MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $252,900 grant to assist a Walker County industry in expanding and creating jobs while preserving existing jobs.
The funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will be used to replace and increase the size of a water line to Nelson Brothers Inc., a crucial step in boosting the local economy. This will enable the chemical company to undertake a $20 million capital expansion of two of its plants located in the towns of Parrish and Dora in Walker County. The expansion will help the company retain its 55 employees at these sites while hiring five new positions, further strengthening the local employment and business expansion.
“Nelson Brothers was founded nearly 70 years ago to meet a need in the mining industry, and it continues to thrive today,” Gov. Ivey said. “These funds will help the company continue to grow and serve its customers, while providing local jobs.”
The Parrish Water Works and Sewer Board, which was awarded the grant, plans to replace 5,400 feet of three-inch water line with six-inch piping and connect it to an existing six-inch line off Old Baltimore Road.
This improvement, along with connecting the line to a higher-elevation water tank, will increase the water volume and pressure to meet fire protection requirements at the plant and improve service for other water customers in the area.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the ARC award.
“The Appalachian Regional Commission continues to be a strong partner in helping water systems improve their service and in other quality of life and economic development projects,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA and Gov. Ivey are both grateful for the ARC’s contributions to Alabama over the past 50 years and more, including this project in Walker County.”
Gov. Ivey notified Cecil Canida, general manager of the Parrish Water Works and Sewer Board, that the grant had been approved. Local matching funds of $252,900 have been pledged for the project.
ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Thirty-seven Alabama counties, including Walker County, are part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
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