International Paper/Packaging/Agriculture
A major job creator in Autauga County’s manufacturing sector is Memphis-based International Paper, which operates a containerboard mill just outside of Prattville.
The Prattville mill is the largest manufacturing employer in the county with around 670 workers.
Autauga County also is home to Graham Packaging and UFP Packaging, both in Prattville. Graham makes plastic packaging for a variety of industries and UFP makes pallets and custom crates and boxes.
Building Products
In Autauga County, another major employer is James Hardie, which makes fiber cement products and employs around 310 people at its Prattville facility. An expansion in progress will allow the company to double capacity to about 1 billion standard feet of siding annually and to double its workforce.
The firm prioritizes locally sourced materials, EVP Ryan Kilcullen said, adding, “Approximately 83% of our raw materials are purchased within 100 miles of our plants, supporting local businesses and minimizing the length of haul and carbon footprint,” Kilcullen says.
“James Hardie, as of next year, when they flip the switch on their fourth line, they’ll be the largest fiber cement board manufacturer of any brand in the world, right here in Prattville,” Amy Hilliard, economic development director for the city of Prattville, says.
Agriculture is another large industry in both counties. Cotton farming is prominent in the county along with cattle, hay and various kinds of produce.
“What’s interesting about the Prattville-Autauga County market is you can be at a Target and in seven miles you can be in the county with 200 acres around you, so you have the opportunity to live in whatever lifestyle you choose to live. But agriculture is a huge driver for us as a county,” Hilliard says.
Tourism
In Elmore County, Wind Creek Wetumpka is a casino and resort located on the banks of the Coosa River. The Poarch Band of Creek Indians owns the complex, with a casino offering more than 2,000 games on its floor and a four-diamond hotel, spa, restaurants and live performances by popular entertainers.
Elmore County also is the place for sports entertainment. 17 Springs in Millbrook is a complex for youth and adult sports and tournaments that is growing into a place for dining, lodging and retail as well.
The complex features baseball and softball fields, football stadium, field house, a multi-purpose grass field for soccer and other sports, as well as tennis and pickleball courts.
Now, Marketplace at 17 Springs is under development and will include restaurants, retail and hotels to encourage visitors to stay in the area.
The county estimates that the Marketplace will attract more than 400,000 visitors a year and generate $166 million in economic activity, that will ripple through the community.
GKN Aerospace
GKN Aerospace is another major manufacturing employer in Elmore County with two plants in Tallassee that specialize in advanced composite and aerostructure production for civil and military aircraft programs.
About 1,000 people work at GKN in Tallassee in roles that include machinists, warehouse logistics and supply chain personnel and quality and manufacturing engineers.
Diverse Manufacturers/Sectors
Some of the largest companies in the manufacturing sector in Autauga and Elmore counties include Medline Industries in Prattville, a medical supply distribution center, and Kinedyne LLC, also in Prattville, which makes cargo control equipment.
In Eclectic, workers at Madix Inc. manufacture retail wood and metal shelving and displays, while in Tallassee, Neptune Technology Group makes water meters, and AES Industries offers a line of adapter curbs.
And at a plant in Autaugaville, Eleven86 Real Artesian Water is bottled by MRaine Industries. The company was named the Alabama Small Manufacturer of the Year in 2025 by the Business Council of Alabama and Manufacture Alabama.
Autauga and Elmore counties also are home to several automotive suppliers. Among the largest are Frasle Mobility in Prattville, which manufactures friction solutions for automobiles, and the Japanese manufacturer Kasai North America Inc., also in Prattville, which produces plastic injection molding.
Old World Industries, based in Illinois, is a company in the automotive aftermarket sector that supplies products such as antifreeze, coolant, diesel exhaust fluid and automotive headlights and operates a facility in Prattville. In 2025, Old World Industries announced its plans to expand its Prattville facility with a $20 million investment.
In Tallassee in Elmore County, Hanil USA assembles brake and fuel line bundles, and YESAC Corp. produces automotive jigs and pallets.
In Wetumpka, AG Manufacturing makes automotive electrical wire harnesses, and, in the town of Pine Level, SignMaster offers wholesale printing of signs made with aluminum, plastics and other materials, as well as banners, decals and posters.
SignMaster was a finalist for the 2025 Alabama Small Manufacturer of the Year contest.
Business Briefs:
OCTOBER 2025: Autaugaville-based MRaine Industries, which bottles Eleven86 Real Artesian Water, is named the 2025 Small Manufacturer of the Year by the Business Council of Alabama.
OCTOBER 2025: Central States Bus Sales, a Blue Bird School Bus dealer, opens a new 15,000-square-foot sales, parts and service center in Prattville, bringing 20 new jobs.
SEPTEMBER 2025: Toledo, Ohio-based Owens Corning announces plans for a shingle manufacturing plant in Prattville, bringing100 skilled jobs to the city. Construction is to begin in early 2026.
AUGUST 2025: River Bank & Trust, headquartered in Prattville, announces plans to open its first out-of-state office in Destin, Florida. Brad Hayes will lead the Florida office as region president.
JULY 2025: Home and farm supplier Rural King selects Prattville as the location for a new store. The store will open in the Prattville Plaza Shopping Center.
JUNE 2025: Southern Orthopaedic Surgeons is coming to Millbrook. The new medical complex will feature orthopedic and therapy services, as well as urgent care and family medicine clinics.
JUNE 2025: Guardian Credit Union breaks ground for its new branch in the town of Pine Level in Autauga County with plans to open by the end of 2025.
MAY 2025: Officials break ground for the new First Community Bank branch in the town of Pine Level. The new bank will be in the Interstate Business Park.
MARCH 2025: The sports-themed restaurant chain Baumhower’s Victory Grille announces plans to open a new location at The Marketplace at 17 Springs in Millbrook in the fall.
APRIL 2025: The private equity real estate firm Sage Lane Partners and ARK Holdings acquire the Hampton Inn & Suites Prattville hotel in a joint venture.
JANUARY 2025: Trophies and gifts retailer Sunrise & Sheridan opens its new location in downtown Prattville.
JUNE 2024: The city of Wetumpka breaks ground on the new River Town Center, a commercial complex to feature retail stores, restaurants, a fun park and more.
AUGUST 2024: Industrial packaging manufacturer UFP Packaging opens its new 50,000-square-foot facility in Autauga County in the Interstate Business Park.
MAY 2024: The Auburn University Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station closes on a $5.15 million, 904-acre property in Autaugaville. Scientists will use the property for row crop research.
This article appears in the January 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
