Opp to get 80 new jobs
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Eighty new jobs are coming to Opp by June 2016.
The Opp City Council on Monday entered into an agreement with the Covington County Economic Development Commission, the county commission, Covington Electric Cooperative and Alabama Aerospace Manufacturing and Georgia Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing.
According to the project agreement, the company has agreed to lease and remodel the AAM building for no less than five years and invest no less than $3 million to modify and equip the facility.
Renovations are to begin no later than July 1 and operations are to begin at the faculty no later than June 30, 2015.
By the end of this year, the company has agreed to 20 new full-time employees, with a base wage of at least $21,754 a year.
Mayor Pro Tem Arlin Davis said he hoped the business would help improve the economy some.
“Ernie DePrinzio worked hard to make sure we got this,” he said. “The utility board also stepped up.”
Opp Mayor John Bartholomew excused himself from the special meeting Monday due to the fact that he owned a controlling, 70 percent interes,t in the Opp company at the time that it was acquired by Georgia Aerospace.
During two special called meetings in April, the Opp City Council and Utilities Board each agreed to pledge $50,000 towards a special account that will be used to help defer the costs of moving equipment and personnel to Opp for Georgia Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing.
Additionally, the Covington County Commisison will contribute $80,000, while CEC will contribute $100,000.