• Name: Geo Specialty Chemicals.
• Location: 751 Pineville Road.
• Status: Workers have dug footings and poured the slab for a new building at the site. The next step is to begin constructing the metal building. Because the new building will include a number of tanks for mixing strong chemicals, workers are building a containment area with sloped concrete that will add to the cost of the project.
• Price: $800,000.
• Features: This 2,500-square-foot building is designed to mix chemicals that will be used by utilities such as Tennessee American Water that need to control pH levels and keep drinking water pure. It’s an addition to the existing 10,000-square-foot plant.
• Workers: About 10 workers are constructing the building. When complete, the new building will employ four to six employees.
• Company info: Geo Specialty Chemicals, based in Lafayette, Ind., supports almost two-dozen plants through the southeastern U.S. and specializes in chemicals for paints, water treatment, papermaking and other industrial processes. Geo manufacturers more than 300 products and boasts more than 1,000 customers. Founded in 1993, the privately held company has six Chattanooga-area employees, according to Jim Gifford, president of contractor Southeast Co.
• Contractors: Don Oscai of O.C. Construction.
Ellis Smith joined the Chattanooga Times Free Press in January 2010 as a business reporter. His beat includes the flooring industry, Chattem, Unum, Krystal, the automobile market, real estate and technology. Ellis is from Marietta, Ga., and has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication at the University of West Georgia. He previously worked at UTV-13 News, Carrollton, Ga., as a producer; at the The West Georgian, Carrollton, Ga., as editor; and at the Times-Georgian, Carrollton, ...
