New numbers have been released by the Elmore County Economic Development Authority (ECEDA) and the Alabama Development Office (ADO) which shows ongoing job growth and investment in Elmore County.
According to an ECEDA statement, "The report shows that between the last quarters of 2008 through the end of 2010, over $34 million was invested by 11 industry sector classifications in Elmore County that the ADO reports for. These 11 companies were responsible for a total of 388 jobs for that time period. The report does not include retail, healthcare or other sectors. The report does not include 2011 numbers."
Lee Greer, chairman of ECEDA, said that the numbers are very good for Elmore County.
"This is a positive indication that we are doing something right here in retaining and recruiting these jobs," the chairman said. "The ECEDA board and staff as well as our mayors and county commissioners have been very focused on job retention and doing all we can to make it happen."
Barry Mask, executive director of ECEDA, said that the numbers are a sign of a potentially better future as the economy recovers.
"Our board is working hard, the mayors are working hard and the county commissioners are working hard to create an entrepreneurial environment here to retain and attract jobs in a cost-efficient manner for our citizens," he commented. "We are doing all the things necessary to position Elmore County for the next jobs boom in the river region when the economy turns up."
Members of the ECEDA board see the ADO report as hope for the county's continued growth.
"$34 Million invested into Elmore County and 388 good-paying jobs is quite an achievement in this economy. I know the ECEDA staff works very hard with our existing industries and they are always looking for new ones to bring here," said ECEDA board member Parker Johnston of Millbrook.
New companies or expansion from 2008 to 2010, based on ECEDA, include:
--Frontier Spinning Mills, Inc- Plant 81
--FTP Industries
--GKN Westland Aerospace
--Hanil USA
--Information Transport Solutions, Inc.
--Jones Sign Shop LLC
--Neptune Technology Group, Inc.
--Oakview Farms Granary
--Price Publications, Inc.
--YESAC Corporation
Mask said that there are upcoming opportunities for growth that ECEDA is currently working on to keep the positive trend going.
"We have a lot of balls in the air on several industrial and retail projects," the executive director said. "My project managers Leisa Finley and Lindsay Jordan and I are focused on closing these and seeing them all the way through despite the economy. But nothing is going to be delayed because we didn't do our job."