STEVENSON, Alabama — About two years ago, Brown-Forman Cooperage, a subsidiary of the company that makes Jack Daniel’s whiskey, opened a factory in Stevenson to make oak slats for whiskey casks, making the Wine has a unique taste.
Since then, Brown-Forman Corp., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, has developed a great relationship with the city and its people, said Bob Russell, the company’s manager of mills and lumber purchasing.He believes the company has researched dozens of possible locations in the Tennessee Valley to find the ideal location for the plant.
Stevenson’s location on the edge of the Tennessee River in northern Alabama’s Jackson County makes it a natural fit for a variety of manufacturers.The town of approximately 2,000 residents is within a two-hour drive of Birmingham, Atlanta and Nashville, and just 45 minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee.Just minutes from two interstate highways, the four-lane U.S. Highway 72 stretches to Huntsville, an hour away.
The town also has two major railroads, an excellent infrastructure system, low utility rates and a low cost of living.Industrial Development Council member Walter Vinson said Stevenson was fortunate to be close to several major cities and to have access to the Tennessee River.
Stevenson Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Spencer said the work ethic of the city’s residents is the biggest draw for businesses looking to position or expand.”Many of our residents work on farms – they know what hard work is,” he said.”Not everyone knows how to do hard industrial work. It’s part of our people’s lives. Their work ethic is second to none.
“In smaller towns, we’re more of a family of our industry than a big city or other entity,” he added. “We’re closer, and it’s a good two-way support.”
Spencer said the town has built new parks (including an RV park) and boat docks to make the area more attractive.Other attractions include three forts, including the Civil War-era mound fort.”We use our history and our river to try to make Stevenson more attractive,” he said.
Stevenson officials hope other businesses will follow Brown-Forman’s lead and consider the area.Available for industrial use is 40 acres of land, with rail service running through it.Vinson said the land is less than two miles from the highway and a short drive from Chattanooga.
“We want to show the industry that they are welcome here and we tailor our services and products to their needs,” Vinson said.
Russell said Stevenson provided the raw materials the company needed to make the casks.On 55 acres north of Stevenson, the factory produces the slats from high-quality white oak logs that make up the aging barrels used at Jack Daniel’s Winery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
“We set our sights on Jackson County and Stevenson and had a great experience here,” Russell said.“We can source our raw materials because the area is rich in natural resources to feed our factories. We know this area is a great place and it’s also a logging-friendly community. It’s a natural fit for us.”
“We have good roads and a great location, and we are able to easily transport our products and materials in and out of the area,” he added.
The company currently employs 29 people and also does business with around 40 loggers in different regions.In addition, Russell said, the company does extensive business with local communities.
AIDT, a division of the Alabama Department of Commerce, was instrumental in screening employees at the Brown-Forman facility and conducting training sessions for workers.
For regional businesses, workforce training is available at nearby Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainesville, which can quickly customize training programs to company specifications.Also offered is the Earnest Pruett Center for Technology (EPCOT), an educational extension of eight high schools in Scottsboro and Jackson counties that provides advanced training for students looking to prepare for the 21st century workforce.
Alabama may be small in size, but its capacity to accommodate businesses seeking to succeed is enormous.Learn why companies like Mercedes, Airbus, Hyundai and Honda have decided to call Alabama their home.
Post time: Mar-02-2022
