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New Era Cap Co. breaks ground on expansion A special ceremony to mark the groundbreaking on expansion at New Era Cap Company's Jackson plant was conducted Tuesday, Jan. 16, with a number of city and county officials, company heads and members of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce in attendance. The 50,000 square foot addition will include the company's fabric cutting, heat seal and finished cap embroidery functions, which are being transferred from its Mobile facility. Once the expansion is complete, approximately 40 new jobs will initially be added at the plant, with room for future growth, according to Plant Manager Gary Nelson. In November, the Jackson City Council approved a measure to contribute up to $2 million to the city's Industrial Development Board for the expansion at the plant. The Clarke County Commission also contributed $500,000 of recenlty received industrial funds to the project. "On behalf of New Era I would like to express our thanks to all the groups represented here who worked together to make this happen," said Jim Patterson, the company's vice president of global operations. "In 2000 we opened this facility and began with 50 employees. Today, we have 950 employees in the state of Alabama with 360-plus of them in this building." Mayor Richard Long spoke to those attending the ceremony, which was conducted indoors due to inclement weather. "This was made possible by all of the employees at this facility. This is a fantastic step forward, and it is thanks to all of you," he said addressing the plant's employees. "We look forward to this expansion and continued growth." Long went on to compliment former Jackson Mayor Norma Beard and her administration for the work they did in bringing New Era to Jackson. Sewell McKee and Associates are serving as the architects for the project. Cooper Brothers Construction, based in Dallas County, is the general contractor.
Thomas Bolton, president of Cooper Brothers, Clarke County Commission Chairman Paul Bradford and Industrial Board president Paul Parham each spoke briefly to those attending.
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