Kay Ivey awards $2.5 million grant to create 800 jobs in Baldwin County
On Thursday, Gov. Kay Ivey awarded a $2.5 million grant to help a world leader in aluminum manufacturing and recycling build a plant in south Alabama and create 800 new jobs. Site work is now underway, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held in October. Community Development Block Grant funds will provide the infrastructure required for Novelis Inc. to invest in a $2.4 billion facility in Bay Minette. The mega-plant will be on a 3,000-acre site off Alabama Highway 287 and Interstate 65. “This commitment from Novelis Inc. to construct a high-tech aluminum plant will have a major impact on Baldwin County and is evidence of Alabama’s strong business climate and its capable workforce,” Gov. Ivey stated. “I am pleased to award these funds in support of this project which will bring hundreds of job opportunities to the area.” In May 2022, Atlanta-based Novelis announced plans to build the low-carbon and energy-efficient aluminum rolling and recycling plant at the south Alabama location and use state-of-the-art equipment. “This investment marks the start of another transformational growth phase for Novelis,” said Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group and the Novelis Board of Directors. “We continue to invest in each of the markets Novelis serves – from beverage can to automotive, aerospace, and specialties – and in all geographies. Novelis has a track record of success in delivering customers the low-carbon, sustainable aluminum solutions they seek, and we will continue that storied history with this investment and others to come.” Novelis provides products used in the automotive, aerospace, and general manufacturing businesses. The grant, administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), will be used to extend public water and sewer services to the plant. The city of Bay Minette has pledged $650,000 in labor and equipment for the utility extensions. “Projects like this do not just happen on their own. They take a lot of teamwork and cooperation by local leaders who work tirelessly to put all the pieces in place,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in being part of this project which will provide many benefits to Bay Minette, Baldwin County, and the entire region.” Gov. Ivey notified Mayor Robert Wills that the grant had been approved. Community Development Block Grant funding is made available to Alabama through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation, and water resource management.
Novelis begins work on new Baldwin County aluminum plant
Governor Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Commerce announced that site work is now underway on the new Novelis aluminum mill at Bay Minette, where a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Friday. The $2.5 billion aluminum mill is being built on the 3,000-acre Baldwin County Mega Site by Atlanta-based Novelis. This is the first facility of its kind constructed in this country in forty years. Construction crews are now engaged in earthwork, excavation, and piling. Over the next three months, Novelis will construct two new roadways on the site and expand the utility infrastructure necessary to begin building construction. The start of the construction project was celebrated last Friday with a formal groundbreaking ceremony attended by Ivey, Congressman Jerry Carl, local dignitaries, and corporate leaders from Novelis, Alabama Power, and CSX railroad. “I joined my friends down in Baldwin Co. to break ground on @Novelis $2.5B aluminum recycling and manufacturing plant!” Ivey announced on Twitter. “This project is expected to create 1,000 high-wage jobs and will support Alabama’s booming automotive industry.” Tom Boney is the Executive Vice President and President of Novelis North America. “Today marks an important milestone for our Novelis team as we ramp up construction and grow our team,” said Boney. “We seek to become an integral part of this community, contributing to the local economy and advancing residents’ quality of life every step of the way. We are grateful for the support we have received from the state, Baldwin County, Bay Minette, and other partners as we build our home here in Alabama.” The company will recycle aluminum cans into new ones and produce aluminum sheets for use in the automobile industry. Steve Fisher is the President and CEO of Novelis. “Through this investment, we want to demonstrate the strength of our growing customer partnerships, the commitment we have to sustainably grow our business, and the innovative, forward-thinking approach we are taking to modern manufacturing,” Fisher stated. “We are especially proud to celebrate our groundbreaking of this state-of-the-art facility on National Manufacturing Day, which highlights the exciting career opportunities available in our industry.” The company emphasized that the plant will be a low emitter of carbon. Bay Minette Mayor Robert “Bob” Wills was on hand to welcome the massive new employer to his small Baldwin County town. Wills said that workers will be well compensated for their efforts. “I believe the average salary to be paid by Novelis is about 65 thousand dollars, so that’s certainly a handsome salary, so I think a lot of people would be interested,” Wills told NBC Channel 15. “We have a small-town atmosphere. Our goal is to try to maintain that.” Baldwin was already the fastest-growing county in Alabama and is also one of the fastest-growing counties in America. This new employer will only add to the county’s transformation. Novelis expects to open the new plant sometime in 2025. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
