A group of Alabama business and elected officials visited the South Alabama Mega Site recently where they toured the construction site of the Novelis aluminum recycling and rolling mill. Novelis broke ground on the development in 2022, which marked a major milestone for Baldwin County as a historic economic development win for the state. Currently, the facility employs over 100, and when fully completed next year, it will employ up to 1,000.
Other companies with a major Alabama footprint that rely on Novelis aluminum include Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Honda, Airbus, Toyota, Boeing and even Coca-Cola. Leaders making a site visit to the facility also said the company’s product and presence in the state is indispensable.
“My visit to the Novelis project site today, alongside fellow elected officials, reaffirms the significance of this investment not only for Baldwin County but for the entire state of Alabama. This facility represents a monumental boost to our economy, bringing thousands of high-quality jobs and positioning Alabama as a leader in advanced manufacturing,” said Lee Lawson, President and CEO of the Baldwin County Economic Development Authority.
“Novelis’ commitment here is a testament to our state’s pro-business environment and workforce excellence, and I’m proud to see our community at the forefront of such a transformative project.”
State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine), who represents the region in the Alabama Legislature’s higher chamber, said after the visit that he’s proud of the progress and what it will mean for the future of his district.
Alabama’s largest ever economic development project is coming right along. It’s been a long road but Novelis is a game changer for Baldwin County that will pay dividends for generations. Congrats to these two giants who’ve worked tirelessly to make this project a reality. pic.twitter.com/QOyzs1iW6M
— Senator Chris Elliott (@SenatorElliott) August 9, 2024
The visit was also an opportunity to highlight the unprecedented collaboration that has driven the project forward. “Having a state, county and community rallying together to ensure the success of a generational economic investment is powerful,” said Callie Cox, Communications and Government Affairs of Novelis Bay Minette.
“The support of our legislative delegation, both at the state and county level, underscores the significance of our project not only to the local economy, but also to the broader community. Together, we’re building more than a state-of-the-art aluminum recycling and rolling mill; we’re laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth, creating high-quality, high-paying jobs, and strengthening the future of manufacturing in Alabama.”
Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270
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