Montgomery-A $400,000 grant awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley will support the creation of up to 225 new jobs in Lawrence County.
The Community Development Block Grant will fund public infrastructure so that Jack Daniel Cooperage can build a plant in the Mallard Fox West Industrial Park. The plant, which will produce oak barrels for the Jack Daniel Distillery, will employ 120 people when it opens in 2013. The company expects to add 100 more employees within five years.
“Providing jobs for Alabamians is a priority of my administration, and our team is eager to assist whenever possible,”
Bentley said. “I commend local leaders and company officials for the efforts that made this expansion and resulting job opportunities possible.”
Lawrence County will use the grant to improve water service for the plant site and industrial park located off U.S. Highway 72 near the Morgan County line.
The $27.5 million plant will be located on 60 acres in the industrial park.
In January, Bentley awarded $150,000 in CDBG funds to the city of Stevenson to prepare for construction of a sawmill to produce white oak planks for Jack Daniel barrels. Thirty new jobs were created in Stevenson.
Bentley awarded the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, workforce development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
Bentley notified Jon-Mark Nelson, chairman of the Lawrence County Commission, that funding had been approved.