MONTGOMERY—Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded a $750,000 grant to help create 150 new jobs in Clay County.
The Community Development Block Grant awarded to the city of Ashland will provide infrastructure improvements necessary for Wellborn Cabinet Inc. to expand. Wellborn, which has been in business for about 55 years and employs more than 1,000 people, manufactures kitchen and bathroom cabinets which are sold domestically and internationally.
“Wellborn Cabinet continues to be an Alabama success story, and its contribution to Clay County in terms of employment and economic development has been immense,” Bentley said. “I am pleased to play a role in the continued expansion of this company and the new jobs it will provide.”
Funds will be used to help relocate public utilities along a portion of Alabama Highway 77 which is also being relocated. The highway borders the facility and limits the company from expanding its 2-million-square-foot plant. Additional state funds are being obtained for the relocation of the highway and local funds of $150,000 have been pledged for the project.
Bentley notified Ashland Mayor Larry Fetner that the grant had been approved.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, infrastructure upgrades, recreation, energy conservation, and water resource management.
Contact: Jim Plott or Mike Presley