Spotlight on Calhoun & Talladega: Economic Engines

Military and automotive vehicles, marble, wood products and more anchor the economies of Calhoun and Talladega counties

M1 Abrams tanks are on the move, shipped out from Anniston Army Depot.

Anniston Army Depot (ANAD)

Anniston Army Depot, established in 1941, is the Department of Defense Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for almost all ground combat, assault bridging, small arms, towed and self-propelled artillery systems, locomotives, rail equipment and non-tactical generators.

Major tenants include the Anniston Munitions Center, the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution and the U.S. Army Museum Support Center.

The Anniston Munitions Center is a U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command organization that is responsible for the storage, distribution and demilitarization of a $64 billion munition stockpile. The Defense Logistics Agency Distribution’s 240 employees sustain the warfighter through distribution operations exceeding 100,000 transactions annually. Within its 35 million cubic feet of storage area, it manages six million items, ranging from microchips to tanks and valued at more than $11 billion. The U.S. Army Museum Support Center-Anniston supports more than 40 Army museums worldwide and more than 167 historical holdings.

Including its tenant organizations, the depot boasts a workforce of 3,771 employees and is the largest employer in Calhoun County and among the largest in the state.

A major economic force within Calhoun County, Anniston Army Depot contributes $1 billion to the state’s economy.

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Honda Alabama Auto Plant

The Alabama Auto Plant, formerly Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, has been building Honda vehicles in Lincoln in Talladega County since 2001 and employs more than 4,900.

According to a 2019 Economic Development Partnership of Alabama study of Honda and its key Tier-1 suppliers in the state, the annual economic impact is $12 billion, with 45,000 total jobs in Alabama and representing 5.4% of the total Alabama GDP.

In April 2023, officials celebrated the opening of the plant’s new $16 million, 66,000-square-foot Post-Production Option (PPO) facility.

The plant is the world’s exclusive production home of the popular Honda Pilot and Passport SUVs, including all TrailSport models; the Odyssey minivan and the Ridgeline pickup. Its annual production capacity is 680,000 Honda light trucks and V-6 engines. Since it came to Lincoln, associates have produced more than 5.7 million vehicles and V-6 engines, with total investment of $3 billion.

Vehicle production and rehab

Calhoun County is home to multiple vehicle firms, several of them among the area’s largest employers. Companies include transit bus maker New Flyer, automotive seating supplier Bridgewater Interiors, interior automotive systems maker International Automotive Components, armored vehicle maker General Dynamics OTS Land Systems, military vehicle rehab firm BAE Systems and automotive seating maker CVG. CVG recently expanded and Bridgewater Interiors has announced an expansion.

In Talladega County, main players in this field include Honda supplier New South Express, plastics firm Kasai North America, Gulf Shore Assemblies, tractor-trailer firm Lohr North America, motor vehicle parts maker Nemak Aluminum Components, automotive stamper Cleveland-Cliffs (Fleetwood Metal) Industries, lubricant and grease firm ENEOS USA Inc. and rolled steel slitting firm Precision Strip Inc.

Metals industries are also key, including Tyler Union in Anniston, FabArc in Oxford, Doncasters in Oxford, M&H Valve Co. in Anniston, AmeriBolt in Childersburg, American Foam Cast Inc. in Sylacauga and Cooper Steel South in Childersburg. Associated Metalcast in Oxford is undergoing an $8.1 million expansion, adding 101 jobs.

FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness

Anniston is home to the nation’s premier training facility for emergency responders — the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP). With a work force of about 1,000, half full-time and half part-time, the Center develops and delivers advanced all-hazards training to emergency responders from all 50 states, U.S. territories and federally recognized tribal nations. Its mission: “Training the Best for The Worst.”

Approximately 60,000 emergency responders complete CDP training annually.

Talladega Superspeedway

The 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway, which opened in 1969, is NASCAR’s most competitive, the highest-banked and the longest track on the schedule. Three and four-wide racing at 200 mph is the norm.

The venue draws visitors from all 50 states and 22 countries, making it a major tourism draw for the region.

The Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind helps individuals with life and work skills.

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB)

AIDB serves almost 36,000 infants, children, adults and seniors in all 67 counties of the state who are deaf, blind, deafblind and multi-disabled and their families.

AIDB includes five campuses in Talladega: Alabama School for the Deaf, Alabama School for the Blind, Helen Keller School of Alabama (for children with multiple disabilities), E.H. Gentry Technical Facility (for adult rehabilitation) and Alabama Industries for the Blind (providing job training and employment).

In recent updates, the Daniel Foundation and others are working to create an AIDB Student Life and Conference Center. And AIDB has partnered with East AlabamaWorks to offer a modern manufacturing program to K-12 and adult students, age 16 and older.

Alabama Industries for the Blind is the fifth largest agency in the U.S. to employ people who are blind. Its focus is on a strong Upward Mobility Program to allow for promotions within the agency. AIB currently has 279 employees, 155 of whom are blind or visually impaired. AIB partners with National Industries for the Blind and The AbilityOne Program. AIB received the 2023 National Industries for the Blind Employment Growth Award and placement in Upward Mobility. 

This year AID added a new product line — producing bandoleer pouches for the federal government. That new line employs 26 people, 88% of whom are blind. Workers produce paper products, safety vests, pillow cases and more for clients including the federal government, the Alabama Department of Transportation, Troy University, University of Montevallo and Mayer.

McClellan Development Authority

McClellan is a former U.S. Army base that is now a master-planned, mixed-use development in Anniston with residential, commercial, industrial, education, research and technology development opportunities — plus an array of sports and  leisure options.

Lake Yahou Park offers fishing, biking, hiking, paddle boating and picnicking, connecting to 18 miles of scenic trails that welcome hikers, bikers, walkers and runners. The park and trails attract thousands of visitors to the community annually.

The McClellan Development Authority has been upgrading security systems, adding wayfinding signs and clearing land for more homes while private companies have added new businesses.

Marble

Quarries in Sylacauga in Talladega County produce the whitest, purest marble in the world, giving it the name “The Marble City.” Companies in the city grind the marble to use as an additive in pharmaceuticals, paints and other products. IKO Southeast uses ground marble in its manufacture of roofing shingles, Atlas Web Technologies in its coating materials and Heritage Plastics and PlastiCal in plastic pellets. Marble also is used for national cemetery markers, sculptures and buildings.

Among the largest is Imerys USA Inc., a marble quarry producing traditional Alabama White marble; Omya Alabama also produces ground calcium carbonate for a variety of uses and Sylacauga Masonry Arts produces cut marble to be used for items such as counter tops, sculptures and architectural uses. A recent newcomer to the sector is Sims Bark in Sylacauga, which bags marble chips.

Wood products

Both counties number wood and paper products companies among their largest manufacturers. In Calhoun County, those include fiberboard and flooring maker Kronospan, which just announced a major expansion. MJB Wood announced it will locate in Anniston.

A huge boost to the area is Wellborn Cabinet, based in Ashland, which will open a new manufacturing facility in Oxford, a $17 million investment that will create 400 jobs at the newest industrial park. The Calhoun County Economic Development Council and the city of Oxford developed the 130-acre Oxford West Industrial Park.

In Talladega County, Legacy Cabinets, Resolute Forest Products and Georgia-Pacific are counted among the largest.

Business Briefs:

May 2024: Groundbreaking is planned this summer for a 79-room Fairfield by Marriott hotel in Jacksonville.

April 2024: The Choccolocco Research Education and Technical Experience (CREATE) Center opens in Oxford in the former Honeywell building, providing job training for high school students.

May 2024: Waites Construction is clearing 200 acres in the Childersburg Industrial Park made possible by a Growing Alabama Grant from the Alabama Department of Commerce. The Talladega County Economic Development Authority will clear and seed an additional 113 acres in the southeast portion of the park.

September 2024: Land clearing and preparation is underway for a new workforce development center in Talladega County, called East Alabama Rural Innovation and Training Hub (EARTH). It will be located on the former 48-acre Avondale Mills site in Sylacauga, led by Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement.

March 2024: Alabama Specialty Products announces a $3 million expansion, with plans to add eight employees. ASP has grown to more than 200 employees since its beginning as Metal Samples in 1980.

March 2024: Programmable Logic Consulting purchased the former Koch Foods (Sylvest Poultry) building on the Old Birmingham Highway with plans to refurbish it and provide engineering services and manufacture industrial control panels for UL Certified Automation Systems. They plan to start with two employees and grow to 15 in three years. 

March 2024: Heritage South Credit Union has expanded in Sylacauga, with a new data center that provides more office space and meeting areas and is home to IT, collections, accounting and the U.S. 280 branch call center.

February 2024: Braxton Harris Co., a warehouse/distribution company in Anniston, announces a $4.6 million expansion, adding 40 jobs.

February 2024: The Calhoun County Economic Development Council receives an $858,000 Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) grant to help purchase 150-plus acres near the Oxford West Industrial Park.

October 2023: Auto Custom Carpets Inc. in Oxford, which makes replacement automotive carpet, announces a $3.4 million expansion, adding 25 jobs.

September 2023: Plans are being developed for a third 100,000-square-foot speculative building in the Lincoln Industrial Park. The previous two are occupied by Lohr and Aer-Flo Sports.

August 2023: Dennis Gilliam is named president of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. He is a longtime employee of AIDB.

August 2023: Boozer Beam, which makes laminated wood beams, announces a $2.5 million expansion of its facility in Anniston, adding five jobs.

July 2023: Tyler Union, which is among the McWane Inc. family of companies, is expanding its pressure fittings operation in Anniston, a $13.8 million investment adding about 15 jobs. 

July 2023: Wellborn Cabinets broke ground on its 250,000-square-foot facility in the Oxford Industrial Park. The company is investing $17 million and will employ 400 people when operational next year. The Calhoun County Economic Development Council and the city of Oxford developed the 130-acre industrial park in Talladega County.

July 2023: PlastiCal has begun a $15 million expansion, mostly adding equipment but eventually adding 40 employees. PlastiCal started in 2020 with the manufacture of plastic pellets for the injection molding industry.

July 2023: Sims Bark has constructed a power pole plant and has completed the expansion of its facilities to include a pallet plant to manufacture pallets for its own use, as well as provide pallets to companies in the Talladega County area.

July 2023: Associated Metalcast in Oxford announces an $8.1 million expansion, adding 101 jobs.

March 2023: Omya Inc., an industrial minerals producer, has announced a $26 million expansion that will employ an additional six people. 

March 2023: Aer-Flo Sports began production in the former Lincoln speculative building two. Aer-Flo makes netting and other products for athletic fields and employs 95 people.

May 2023: Kronospan, a major producer of hardwood and softwood panel products, announces a $350 million expansion — an Oriented Strand Board (OSB) manufacturing plant on 44 acres at its 460-acre Oxford plant. The expansion will add 125 jobs, for a total of about 600 employees. The company has invested more than $1 billion since beginning operations in Oxford in 2008.

April 2023: American Honda Motor Co. opens a $16 million, 66,000-square-foot accessory installation plant on its Lincoln campus. The plant will add accessory packages to completed vehicles made next door at the Alabama Auto Plant.

March 2023: MJB Wood, a wood products company, announces it will locate in Anniston and add 70 jobs.

December 2022: Honda’s Alabama Auto Plant launches a redesigned 2023 Pilot SUV, the largest and most powerful SUV in Honda’s history. The new vehicle involved changes in structure and training at the $3 billion, 4,500-worker factory.

October 2022: M&J Shipping, a logistics company in Sylacauga, announces a $650,000 expansion, adding 22 jobs.

August 2022: Bridgewater Interiors, an automotive interiors company in Oxford, announces a $2 million expansion.

June 2022: Laserfab, a metalworking company in Calhoun County, announces a $1.5 million expansion, adding 15 jobs.

June 2022: FabArc Steel in Oxford announces a $2 million expansion and 15 new jobs.

June 2022: CVG, an automotive seating company in Piedmont, announces a $3.2 million expansion, adding 80 jobs.

This article appears in the July 2024 issue of Business Alabama.

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