'A bright, vibrant future ahead': First Lady Jill Biden visits Augusta recycling plant

First Lady Jill Biden was all smiles during her visit to Augusta on Wednesday, and so were the many who turned out to see her.

"There's a bright, vibrant future ahead for Richmond County," Biden said. "A future that's filled with hope, one that everyone in this room can be a part of."

President Joe Biden's wife toured the Aurubis recycling plant near the McBean neighborhood. This marked her second to Augusta since it was named one of the Biden Administration's "Workforce Hubs."

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Members of Aurubis gave Biden a hands-on presentation describing how they break down circuit boards and similar materials in order to recycle the complex metals inside. The plant is still in-development, but once fully operational, it will process about 90,000 tons of complex recycling materials annually, according to Aurubis' 2022 press release.

After the tour, Biden gave a speech to a crowd of more than 150, which included local students, leaders and Aurubis workers. She discussed how the six Workforce Hubs across the U.S. are meant to serve as models for innovation and promoting a skilled workforce, and how Augusta and its partners are accomplishing that goal.

"Aurubis and other companies right here in Augusta are hiring hundreds of local workers," Biden said. "Aiken Tech, Augusta Tech and Richmond County schools are partnering with local unions to make sure that young people are ready for construction jobs right here, all because Joe is investing in America."

The event was capped off with the First Lady meeting-and-greeting some of her audience members, like A.R. Johnson Magnet School student Cooper Cobb.

"I was pretty nervous at first, but once I saw her up there, my nerves kind of stopped," Cobb said. "It was really cool to meet her, and the handshakes and pictures."

The plant's president/managing director David Schultheis said he was not surprised by Biden's fascination and enthusiasm with their work during her tour.

"It tics many boxes," Schultheis said. "We are bringing a technology to the U.S., multi-metal recycling ... we are bringing highly-educated jobs, which we are paying well ... and we are here for the long-run. This is not something that is going to be moved away."

The First Lady was scheduled to visit another Workforce Hub on Wednesday. The Biden Administration's Workforce Hubs include Augusta, Phoenix, Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Jill Biden highlights Augusta Aurubis recycling plant, future details