BY THE NUMBERS$1.45 billion: The planned investment by Wacker in its polysilicon plant near Charleston, Tenn.650: Number of employees that Wacker plans to hire$64.2 million: State grant awarded last year for preparing the Wacker site and roads$34.6 million: State bonds and cash to be issued for further infrastructure work$3.1 million: Tennessee Fast Track grant for employee trainingSource: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community DevelopmentWHAT’S NEXTWacker will conduct a career fair from 9 a.m. to noon today at the Health and Physical Fitness building at Chattanooga State on Amnicola Highway. Wacker is seeking to fill 70 lead chemical operator positions with a starting wage of $15 an hour.
NASHVILLE – A proposed $34.6 million state grant for Wacker Chemical’s plant near Cleveland, Tenn., is drawing praise from a Bradley County lawmaker.
Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, said it will make a “welcome gift” for German company’s April 8 groundbreaking ceremony.
“They have greatly increased their investment so we are reciprocating from the state by helping them with infrastructure and things needed to be done to get that site ready,” Brooks said. “I’m very grateful the state is still able to do that.”
When Wacker initially announced plans two years ago to build its polysilicon production plant for the solar power industry, the facility near Charleston was to employ 500 workers. But in December, Wacker officials announced they were expanding their investment from $1 billion to $1.45 billion and employing an additional 150 people.