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New Era Cap plant expansion saluted
"This is a beautiful 50,000 square foot expansion," the mayor said, "and we're excited." The expansion construction cost $2,042,248.00. New Era Cap Company is considered the largest sports-licensed headwear company in the United States. The company is the pre- mier cap provider for Major League Baseball, as well as selected National Basketball Association and National Hockey League franchises and specific collegiate athletic programs.
The company has been in Jackson for seven years. "You've got a tremendous work ethic," Mayor Long told the employees. "You put out a quality product and you have made the city and all of us proud of you. Without you we would not have had this expansion today."
Rhone said he was proud to see the New Era logo when he watches Major League Baseball games. "Those caps were made in Clarke County, Alabama and Demopolis in Marengo County," he said. "In little old Southwest Alabama, it gives you that worldwide exposure." "It's great that we can have a relationship with our existing industries where they want to expand in Clarke County - not be wanting to move out," said Commissioner Elma Averett. He was glad to hear that approximately 98 percent of the new jobs in the expansion would include county residents. Approximately 40 new employees have been added for the expansion.
"New Era is an excellent corporate citizen. We are just pleased to have them in the area. From the time that they came in when Vanity Fair closed until now through this expansion process, it's been a great pleasure to work with them." She said New Era was making "a stable impact for the community." "This is definitely a win-win situation," Mayor Long said. "We started talking about it eight months ago. It was expand here or expand somewhere else. We got involved and got the IDB (Industrial Development Board)…and City Council involved. We definitely wanted them to stay in Jackson, Alabama so we agreed to build a 50,000 square foot expansion. "We had a tremendous contractor (Cooper Brothers Construction of Selma) who got the job done in six months. It's just exciting to be here six months later and see this building." In addition, New Era "is involved in our community," the mayor said. "There is not a thing that comes up that they don't get heavily involved in, like CCARC Spring Festival, Forestry Festival, Relay For Life. Anything that this community does, New Era and their employees are involved with us." "It's not about the building, but the people we have here at New Era Cap Company," said Tim Freer, Vice President of Global Human Resources for New Era. The quality product produced is a credit to ability and craftsmanship of the area employees, he said. "It's a skill that we appreciate and a contribution to our success. We are growing as a company, and we have invested heavily in this area." Mayor Long said the New Era expansion is part of a growth pattern for Jackson that began two years and has accelerated with the announcement of the ThyssenKrupp steel manufacturing facility in Mobile County. "We don't see anything but extended growth," he said. Only 30 miles north of the proposed TK plant, Jackson "is in a perfect position. We're talking to people every day."
"Jackson is just on the verge of really growing," said Paul Parham, chairman of the Jackson IDB. The expansion gives the city more jobs and gives residents more opportunities. "We will be able to keep our kids at home and keep them employed," he said.
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