MONTGOMERY— Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $250,000 grant to further assist helping a new industry locate in the city of Valley and create more than 500 new jobs.
The funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will be combined with a Community Development Block Grant awarded by Ivey in August to provide infrastructure necessary for John Soules Foods to locate in the former West Point Home building.
John Soules Foods, which will initially hire 150 employees, produces, processes and distributes pre-cooked, ready-to-eat foods for grocery stores, restaurants and food-service companies throughout the United States. The company, which will open in late 2019, plans to invest $70 million in refurbishing the building to meet its needs.
“Bringing new industry and employment opportunities to Alabama is a priority of my administration, and I am pleased to announce these opportunities in Valley,” Ivey said. “Alabama’s partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission is tried and true and continues to pay dividends for our residents and communities.”
ARC funds will be combined with a $500,000 CDBG to supply water and sewer services to the 266,000-square-foot plant.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers both the ARC and CDBG programs in Alabama.
“The combination of CDBG and ARC funds helps communities accomplish major projects,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “I am pleased to join with Gov. Ivey and our federal and local partners to improve lives.”
ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Thirty-seven counties in Alabama are part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
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Contact Jim Plott or Mike Presley