Westervelt Co. to build Clarke County lumber mill, create 125 jobs
More than 125 new jobs will be coming to Clarke County as the The Westervelt Company will soon be breaking ground on a new lumber mill in Thomasville, Ala. the company announced on Tuesday. It will be the second sawmill for the 134-year old company based in Tuscaloosa. The company is expanding its wood products manufacturing business through the construction of a new facility that will produce Southern yellow pine lumber. The Thomasville Mill will join the company’s existing facility in Moundville, which has been operating since 1997. “The Westervelt Company has long played a prominent role in Alabama’s booming lumber industry and has done so while promoting good environmental stewardship,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “I’m very excited to see that Westervelt is thriving and that they are building their second mill in rural Clarke County. This manufacturing facility is going to have a major impact on this area and give dozens of people a chance to earn a living from a trusted company.” “This new mill represents our commitment to the State of Alabama and to the region,” said Westervelt President and CEO Brian Luoma. “South Alabama was always our preferred location, and the local community offers the workforce and resources that will support our long-term strategy for this facility. We are grateful for the support of Governor Ivey, Chairman Rush and Mayor Day, and we look forward to being a part of this community.” “The Westervelt Co.’s deep roots in Alabama date back for generations, and I’m pleased to see this family business continue to invest and grow in the state,” added Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The company’s new lumber production facility in Clarke County represents an important job-creating project for a rural area, and it will provide a boost for the forest products industry throughout the region.” The facility will produce approximately 250 million board feet of lumber annually and create 125 new jobs. The expansion will take advantage of the proximity of the company’s timberland and other facilities, as well as workforce and existing customer bases. “The City of Thomasville has been honored to be a partner with the Clarke County Commission, the State of Alabama and many others as we worked shoulder to shoulder to attract The Westervelt Company to rural southwest Alabama,” said Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day. “This project will have a tremendous impact on our community and our rural region.” Construction is expected to begin mid-2019, with operations beginning in late 2020.
AeroStar plans $2 million Alabama expansion, doubling workforce
Mobile-based AeroStar on Thursday announced plans to more than double its facility and its employee count over the next several years. Founded in 2011 to service commercial, commuter and military aircraft, the company has maxed out its current approximately 6,000-square-feet footprint. In order to continue its growth pattern Aerostar will make a $2 million investment in land, construction and equipment in order to add another 16,875-square-feet building next to the existing one at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. “We’ve seen a dramatic increase over the years of airlines moving to smaller third-party maintenance providers, like ours, for component maintenance needs. To keep up with the stringent turn-round times, we need more technicians and test equipment,” said Greg Guzman, president and managing partner of AeroStar. “To fuel future growth, we need to invest in new test equipment that can keep up with the ever-changing technology of the newer aircraft.” Work is set to begin in March with a completion date anticipated before year-end 2018. David Rodgers, the Mobile Area Chamber’s senior project manager of economic development, said, “Entering into a fast-developing aerospace sector in Mobile, AeroStar made their presence quickly known in the industry. We are excited to see this homegrown business commit to new investment and jobs in our community.” Aerostar currently employs 22, and officials say they will create 28 new positions through the expansion. “There is no greater show of confidence than when existing businesses choose to reinvest in our community,” added City of Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson. “We appreciate this investment by AeroStar because it will create jobs for our citizens and add momentum to our push to become a global destination for the aerospace industry.”
