Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $1 million community development block grant to help pay for infrastructure upgrades needed for construction of a graphite processing plant in Coosa County.
The funds will help the city of Alexander City extend sewer facilities to Kellyton Industrial Park, where Westwater Resources plans to build its graphite plant.
The Colorado-based firm plans a $202 million plant that will employ about 100 people and process 7,500 tons of graphite per year, eventually expanding processing to 15,000 tons per year. The graphite, which will be mined in Coosa County, will be used in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries including batteries for electric vehicles.
“I am beyond proud to continue lending support to Westwater Resources’ plans to build the first U.S.-based graphite processing plant,” said Ivey. “We can be proud that this important ingredient in producing EV batteries is being produced here in the United States, but also here in Sweet Home Alabama.”
Funding for the block grant comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
