Building a relationship among city and counties has paid off for a tri-county area in east Alabama.
Wellborn Cabinet is building a $17 million facility in Oxford, the company announced. The plant will be in the Oxford West Industrial Park and is projected to generate close to 400 jobs in the first five years of operation.
Don Hopper, executive director for the Calhoun County Economic Development Council , credited the multi-government cooperation in bringing the project to the area. Oxford is in Calhoun, Talladega, and Cleburne counties.
“Relationships built throughout the years between the EDC, the City of Oxford, and Talladega County have streamlined the incentive process, which makes the decision to locate here easier for companies like Wellborn,” he said. “This facility will allow for production of a new kitchen and bath cabinetry product line, and we are excited that they have chosen to do so in Oxford when they could’ve gone elsewhere.”
Oxford Mayor Alton Craft said the economic impact of the new facility will be felt for “many generations.”
“The decision by Wellborn Cabinet to choose Oxford as the next location for a production facility speaks to the level of commitment by the City of Oxford and the Economic Development Council to bring a world-class company to our newest industrial park,” said Craft. “Our citizens will benefit from the economic impact that comes with bringing Mr. Wellborn and his company here for many generations. Our workforce efforts continue to explode here, and we are on everyone’s radar now.”
“Oxford is the place to be and, thanks to the efforts of our city council, we will continue to be that place.”
According to Larry Deason, chairman of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council, local industry is one of the area’s main assets.
“The City of Oxford, Talladega County Commission, and the State of Alabama continue to work with us to ensure new quality jobs locate right here at home,” Deason said. “Our local industries continue to be one of our biggest assets. We thank each of them for their continued partnership and support of our efforts to grow our region. We are excited about this opportunity to work with Wellborn and can’t thank their team enough for their commitment to this project.”
“We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship.”
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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