 permanent jobs once the plant is completed. The plant is about 55 percent complete and is expected to go into operation by 2020.
A Great Day
By Ken Bonner
The Daily Sentinel
Published January 5, 2011
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley officially welcomed Heat Transfer Products Group to Scottsboro Wednesday in ceremonies at the company's facility in the Scottsboro Industrial Park.
In August, shortly after Witt Heat Transfer Products (a part of the Carrier Corporation) was purchased by Monomoy Capital Partners, L.P., the company announced that it would consolidate its Yuma, Az. operations with the local plant. Part of the company's corporate offices are housed locally with the remainder located in Brea, Ca. The company is now known as HTPG.
"We've been very successful as a state at recruiting new industries. But we've also worked hard to help make the companies we've got here more successful. When they're successful, they're going to grow, and when they grow they create more jobs and opportunities for people," Riley said. "Government shouldn't be an adversary to employers. Instead, we've forged partnerships that help Alabama compete for and win new jobs."
HTPG is a manufacturer of commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment. It provides products for retail food vendors and food service industries. The company's workforce has grown from 319 employees to approximately 400 since its August announcement. It anticipates additional growth within the next two years. Read more.....
TVA hosts open house, ribbon cutting
The Daily Sentinel
Published December 14, 2010
Tennessee Valley Authority officials hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at its In-process and Training Center Monday.
The nuclear training center has served approximately 970 students since it opened in the Jackson County Industrial Park at Hollywood in September. The workers were processed through the facility to prepare for a planned outage at Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant near Athens.
A second round of training will be conducted beginning in Jan. 2011 to prepare for outages at TVA's Watts Bar and Sequoyah Nuclear Power Plants. As many as 3,000 workers are expected to use the facility during the first five months of the year.
"It's a flagship in the industry," George Laurie, manager of the facility said. After completion of necessary training at the center workers "can safely work at a nuclear facility. It allows us to offer standardized and site-specific training. It was built for the craftsmen. I'm real proud for the workers and proud of TVA for taking this step." Read more.....
HTPG to Expand and Move Headquarters to Scottsboro
Poised for Growth
By Ken Bonner
The Daily Sentinel
Published August 24, 2010
HTPG, formerly Carrier HTP, announced Monday it will expand its facilities in Scottsboro.
The company, which makes commercial refrigeration units, coolers, evaporators, condensing units and a variety of products for the heat transfer industry, anticipates adding as many as 200 jobs at its location in the Scottsboro Industrial Park over the next three years.
"We've gotten some really good news today," Goodrich "Dus" Rogers, President and CEO of the Jackson County Economic Development Authority said. "The company will relocate its headquarters from Brea, California to Scottsboro."
Rogers said approximately 35 people will move to the area as part of the headquarters division. The other jobs will be added to the company's established manufacturing workforce of 319 employees.
"We're excited to know that this is coming about," Scottsboro Mayor Melton Potter said. "We've worked on this for 18 months and to go with the news we got Friday at the TVA Board meeting in Knoxville it's a pretty big couple of days." Read more.....
Bellefonte work continues
By Ken Bonner
The Daily Sentinel
Published August 21, 2010
The TVA Board of Directors Friday unanimously approved $248 million to continue work at its Bellefonte Nuclear Plant in Hollywood.
The utility is pursuing completion of an unfinished 1,200 megawatt Babcock and Wilcox pressurized-water reactor unit at the site. Construction first began on two units in 1974 and was halted in 1988 due to a declining growth in power demand.
"We know we need more base-load power if we're going to idle coal-fired plants," TVA President and CEO Tom Kilgore said. "We need (to begin) construction at Bellefonte. I believe we should move forward aggressively."
Kilgore said TVA would not make a final decision on completing the plant until sometime in 2011. He said the utility did need to continue to invest in the project in order to reduce the project risk and preserve its completion option within the expected timeframe. Utility projections are that the region will need the additional power provided by the proposed reactor by 2018.
The 2011 fiscal year investment will fund initial engineering, design and staffing requirements; provide for continued regulatory framework development; allow for long lead item procurement including plant simulators which support needed training; and continue asset preservation and facilities preservation. Part of the funds will used to construct and upgrade infrastructure needs such as roads, parking lots and lighting at the facility. Read more.....
Avans Machine and Tool enters into contract
By Ken Bonner
The Daily Sentinel
Published July 9, 2010
Reaching extraordinary heights is nothing new for Avans Machine and Tool.
The Hytop based company did it again Wednesday when it entered into an agreement with Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne to produce parts for the next generation J-2X rocket engine designed to power the upper stages of NASA's next-generation ARES launch vehicles in ceremonies at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.
"To say that we're excited would be an understatement," Avans President and Owner Jeff Avans said. "This is huge for us.
Avans, founded in 1989 with three employees, now occupies a 23,400 square foot facility. Today, the company, a precision machine shop, employs 35 people and manufactures products for aerospace and defense, commercial and industrial equipment and specialized instruments as well as medical implants.
The company's meteoric rise continued with Wednesday's announcement. It became the fifth company to enter into NASA's Mentor-Protege program and the first with HUBZone status. The designation, a service of the Small Business Administration, promotes job growth and economic development in underutilized business zones by providing contracting assistance to small businesses located in economically distressed areas.
"This agreement should stimulate economic growth," NASA Associate Director Robin Henderson said during ceremonies, which were attended by a number of NASA administrators, Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne's Paul Fowler and representatives of the Jackson County Commission, Economic Development Authority, Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and State Rep. Butch Taylor. "Pratt and Whitney mentoring will further expand Avans' competitiveness and hopefully expand employment opportunities."
Avans' motto is "Quality is more than a word, it's our Trademark." And, it's evident in the long list of projects the company has played a role. It has produced parts for Node 1 "Unity Module" of the International Space Station, the Patriot missile and continuously works with PPG Aerospace Transparencies having been awarded its Outstanding Supplier Award numerous times.
"We're really excited about this opportunity to work with a small business to expand its technology, manufacturing and quality," Fowler said. "It is important to help NASA meet its objectives. We have been working with Avans a couple of years because of this program and look forward to working with them in the future."
The three-year contract should eventually provide new jobs at Avans.
"They (Pratt and Whitney) have started us out slowly and have been escalating at a very rapid pace. This gives us the opportunity to quote larger contracts," Avans said. "It may take a while, but we should add some new jobs."
The NASA Mentor-Protege program pairs large companies with eligible small businesses to help them successfully compete for larger, more complex prime and subcontract awards.
"This is a very special occasion," David Brock, a small business specialist with NASA said in noting that the seeds had been planted about seven years earlier during a presentation to Jackson County businesses sponsored by the Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and the Jackson County Economic Development Authority in Scottsboro. "Avans is HUBZone certified and entered into its first contract with Pratt and Whitney several years ago.
"Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne is going to get a lot out of this," said Brock. "Avans will be able to sustain growth and create jobs. It's a good program."
Currently $25 billion has been spent on HUBZone projects since the programs inception in 1999. Companies contracted to do work in HUBZones employ 250,000 people and 150,000 of those live in the designated area, according to Brock.
The J-2X engine is an update of the J-2 engine used on the Apollo rockets second stage. It is designed to power the crew exploration vehicle's second stage as well as the Earth Departure Stage of the ARES V. The first unmanned test of the engine is tentatively scheduled for 2013.
Pratt and Whitney is the nation's top rocket engine provider. During the 50 year history of NASA the company has developed engines for the Redstone, which originally took Americans into space, and has played a large role in the development of the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs.
Fowler noted that since 1960 a Rocketdyne engine has powered America's manned missions into space.
"This is a big deal for us," he said. "We're ready to sign."
The contract was signed first by Fowler, then by Kim Adams, NASA MSFC Contracting Officer and finally by Avans.
Sanoh to announce expansion
The Daily Sentinel
Published June 24, 2010
Sanoh America, Inc. will officially announce today that it is expanding its operations in ceremonies at 9 a.m. at it facility in Scottsboro.
"It's a great project that has been 18 months in the making," Jackson County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Dus Rogers said. "It's good news for Jackson County and Sanoh is a great company."
The approximately $3.5 million expansion will provide an additional 35, 450 square feet of manufacturing space. The company will hire 40-50 additional workers.
The company opened its Scottsboro plant, located in 2000 under the name of HiSAN, Inc. and will celebrate its 10th anniversary on July 17. It changed its name in 2006 after Sanoh acquired 100 percent ownership of the organization.
Headquartered in Findlay, Oh., with the parent company located in Tokyo, Japan, Sanoh's six U.S. facilities employ 1,300 people manufacturing corrosion resistant tubing, tubular brazed assemblies, plastic tubing assemblies and stainless steel tubing assemblies for the automotive industry. Its primary customers include Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Ford and Hyundai.
The Scottsboro plant, which has previously expanded three times, is home to a brake and fuel tubing manufacturing operation. Sanoh expects to employ a total workforce of approximately 160 people when the addition is complete.
"I think this is fabulous news for our area," State Sen. Lowell Barron said Wednesday. "Along with what is happening with TVA at Bellefonte Nuclear Plant the future is very bright for jobs and continued industrial growth."
Construction on the expansion should begin immediately. The project is expected to take several months to complete. The Scottsboro Industrial Development Board owns the building and property.
Sanoh is a Tier 1 automotive industry supplier, according to Rogers. He said the company is growing with the automotive industry in the Southeast and is competing for additional business across the region.
"Sanoh has done a good job of being on the cutting edge technologically," Rogers said. "The plant is clean and uses robotics in the manufacturing process. It's a good operation and maybe this signals good news for our other automotive suppliers."
Rogers praised the Scottsboro IDB for its work in helping secure the project.
"This was a team effort. We had a lot of help," Rogers said, "including from the Scottsboro Electric Power Board and our elected leaders. This is great news and is a critical expansion that allowed Jackson County to retain other jobs."
Positive news on the economic front
The Daily Sentinel
Published June 24, 2010
In a down economy it's been a slow process, but hard work and persistence are paying off for Jackson County.
Today's announcement that Sanoh America, Inc. is expanding its operations in the Scottsboro Industrial Park is more good news for the area. The company makes brake lines and tubing for the automotive industry and chose to expand locally over other options available to it.
Jackson County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Goodrich "Dus" Rogers and his staff deserve to be recognized for their efforts in getting Sanoh to expand locally.
Rogers, who has said for some time that one of the best ways to recruit jobs is with existing industry, worked tirelessly to provide incentives for Sanoh. His efforts and those of JCEDA vice-president Shelia Shepard and executive assistant Marilyn Lott resulted in a win for Jackson County.
And, if you look back over the past year Jackson County has added industrial jobs despite a down economy. Imperial Aluminum (70 jobs), Manroy USA (20 jobs) and TVA's location of a nuclear training facility in the Jackson County Industrial Park (20-50 jobs) are success stories. Ongoing expansion at Polyamide High Performance, Inc. and a decision by Johns Manville to locate its operation in Scottsboro have helped add approximately 60 additional jobs in the past year.
As many as 250 TVA employees will be training at the utility's facility at any one time so the economic impact can't be measured just in terms of the number of people employed as trainers and those needed to operate the center. One must consider that employees who are going through training at the facility will be staying in local motels, eating, shopping and playing while they are in town. That equals money spent and untold thousands of dollars in sales and lodging tax revenue.
Many companies have given Jackson County a serious look because of the speculative buildings located in the Jackson County Industrial Park. KTNA, an automotive industry parts supplier, purchased its own site, built a facility and now employs more than 20 people in the park. Other companies continue to visit the area and Jackson County appears to be on the verge of an unprecedented opportunity to realize real growth in a steady fashion as the economy improves. That possibility increases with the expected announcement sometime later this year that TVA will complete its Unit 1 reactor at the Bellefonte Nuclear Plant.
Our hats are off to Rogers and his staff, to local governmental officials and the Scottsboro Industrial Development Board for their efforts in keeping and recruiting industry to the area.
Our Voice is the opinion of The Daily Sentinel editorial board.
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FSEIS regarding Bellefonte
Public comment on the FSEIS will be accepted through June 21. The FSEIS identifies completion of Bellefonte 1 as the preferred project alternative. No decision has been made yet although a recommendation to the Board is expected to be developed and presented at the August 20 meeting. Building or completing a Bellefonte reactor is consistent with TVA's goals of producing reliable, affordable electricity and increasing carbon-free generating capacity. TVA also intends to meet future power demand through energy efficiency, more renewable energy sources and additional base load generation that nuclear provides.
TVA locates facility in Hollywood
The Daily Sentinel
Published April 22, 2010
TVA made it official Wednesday when it announced that it would establish a centralized training facility for its nuclear power division at the Jackson County Industrial Park in Scottsboro.
The announcement, made at the site of a 36,000 square foot building the utility purchased from the Scottsboro Industrial Development Board, was welcomed by dozens of public officials and civic leaders on hand.
"It's a great day for Jackson County," Goodrich "Dus" Rogers, President and CEO of the Jackson County Economic Development Authority said in introducing Preston Swafford and Mike Skaggs representing TVA. "I'm glad to see this spec building sold and even happier to see it sold to TVA."
Swafford is Chief Nuclear Officer and Executive Vice President of the utility. Skaggs serves as Vice President of Nuclear Operation Support.
TVA will use the facility to train employees slated to work at its nuclear power plants and related corporate offices. In addition to the building the utility purchased 13.5 acres of land in the industrial park. Read more.....
TVA to locate in industrial park
The Daily Sentinel
Published April 21, 2010
It's been a long process, a huge investment that is now beginning to pay off for the Jackson County Industrial Park at Hollywood.
Smiles were evident Tuesday afternoon at Scottsboro City Hall as the city's Industrial Development Board handed over the deed and keys to its speculative building in the Jackson County Industrial Park in Hollywood.
The Tennessee Valley Authority has purchased one of two speculative buildings built in the sprawling 300-plus acre park located off U.S. Highway 72. The Jackson County Economic Development Authority owns the other building, just over 60,000 square feet in size.
The utility will locate a new nuclear training facility in the 36,000 square foot building. It also purchased 13.5 acres of land adjacent to the structure, which will provide direct access to County Road 33. Read more.....
Bill may bring jobs
The Times-Journal
Published April 8, 2010
A bill in the state Legislature could help bring more jobs and industry to DeKalb County.
The bill, if passed, would establish the Jackson/DeKalb counties Industrial Development Authority. The authority's sole purpose would be to market and develop the Northeast Alabama Technology Park near Northeast Alabama Community College. Read more.....
Scottsboro Ties for 31st Place
of Top Micropolitans by Site Selection Magazine
Click here for article from Site Selection Magazine.