Plastics Recycler Receives Grant to Expand Operations
The Alabama Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) has awarded $200,000 in grant funds to Athens, Ala., to help Custom Polymers relocate to a larger facility.
Custom Polymers is a plastics recycler with locations throughout world.
"The expansion of Custom Polymers is a story of commitment, cooperation and hard work from company representatives, local officials and employees," says Alabama Gov. Bob Riley. "I am pleased to play a role in this project."
Custom Polymers will purchase the 50,000-square-foot building owned by Limestone County Economic Development Association. The building, constructed by the city of Athens, was designed to provide immediate space for new or expanding industries.
The recycled plastic, produced in pellet form by Custom Polymers, is used in the manufacturing of bottles, clothing, fencing and benches.
CDBG funding will be used to build a rail spur connecting the building to a main railroad line. The rail line link is a vital part of transporting the product, company officials say.
Matching funds of $508,800 have been pledged for the relocation project by Custom Polymers, the city of Athens and the Limestone County Commission.
The grant was awarded from funds made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant.
Wellman Completes Sale of Engineering Resins Business
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and the Florence County, S.C., Economic Development Partnership have joined Wellman Inc. in announcing that the company has completed the sale of Wellman’s Engineering Resins business and other assets on its Johnsonville, S.C., campus to a new company backed by an investor group led by J.H. Whitney & Co. and management. The new company will be known as Wellman Plastics Recycling and will operate businesses under the Wellman Plastics Recycling and Wellman Engineering Resins names.
The Department of Commerce will provide a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to Florence County for on-site improvements to the former Wellman facility.
Wellman Plastics Recycling plans to invest $3 million to retain the 163 employees at Wellman’s Johnsonville plant and to create 100 new jobs.
Robert Fotsch, CEO of Wellman Plastics Recycling, says, "We are very pleased to have been able to complete the purchase of Wellman’s Johnsonville facility today and we look forward to continuing the Wellman name and tradition as a leader in plastic recycling."
Fotsch will maintain his position as CEO of New Horizons Plastics Recycling, a Greenville-based PET recycler.
Wellman Engineering Resins can produce more than 70 million pounds of engineered plastics yearly. Other assets include a 235 million-pound polyester staple fiber plant and a 190 million-pound PET bottle recycling operation.
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