Hanna Steel plans to add jobs, spend $20 million on Tuscaloosa plant expansion
A $20 million investment will expand Hanna Steel's Tuscaloosa plant and lead to the creation of at least 14 new jobs, according to the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority.
“Hanna Steel is truly a ‘made in Alabama’ company that we are proud to have in Tuscaloosa County,” said Justice Smyth, the economic development authority's executive director, in a Thursday news release.
“Their products are used in all types of construction, including commercial and residential developments and professional athletic facilities. While Hanna’s growth in Tuscaloosa positively impacts our community, it also strengthens the Alabama company’s presence in the steel tubing industry, which is a win‐win for us all,” Smyth said.
The Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority on Thursday approved a package of tax breaks estimated at around $1.5 million for Hanna Steel as part of the Hoover-headquartered company's $20 million investment.
Hanna Steel has been in Tuscaloosa since 1991 and now employs 220 people at its 600,000 square-foot facility in the Tuscaloosa County Airport Industrial Park. The expansion is expected add about 9,000 square feet while improving the plant's manufacturing efficiency and decreasing the downtime for the plant's equipment.
In addition to the 14 new jobs expected to be created by the plant expansion, a number of current employees will received promotions to support new production activities, according to the news release. Construction on the expansion is scheduled to start in the first half of 2023 and become operational by the second quarter of 2025.
“This is great news for the future of Tuscaloosa County," said Rob Robertson, Tuscaloosa County's probate judge who also serves as chairman of the County Commission. "For decades, Hanna Steel has been a valued community partner and their plans for expansion will strengthen their position to serve customers around the world.”
According to the news release, Hanna Steel will receive an abatement of the non‐educational sales and use taxes for the purchase of equipment and building materials during the construction phase of the project and an abatement of the non‐educational ad valorem taxes on certain real estate and personal property for up to 10 years.
The Tuscaloosa plant serves as the Alabama home for Hanna Steel’s Southeast tubing operations, where mechanical tubing and hollow structural sections tubing are produced for domestic and international customers.
Hanna Steel operates eight tube mills in Alabama and Illinois.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Tuscaloosa County approves incentives for Hanna Steel plant expansion
