Officials in Marion County are waiting anxiously for word from Chicago Bridge & Iron on its plans for 61 acres along the Tennessee River.
County Mayor Howell Moss says the situation looks more promising every day.
“I can’t believe that they would keep spending all that kind of money they’re spending,” Mr. Moss said. “They’re just not ready to announce yet.”
Mr. Moss said CB&I officials told him they will decide on an engineering firm for the project in the next couple of weeks.
Officials at CB&I, a worldwide company based in the Netherlands, have been tight-lipped so far, but last week spokeswoman Jan Sieving confirmed the company is “pursuing plans to construct a fabrication plant.”
Ms. Sieving said no other sites are being considered but that the company hasn’t picked Marion County either.
In June, CB&I closed on the land next to the Nickajack Port Authority property near New Hope, records show. The purchase consolidated properties owned by Nickajack Port Authority, Nick-A-Jack Inc. and Doris King and Hilda Olinger.
“We bought the site with the idea of building a fabrication shop,” Ms. Sieving said. “We’re in the early stages of development, but no firm commitment has been made.”
Marion County officials and residents have been welcoming, she said.
“The local community has been very supportive, and we’re very appreciative of their help,” she said.
Mr. Moss said CB&I could bring as many as 350 jobs for workers from Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama.
Mr. Moss said the county is working with Chattanooga State Technical Community College to be ready to train workers.
New Hope Mayor Mark Myers said people are excited about the prospect of a major industry coming to town.
“They can’t wait to see it break ground and get some people hired and some jobs going,” Mr. Myers said.
If CB&I puts a plant in New Hope, parts of state Highway 156 will be widened and some utility wires raised to make way for large pieces of construction equipment, he said.
CB&I officials are expected to visit Marion County later this month to discuss utilities, he said.
Another promising development is that the King and Olinger families, who were being allowed to cut hay from the site, were told recently that the fall cutting would probably be the last they’d get, Mr. Myers said.
“We’re just waiting on the company’s next move,” he said.
Mr. Moss and Mr. Myers said it’s an exciting time in the region’s industrial recruitment. They said the combination of Volkswagen’s announcement in Chattanooga and the possibility of a CB&I plant in New Hope could have a major impact on Marion County.
Ben Benton is a news reporter at the Chattanooga Times Free Press. He covers Southeast Tennessee and previously covered North Georgia education. Ben has worked at the Times Free Press since November 2005, first covering Bledsoe and Sequatchie counties and later adding Marion, Grundy and other counties in the northern and western edges of the region to his coverage. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Tenn., a graduate of Bradley Central High School. Benton ...
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