ATHENS-Today, May 23, 2014 John Moyer, President & COO, Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. confirmed that Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, Inc. has selected Athens, Limestone County, Alabama as the location for its 2nd North American plastics facility. Prasad Puttagunta, Vice President of Operations, was in town to attend a joint meeting of the City Council and County Commission. He thanked the State, County, and City officials and representatives for their efforts in working with the company in their site selection process. The land is a 51-acre site in the Elm Industrial Park on Wilkinson Street.
Tom Hill, LCEDA President, said that State of Alabama officials including Governor Robert Bentley, Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, Commerce Project Manager Joseph Burchfield, ADECA Director Jim Byard and ALDOT Director John Cooper were instrumental in helping Asahi choose Alabama. Regional partner, North Alabama Industrial Development Association and the Tennessee Valley Authority also assisted with the project. Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT), the Alabama Robotics Technology Park and Calhoun Community College communicated the industrial workforce capabilities of the Athens – Limestone area.
Stanley Menefee, Chairman Limestone County Commission, congratulated the company on choosing Athens and Limestone County and thanked Commissioners Bill Latimer, Gary Daly, Steve Turner, and Ben Harrison for their efforts to bring Asahi to Athens-Limestone. Stanley commended the Mayor and Athens City Council for their efforts on this City/County project that will bring 100 jobs to the community.
“The city and county have a great working relationship, and when you have these good relations, you can make progressive things happen for our community,” Menefee said
Mayor Ronnie Marks
Mayor Ronnie Marks welcomed Mr. Puttagunta to Athens and thanked him for working with its leaders in what is a great site for Asahi’s new facility. Council President Harold Wales, Jimmy Gill, Chris Seibert, Joseph Cannon and Wayne Harper put a lot of time in constructing a deal that is good for the city, the company, and the community
“The location of new industry and the continued expansion of existing industries in our city are indicators that Athens is pro-business and can meet the transportation, workforce and quality of life needs of major employers,” Marks said.
Asahi plans to close on the property in June then begin construction on the over $30 million dollar facility in late summer.
