Eclectic receives $200,000 grant to expand production facility, creating 20 new jobs
The small town of Eclectic, Ala., located in Elmore County, is the recipient of a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) to assist in expansion of a production facility, creating 20 new jobs. Eclectic will use grant funds to improve the existing roads leading in and out of the industrial park where Madix Inc. is located. Madix, which designs and manufactures displays, panels and platforms for retail stores, intends to expand its facility and create 20 new jobs. The expansion will increase the amount of truck traffic on Middle Road and Madix Drive which have already deteriorated due to heavy use from trucks traveling to and from the facility. Gov. Kay Ivey announced the grant on Tuesday. “Assisting with job creation is a top priority for my administration,” Ivey said. “This grant will enable Eclectic to improve important roads and aid Madix in expanding its production and shipping ability, which will create new jobs.” The project will include an update to 835 feet of Middle Road as well as improvements over the culvert on Madix Drive. The town is contributing $75,256 in matching funds to complete the project. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the CBDG from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Bringing more jobs to rural Alabama is important to both Gov. Ivey and me,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “With the governor’s leadership, ADECA is pleased to partner with Eclectic to improve these roads and increase the number of job opportunities for residents.”
Kay Ivey awards grant to help bring jobs to town of Steele
Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday awarded a $118,000 grant to the town of Steele for infrastructure upgrades that will help bring new jobs to the area. The Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) will be used to restore a water tower used by Unipres Alabama Inc., a global supplier of steel automotive parts. The company is expanding, constructing a 150,000-square-foot building to accommodate a new assembly line which is expected to create 50 jobs. “My administration is very focused on economic opportunities for Alabamians, so job growth and company expansions like the Unipres Alabama plant in Steele are great news for our state,” Ivey said. “I am pleased to support Steele in preparing the way for this expansion and the new job opportunities it will provide.” The company is investing in a new heat stamping process that requires water for cooling the steel used in automotive bodies. The water tank’s interior and exterior will be restored, alleviating any corrosion or deterioration that might otherwise lead to water leaks or particles getting into the cooling process. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Gov. Ivey has consistently shown her support for economic growth and a desire to bring even more jobs to Alabama,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to play a role in this project which will bring benefits to Steele and the surrounding area.” The Steele Water Board is providing $35,000 to supplement the award.
