October 17, 2017
GREENUP COUNTY, KY. — Braidy Industries announced Tuesday morning a major change in the location for its $1.3 billion aluminum manufacturing mill, from South Shore to the EastPark industrial site in Greenup and Boyd counties.
The move was made necessary by an analysis of the South Shore property and the realization that it could not accommodate the deep foundations necessary to support Braidy’s mill, according to Braidy officials. As a result, Braidy is looking to purchase a sizable piece of land on Site B in the EastPark Industrial Center.
Site B of EastPark contains more than 600 acres of land. The original design for the plant in South Shore encompassed about 330 acres.
Importantly, the property will be immediately adjacent to Ashland Community and Technical College, which is developing a plan for a two-year associates degree in partnership with Braidy.
Lawrence County Clerk Chris Jobe informed members of the Lawrence Fiscal Court this morning during their regular October meeting that he had learned of a “big announcement that is coming today” but was not at liberty to discuss what it was.
State Representative Jill York (R-Grayson) said today in a telephone interview with thelevisalazer.com that she is “very pleased” with the announcement since the Braidy facility will now be in Eastpark, which is managed by FIVCO, an agency that includes Lawrence County.
“This will mean Lawrence Countians will have the chance to get even more jobs at Braidy since we are a part of FIVCO,” she said.
She added that the facility will attract several other ancillary companies to the area that will make products for Braidy. Lawrence County, the home of at least three vacant industrial sites could attract one of those companies meaning even more good paying jobs.
Here is her official announcement:
Statement from Rep. Jill York on Change in Braidy Industries’ Location: Braidy Industries Announced Today it Will Move Its Location from South Shore to the EastPark Industrial Site
“The announcement today to locate the $1.3 billion dollar Braidy Industries aluminum manufacturing mill in EastPark is an even better development for Lawrence and Carter Counties, while still being good for every single other surrounding county. With the EastPark location, Braidy will be incredibly accessible via I-64 and will gain even more acreage, allowing for the initial space necessary while also making future expansion possible. As Braidy grows its presence, I anticipate additional companies will follow suit to capitalize on the skilled workforce we are growing. Our region continues to gain from this incredibly big announcement which is poised to bring jobs and a better future for generations of Kentuckians.”
“In our diligence efforts, we discovered a risk that our peculiar needs for deep foundations for the mill could not be met without incurring material delays to our planned groundbreaking in the second quarter of 2018,” said Braidy Industries Executive Vice President of Engineering, Alan Blankshain. “Our site will ultimately have to sustain the type of deep-bore foundations necessary to support massive equipment and the processes required to manufacturer high quality automotive and AeroSpace aluminum.”
The company is still in negotiations to buy land on EastPark property. The City of Ashland provides water and sewer services for EastPark. The park is connected to a port on the Ohio River in Wurtland, and is located where Interstate 64 and KY 67 connect. Rail access is also in close proximity.
Braidy Industries Chairman and CEO Craig T. Bouchard said “We will accept no risk of a slowdown to our ground-breaking process. The Braidy mill project is key to regional economic development and a dramatic improvement of the labor participation rate in the five county area. Avoidable delays are not acceptable when so many families want to get back to work. The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is a critical component to securing and training top flight talent we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to colocate with the Ashland Community and Technical College.”
Glenn Puit and Andrew Adkins | The Daily Independent
Lazer Editor& Publisher Mark Grayson contributed to this story.
