Alabama 23, November 16, 2022

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Boosting Baldwin County Officials Expect Novelis’ New $2.5B Aluminum Plant to Be Boon for Region

By Cindy Riley

Intended to serve the beverage and automotive industries, a $2.5 billion aluminum plant will provide a major economic boost to Bay Minette, Ala., while also serving as a source of pride.

Atlanta-based Novelis has selected Baldwin County for its recycling and rolling mill on a 3,000-acre mega site in the southern region of the state.

“The North Baldwin community has been very receptive to Novelis and their manufactured product,” said Kristina Pittman, who serves as executive director of the North Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce. “With the growth they are bringing to the area, residents are excited for new business opportunities in a variety of areas.”

The plant also will make history. The high-tech, low-carbon project will be the first CEG CORRESPONDENT

Gov. Kay Ivey’s office/Hal Yeager photo

Gov. Kay Ivey and other officials perform the ceremonial groundbreaking for the $2.5 billion Novelis aluminum plant that is expected to provide a major economic boost to Bay Minette, Ala.

see MILL page 10

Montgomery Whitewater Center Set to Open in Summer 2023 Construction crews are busily creating Montgomery Whitewater, a $50 million world-class outdoor recreation and entertainment facility along the banks of the Alabama River.

At the park’s core is a manufactured whitewater channel that will allow for rafting, paddling, outdoor activities, entertainment and retail amenities in the Alabama capital city and its surrounding region. The family-oriented facility sits on 120 acres and is designed for users of all ages to enjoy the sunshine of the region and share in its healthy, active lifestyle.

The park’s developers are confident that once it is open next summer, it will bring a new energy to Montgomery and serve as a signature adventure destination for the region.

The Montgomery Whitewater complex is being constructed at the intersection of Interstate 65 and I-85, along the city’s west side, making it convenient for motorists to reach.

Features Offer Range of Fun Things to Do S2O Design & Engineering, a Coloradobased waterpark engineering firm, designed

the venue’s centerpiece, a massive dualchannel whitewater course. The artificial river system creates Class II-IV whitewater and delivers a fun and safe rafting or paddling experience for guests — from novice paddlers who have never experienced whitewater to seasoned paddlers and competitors.

The course includes a 1,900-ft.-long recreation channel for a more mellow whitewater journey as well as a 1,600-ft.-long competition-level channel that ramps up the excitement to Olympic-level action.

In addition, Montgomery Whitewater will offer a wide range of professionally guided and self-guided whitewater experiences, from rafting and kayaking to standup paddleboarding.

However, water course activities will not be the only challenges found at the Alabama park, according to Montgomery Whitewater.

The complex also will provide other complementary activities centered around active outdoor sports, including a climbing tower, bouldering wall, zip lines, a high ropes course, five kilometers of hiking and biking trails, and an enhanced connection to the Alabama River.

The modern, open-air entertainment facility is planned to offer guests a “river-side”

restaurant, retail shopping, an outdoor amphitheater, and areas to hang out and watch the action. Its design and programming will cultivate its role as a gathering place for a variety of community events, including races and competitions, live music, meetings and conferences, as well as outdoor training and team building for military, public safety officials and first responders.

Montgomery Whitewater’s design and development is being coordinated by Southern Whitewater Development Group (SWDG), a firm credited with developing the most successful whitewater projects in the world.

When complete, Montgomery Whitewater will be one of only three standalone recirculating whitewater parks of its scale and caliber in the United States. 

Rendering courtesy of Montgomery Whitewater

Montgomery Whitewater is an outdoor recreation and entertainment facility situated on the banks of the Alabama River. The facility sits on 120 acres and is designed for all users to enjoy outdoor activities and special events and share a healthy, active lifestyle.

Page 2 • November 16, 2022 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Birmingham Mayor Plans to Build Family Fun Center Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Ala., announced we’re going to do.”

Woodfin unveiled the concept to West Birmingham Oct. 31 that the city would be constructing a multi-millionWoodfin added that the facility will be 20,000 sq. ft., and neighborhood leadership and District 8 councilor Carol dollar “family fun center” on the city’s west side. discussion about the project began more than six months Clarke in recent days to gain their interest and support.

The new facility will include a skating rink, jump park, e- ago. He said the funds come from the refinancing of comThe design concept for the complex is currently in the presports center, bowling alley and food court, among other fea- mercial development bonds that were approved by the liminary stages, but Woodfin has commissioned the tures, and be located at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The lat- Birmingham City Council in 2020.

Birmingham IEO to hasten the project’s timeline, he noted. ter, near Five Points West, opened in 2011 and has since been “The fairground park area has historically been the conused for indoor track and field competitions as well as other vening space for the westside, and what better way to honor Neighborhood Leaders Welcome Project sporting events. It includes a 200-meter hydraulic running its original purpose and accomplish those goals,” said “I’m excited. The city’s commitment to do this gives me track and a 50-meter swimming and diving pool.

Cornell Wesley, director of the Birmingham Department of hope that this is going to happen,” Bush Hills Neighborhood Woodfin has set a target of 2024 for opening the new Innovation and Economic Opportunity (IEO).

President Walladean Streeter told WIAT-TV in Birmingham. entertainment facility at the CrossPlex.

“This can bring great opportunities for According to a news release on all the generations of our community.”

BirminghamAL.gov, the city has already Johnny Gunn, president of the allocated $2 million for pre-construction.

Belview Heights neighborhood, echoed Woodfin has commissioned the Streeter’s comments in saying, “This Birmingham IEO to hasten the project’s will attract the family features we have timeline, he noted. been requesting. It brings all ages togeth“I am thrilled to honor our West er. This can be a rebirth to bring people Birmingham residents by bringing this back to our community for family enterinto their community,” he said in the tainment.” statement. “The concept of sports and Local business owner, Sharon Hill, entertainment options under one roof also told the television station that the will be a game changer for our families, center will complement the Birmingham our children and our visitors. I envision Crossplex and bring in more traffic for this being a major hub for family fun and businesses, adding that having a place plan to make sure it is a state-of-the-art for quality family time would be pricefacility because our community deserves less. it.

“Once the kids are grown and gone, “Every day, every weekend, our famyou can’t get that time back, and I think ilies leave our city limits to take their being able to spend time [at] the arcades children to family fun amenities such as or skating rink or a bowling alley would bowling, such as skating, such as jump be great for families to bond together,” parks, such as game rooms and other noted Hill, who owns the 3 Daughters things of that nature,” he continued. “We deserve to give our families the same Rendering courtesy of the city of Birmingham Beauty Supply store on Crossplex things in our city limits and that’s what Rendering of the proposed Family Fun Center at the Birmingham Crossplex.

Boulevard. 

Road Forward Welcomes New Sponsor: Construction Partners Inc. Construction Partners Inc. (CPI) has joined The Road Forward, an initiative of the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) to achieve net zero carbon emission asphalt pavements by 2050.

As a leading asphalt paving contractor and asphalt producer in the southeastern United States, CPI has a mind for sustainability and an eye for innovation in every mile it creates. The decision to support the industry-wide initiative, The Road Forward, is just one example that demonstrates CPI’s commitment to strengthening climate stewardship within the industry. In fact, CPI played a role in shaping the initiative — Jamie Moretz, vice president at CWR Contracting Inc., a CPI company, served on NAPA’s Climate Stewardship Task Force.

The CPI companies are active members of NAPA, with memberships dating back to 1965. CPI’s involvement within NAPA has been extensive, including its leadership support in advancing workforce development and sustainability initiatives.

“As chairman of the board for NAPA in 2019, I was particularly focused on addressing our workforce crisis,” said John Harper, CPI’s senior vice president.

“During our research, we quickly discovered that sustainability and workforce development are connected. Much of our existing and future workforce is passionate about leading the way toward a more sustainable future.

“Our industry must invest in new technologies and processes to stay

ahead of the curve while attracting future generations of workers to support us in creating sustainable transportation infrastructure.”

CPI’s Vice President of Sustainability and Innovation, Heather Dylla, serves on NAPA’s Environmental Committee, Sustainability Committee, and Net Zero Task Force. Working alongside the CPI operating companies, Dylla is improving the company’s ecological performance and helping reduce its carbon footprint while preserving productivity.

“Collaborating with NAPA and adopting available industry tools — such as the NAPA Emerald Eco-Label EPD software and the newly formed EPA ENERGY STAR APEX program — has shaped CPI’s environmental sus-

tainability program,” she said.

“There is no question that achieving meaningful emission reductions will require collaboration across our supply chain and with our external stakeholders.”

In supporting The Road Forward, CPI is providing industry leadership, in alignment with their own corporate commitments, on climate action. CPI’s support will help fund ongoing research and education to aid the entire U.S. asphalt industry in producing net zero carbon emission asphalt production and construction by 2050.

“By joining The Road Forward initiative, CPI is a committed partner in tackling the challenges that face our industry,” said Dylla.

“CPI understands the importance of reliable roads and sustainable

practices. By working together and with the support of The Road Forward, we will continue to develop and implement new technologies and best practices that will help meet this challenge.”

“The Road Forward proudly welcomes the leadership commitment of Construction Partners, Inc.,” said NAPA President and CEO Audrey Copeland. “The CPI team has been integral to expanding our shared knowledge about environmental and sustainability topics. Their continued support propels our collective vision: sustainable communities and commerce connected by net zero carbon asphalt pavements.”

For more information, visit AsphaltPavement.org/Forward and www.constructionpartners.net. 

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 16, 2022 • Page 3

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Page 4 • November 16, 2022 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

$50M, 9,000-Seat Amphitheater Could Transform Northside For James Clark, the plan to build a multi-million-dollar, 9,000-seat amphitheater on the former Carraway Hospital site in his Birmingham, Ala., neighborhood has been four years in the making.

Clark was Norwood neighborhood president when developers first pitched the proposal for an amphitheater and multi-family housing on the site.

Now that the proposal has resurfaced, with housing, commercial and office space joining the amphitheater, Clark envisions a return to prosperity for the neighborhood, with rising property values and other amenities along with the amphitheater in Norwood.

“Older neighbors said when Carraway was open, it was the premier hospital in area,” said Clark, an area resident since 2004. “There were restaurants, things to do, you could go to a café in the hospital. When that died, there was no reason for people to go over there, and it withered. And the neighborhood kind of withered, too.

“This will bring investment back into the neighborhood,” he predicted.

The $50 million amphitheater would be owned by the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center (BJCC) and managed

by Live Nation, the global $6.3 billion live entertainment giant.

The amphitheater’s proponents want to locate the venue at The Star at Uptown, the $300 million mixed-use development on the former Carraway Hospital campus in North Birmingham.

It also would replace the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham, also owned by Live Nation.

Proponents Envision an A-Plus Venue AL.com reported in October that the Carraway project was described as “the only tier one amphitheater in central Alabama,” according to a document detailing the economic “opportunity” of the new venue presented to members of the

Rendering courtesy of Direct Communications

Conceptual rendering of amphitheater in North Birmingham.

Jefferson County Commission (JCC) at a work session.

“This an opportunity for generational change,” said Commission President Jimmie Stephens. “We can become an A-plus concert site rather than a C-plus.”

City Councilor Hunter Williams also supports the project.

“We would have the only Live Nation amphitheater in the state, which means their shows would go from Atlanta to Birmingham to Nashville, not from Atlanta to Nashville,” he said.

Jermaine “FunnyMaine” Johnson, a civic-minded Norwood resident and comedian known by Alabama football fans for his “How Alabama Fans Watch” videos on YouTube, said he welcomes the project despite joking about how late-night noise emanating from the amphitheater would disrupt his sleep.

“Noise is always a concern when a project of this magnitude is so close, but the new amphitheater is a much-needed project for the city’s economy and I support it 100 percent,” Johnson told AL.com in a text message. “As a neighborhood, we’ll work with project officials to address any con-

cerns and I look forward to a great partnership.”

Earlier, Johnson joked on Twitter: “Them shows better end by 9 p.m. We like to sleep over here in Norwood.”

Clark’s husband, Robert Christian, said the project is a net positive for not just Norwood but all North Birmingham.

“The area is turning into an entertainment destination regionally, and that’s just going to amplify that with this [facility’s scale],” he explained. “I think it is going to transform the whole northside, not just Norwood, per se. The pluses for this really outweigh any negatives such as noise.”

Property values have been rising in the area after years of stagnation, Christian noted, with even burnt-out homes in Norwood selling for $150,000.

He added that the pandemic was to blame for the economic slowdown and significantly slowed the redevelopment at the Carraway site.

“I’m really excited to have something tangible happening with the property,” he said. “I look forward to seeing it change and evolve, and the neighborhoods around it evolve with it.” 

Partnership to Invest $300M for New Rocket Factory, Warehouse Switzerland-based Beyond Gravity, a manufacturer of structures for rocket launch vehicles, is adding a new production facility in Decatur, Ala., to supply additional payload fairings for the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) next-generation Alabamabuilt Vulcan rockets.

Beyond Gravity and ULA held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 27 at the new production site in northern Alabama’s Morgan County. When it is operational, the facility will employ 200 additional people — essentially doubling the company’s headcount in the state.

Beyond Gravity — formerly known as RUAG Space — said the expansion project follows its selection by ULA to supply 38 payload fairings for Vulcan rockets launching satellites as part of Amazon’s Project Kuiper. A fairing is the pointed tip of the rocket that protects the satellites from high temperatures, mechanical stresses and other hazards.

Project Kuiper aims to place a constella-

tion of satellites in low Earth orbit to provide affordable high-speed broadband connections around the world.

“I am very proud that the Vulcan launch vehicles that will carry the Kuiper constellation into space rely on our leading-edge and proven technology in the field of composite structures,” said André Wall, CEO of Beyond Gravity, in a Made in Alabama news release. “This contract with ULA marks the next chapter in our long-standing partnership and further strengthens and expands our presence in the U.S.” Facility Latest Alabama Rocket Factory According to Made in Alabama, the online news site for the state’s Department of Commerce, Beyond Gravity said the new 250,000-sq.-ft. production building will include 30,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space and another 20,000 sq. ft. for offices.

Company officials expect the facility will be completed in time for operations to begin

in early 2024.

“Beyond Gravity has fantastic people with a high level of commitment and a clear focus on the needs of our customers,” said Paul Horstink, executive vice president of the company’s Launchers Division.

“With this new facility, Beyond Gravity will move to the next level — from producing a total of 10 payload fairings in Decatur per year to a target of 25,” he added.

ULA, which maintains America’s largest rocket factory in Decatur, and Beyond Gravity have had a strategic partnership to produce composite structures for ULA rockets since 2015.

“We have a long history of a strong partnership with Beyond Gravity and look forward to continuing the great work as we increase our launch rate for our Vulcan [rockets],” said Tory Bruno, CEO of ULA. ULA previously announced that is nearing completion of the first Vulcan Centaur rocket at its Decatur plant as it awaits instal-

lation of its BE-4 engines. Blue Origin, the company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has established its own factory for the BE-4 engines in nearby Huntsville.

ULA expects Vulcan to make its maiden flight early next year.

Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama commerce department, said these developments point to the growth taking place in the space segment of his state’s aerospace industry.

“Alabama has long been a major player in designing and manufacturing the most innovative, complex solutions to conquer skies and space, and we are continuing to influence the direction of the global industry today,” he said in the Made in Alabama news release. “Companies around the world know our workforce has proven itself time and time again, and that’s why they keep turning to Alabama to help solve the industry’s biggest challenges through groundbreaking work.” 

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 16, 2022 • Page 5

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Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 16, 2022 • Page 7

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Page 8 • November 16, 2022 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide

Alabama AGC Hosts National Conference for First Time

The conference brings together the nation’s emerging leaders under 40 in different areas of the construction industry. Over three days, attendees had the opportunity to workshop development and leadership skills while networking with colleagues.

From Oct. 5 to Oct. 7, Alabama AGC served as the chapter host for the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Leadership Development Conference. The event took place at the historic Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa in Mobile.

The conference, co-hosted by AGC of America, brings together the nation’s emerging leaders under 40 in different areas of the construction industry. Over three days, attendees had the opportunity to workshop development and leadership skills while networking with colleagues.

The national event takes place each year, but this was the first time in AGC history it happened in Alabama.

“It was a real honor for Alabama AGC to be the host chapter for this national event. We hope everyone got to appreciate what Alabama has to offer and enjoyed themselves on the bay. We are

especially proud of the support our Alabama members gave, said Billy Norell, CEO of Alabama AGC. Part of the event included a presentation on work zone safety awareness, a mission Alabama AGC has brought to the national level in the construction industry, and recently recognized with a national AGC chapter award.

The presentation, led by Skip Powe of (Smith Seckman Reid Inc.) and Morris King (Vulcan Materials), featured an appearance from Millie King, AGC’s official work zone safety dog.

The event included other notable guest speakers like Philip Rivers, former NFL quarterback for the Chargers, and current AGC Vice President, Tom Brown. Attendees ended the event with a service project at the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile.  (Photos courtesy of Alabama AGC.)

Morris King of Vulcan Materials and Millie King, AGC's official work zone safety dog.

Six-Story, $52.5M Mixed-Use Project Expanding Research Park Yet another sign of Huntsville, Ala.’s rapid growth trajectory appeared recently with a groundbreaking celebration for The Arcadia at 4810 Bradford Drive, a $52.5 million, six-story mixed-use development across from the new Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) in Cummings Research Park East.

The project is being built on the former site of John Paul II Catholic High School. Crews began demolishing the building that once housed the high school as well as other tenants earlier this year.

When complete, the new building will feature 19,047 sq. ft. of commercial ground floor space, split between 12,022 sq. ft. of room for workshare/offices and another 7,025 sq. ft. of restaurant and retail space. The second through fifth floors will include 250 residential units, made up of one- and twobedroom apartments and studios.

The Huntsville Business Journal noted that Capstone Building Corp. has started construction on

Arcadia, which is designed and “executive high-level finishes,” engineered by Williams and emphasized that the six-story Blackstock Architects. Both com- building “will add to the mixed-use panies are based in Birmingham. and urban type of feel here in this In addition, the project, found at area of the park.” The benefits of the corner of Wynn Drive and Arcadia’s location, he said, are its Bradford Drive in the research easy access to local businesses, the park, is being developed by Bobo Redstone Arsenal, and downtown Family Group LLC, an Williams Blackstock Architects and Bobo investment firm in Development Group rendering Florence; Retail Specialists, a Birmingham real estate agency; and Florencebased Boaz Ventures LLC. Arcadia Latest ‘Rocket City’ Development Joey Azar, a partner at Boaz, told Huntsville Business Journal in September that Arcadia is a “23- or 24-month project,” with site work having been under way since July. He expects that it will open around the third quarter of 2024.

Azar described Arcadia’s planned apartments as having

Huntsville.

“Hopefully, you can tell by the energy we’re pretty thrilled about being here in Cummings Research Park East,” Azar told guests at the groundbreaking. “As many of you know, especially if you’re from the area, Wynn and Bradford is a pret-

ty dynamic corner. It’s a great piece of real estate and we’re excited about creating 250 new residences for those that work here and around the park, and adding some office, retail, and other commercial [spaces] as well.”

According to James Bobo, CEO of Bobo Family Group, the various developers involved in the building project “couldn’t have picked a better city for it.”

In expanding on his comment, he invoked the name of Werner von Braun, the famed German rocket engineer, and architect of the U.S. space program, who was brought to Huntsville in the 1950s by Alabama Sen. John Sparkman to successfully sell him on the idea of the city’s potential for building moon rockets.

Since then, Bobo said, the Rocket City’s “leaders have continuously come together to carry

on a legacy that has made Huntsville great, and in doing so has delivered a better quality of life, higher-paying jobs and more opportunities for the people of North Alabama.”

Mayor Tommy Battle noted that while Cummings Research Park came to life 60 years ago, a revisioning took place in the past 10 years that focused on increasing capacity and making it more worker friendly.

“We came up with the idea of urban developments [and] have places where people can actually live, have their places to play, but also have places to work,” he said, adding that Arcadia was one of the first developments to take advantage of the revisioning of the research park’s master plan.

“We want to say congratulations to y’all, [and] we are very excited,” he told Arcadia’s developers while describing the new project as “kind of a diamond in the middle of a great workplace, and it’ll be a great place for people to continue to live, work and play for years.” 

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 16, 2022 • Page 9

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Work Begins On Downtown Hotel, Now Larger Than Planned Construction crews finally were able to start work on a new downtown Huntsville, Ala., hotel, a project long delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The multi-story hotel also grew bigger during the down time.

The Autograph Collection by Marriott is being built at the southwest corner of the reconstructed parking garage on Monroe Street across from the Von Braun Center’s Propst Arena. Originally approved by the city council in March 2019, the hotel was initially designed to encompass six floors

and 187 rooms.

Now, according to AL.com, the statewide online news service, updated plans show the hotel with eight floors and more than 200 rooms.

Additionally, the $40 million project will have a rooftop bar overlooking Big Spring Park as well as two full-service restaurants and a conference/banquet space.

The hotel’s developer, Ascent Hospitality of Buford, Ga., wants to see it finished by late 2023 or early 2024, AL.com noted.

The Huntsville City Council in 2020 sold

Rendering courtesy of the city of Huntsville

Rendering of the Autograph Collection Hotel by Marriott on Monroe Street in downtown Huntsville.

0.7 acres to Ascent at a cost of $1.6 million.

The land was formerly included in the original parking garage.

City Has Added Several Hotels in Recent Years Municipal officials have worked successfully for the last several years to boost downtown Huntsville’s inventory of hotel rooms to accommodate larger conferences at the Von Braun Center.

The rebuilt parking garage, which will wrap around parts of the Autograph, included plans for guest parking at the hotel and the Hampton Inn on the northern side.

When open to guests, the Autograph will be the latest in a hotel growth spurt in the downtown district that includes plans for two more hotels at other nearby projects.

Three hotels have opened in central Huntsville since March 2019: The AC Hotel

by Marriott on Williams Street, Jefferson 106 (a Curio by Hilton brand) on Jefferson Street, and the Hampton Inn at Monroe Street and Clinton Avenue.

A fifth hotel also is planned as part of a $325 million development known as Front Row at the former site of the Coca-Cola bottling plant on Clinton Avenue., while a sixth — the Moxy hotel next to the AC Hotel — is envisioned for the third phase of

CityCentre.

Huntsville’s Front Row to Grow Its Downtown Rocket Development Partners, a joint venture of Essex Capital and Ascend Property Group, “is set to deliver an incomparable mix of residential, retail and office spaces, entertainment and community” to the heart of Alabama’s largest city, according to a press release from the developers.

The project will cover 11 acres and will be across Clinton Avenue from the Von Braun Center. It will include multi-family residences — “unlike anything currently found in the market,” the press release said — as well as chef-inspired restaurants, Class A office space, a boutique hotel and “an active, accessible urban plaza for community events and programming.”

“The unparalleled project matches the exciting growth and vibrancy of the Huntsville community and will be one of the most transformative projects to the city’s evolving downtown core,” Rocket Development Partners predicted.

The city of Huntsville is investing $18 million in support of the project while city officials expect the final product to generate about $43 million in taxes over 10 years. 

New $2.5B Mill Will Have Ripple Effect Throughout Area MILL from page 1

fully integrated aluminum mill to be constructed in the United States in four decades.

“To know our region is hosting state-of-the-art technology, not seen in over 40 years, is astonishing,” said Pittman.

“I can’t stress this enough, the opportunities for our area are wide open due to Novelis’ support and belief in our community.”

The new plant will create approximately 1,000 jobs, which Novelis projects will pay an average annual salary of $65,000. Pittman said construction of the mill will have a domino effect.

“The new avenues for businesses, retail, restaurants, housing, etc., is on its way, due to Novelis’ commitment and support. The excitement for growth opportunities is immense, and we are keenly aware of that, especially considering their cutting-edge technology and the audiences they will be serving.

“Novelis has been wonderful to work with, communicative and friendly, and they clearly want to be involved in our community. We appreciate a recycling program and their commitment to supporting our community. We’ve had discussions about different ways they want to engage and become involved, it’s been impressive to see such enthusiasm for a community from such a major corporation.”

A groundbreaking, complete with ceremonial shovels and heavy equipment on site, was held in early October 2022 as part of the construction preview. A number of dignitaries

were on hand for the event, including Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.

“With this massive investment and large-scale hiring plans, Novelis will launch a high-tech aluminum mill that will generate significant economic impacts throughout the region for generations,” said Ivey. “Novelis is a world-class company, and we know that it has selected a prime location in ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and specifically Baldwin County as home for its growth plans.”

According to the news release, the highly anticipated facility will be the most sophisticated and sustainable of its kind, with employee safety expected to be a top priority. The plant will be powered with renewable energy, use recycled water and be a zero-waste facility. Novelis has pledged to become a carbon-neutral company by 2050, and by 2026, it plans to reduce its carbon footprint by almost a third.

In addition, the Baldwin County plant will make use of advanced automation and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality and robotics. The facility will have an initial 600 kilotonnes of finished aluminum goods capacity per year.

“Novelis’ decision to locate the nation’s most technologically advanced aluminum mill in Baldwin County is a powerful testament to both the state’s attractive business climate and to the capabilities of our talented manufacturing workforce,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The magnitude of this project makes it a game-changing development for Alabama’s

industrial sector and a jobs engine for the region.”

While the Baldwin County plant will primarily be focused on the beverage can market, it also will serve the automotive segment. Aluminum produced by Novelis can be found in more than 200 vehicle models produced by automakers across the globe.

Novelis also works with customers from industries that include building and construction, aerospace and consumer electronics.

Not surprisingly, local organizations committed to helping bring new business to the area are extremely pleased with the mega site’s anchor tenant.

“Baldwin County’s accelerated growth and forwardthinking leadership has made it possible to attract Novelis, a world-class company, to our community,” said Lee Lawson, president and CEO of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. “The economic and generational impact this investment will have on Baldwin County will help further diversify and grow our economy for years to come.”

Novelis also announced plans to develop an Advanced Manufacturing and Leadership Center of Excellence in Daphne, where training will be provided to industry leaders across the company’s footprint. The leadership center will be located at the Daphne Innovation + Science Complex and will help push Baldwin County to the forefront of innovation in workforce training and leadership in the metals industry.  CEG

Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • November 16, 2022 • Page 11

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Caterpillar D4E Track-Type Tractor, 1:50 scale - $75

Ingersoll-Rand SP60-DD Soil Compactor, 1:50 scale - $75

John Deere 690C Excavator, 1:64 scale - $30

John Deere 675 Skid Steer Loader, 1:64 scale - $30

Caterpillar 988G Wheel Loader, 1:64 scale - $40

Vermeer BC1000XL Brush Chipper, 1:50 scale - $60

Kobelco TLK860 Backhoe/Loader, 1:35 scale - $75

Caterpillar 988H Wheel Loader, 1:64 scale - $40

John Deere 310SL Backhoe/Loader, 1:50 scale - $60

Caterpillar 775E Quarry Truck, 1:64 scale - $40

Terex 33-07 Off-Highway Dump Truck, 1:40 scale - $200

Shipping and Handling Included

Bmckeon Collectibles 470 Maryland Drive Fort Washington, PA 19034

WE PURCHASE COLLECTIONS!!!

Contact – Barry McKeon

610-506-5961 Email – bmckeon9@gmail.com

Visit our Ebay Store – bmckeon collectibles – for a complete list with pictures.

Page 12 • November 16, 2022 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide