US Nitrogen LLC to locate in Greeneville TN -- Provide 80 New Jobs to Area
GREENEVILLE -- The Greene County Partnership has announced plans for the location to Greene County, Tennessee, of US Nitrogen LLC, a manufacturer of nitrogen solution products for industrial customers and a newly-formed subsidiary of Austin Powder, Inc., which has operations around the world.
US Nitrogen will make a capital investment of $110 million with plans to provide 80 jobs at an estimated annual payroll of more than $4 million or an average annual salary of $50,000.
"I'm pleased and grateful for Austin Powder's investment in Tennessee and the company's commitment to creating jobs in rural areas of our state," said Governor Bill Haslam. "We're committed to making Tennessee the number one location in the Southeast for high quality jobs, and the jobs announced here today certainly fall into that category."
"Austin Powder has a long-standing reputation as a company that builds strong relationships with its employees and is a good place to work," said Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty. "I'm convinced the workforce in East Tennessee will help the company grow in productivity and profitability."
The US Nitrogen announcement could create a considerable number of spinoff jobs in the immediate area. The National Chamber of Commerce estimates that every new manufacturing job helps create approximately 2.5 spinoff support jobs.
Construction is expected to begin in June and the company is scheduled to begin operation in the fourth quarter of 2012. Tom Ferguson, president and CEO of the Greene County Partnership, said, "During this time, 120 full-time construction jobs will be provided at the 400-acre site located near Interstate 81 west of Greeneville."
The US Nitrogen plant will transport their local product to manufacturing sites in Ohio and elsewhere to be upgraded via proprietary manufacturing processes into blasting agents suitable for use at customer mines and quarries. Austin Powder facilities and vehicles based in other states have excellent safety records, federal records show.
Austin Powder, Inc., headquartered in Cleveland, has been operating since 1833. Its employees enjoy excellent benefits, and the company's worker-friendly policies tend to ensure long-lasting relationships with employees. The average longevity of employees at the company's plant in southern Ohio, for instance, is more than 20 years.
Ferguson said the company's decision to move to Greene County hinged upon the availability of land, access to a rail site, and state and county incentive packages.
"It was a combination of all of these factors, plus the local team approach that brought together state and local officials," stated Greene County Mayor Alan Broyles. "We have a business friendly environment."
Greene County has an award-winning quality of life and has received numerous accolades over the course of the past 10 years. In 2008, Greeneville was named to "The 50 Best Small Southern Towns" second edition. The county is home to DTR Tennessee, Wal-Mart Distribution Center and John Deere Power Products, among numerous other industries.
Published February 23, 2011
