Big Jobs Announcement Planned In Saline County

State economic development officials are planning a "significant announcement" in Saline County tomorrow. The event is expected to reveal a $110 million investment and more than 100 new jobs in the region.

The event is scheduled for 10 am at the Bauxite Community Center and Museum.

Bauxite Mayor Johnny McMahan tells the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that French-based Saint-Gobain will expand its local mining operations with a new facility that could employ more than 100 new workers.

From the Democrat-Gazette:

A formal announcement of what McMahan described as a $100 million to $110 million expansion of a plant that mines Bauxite for use in fracking is scheduled for Wednesday. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission said Gov. Mike Beebe would join company officials for a "significant" investment, but it did not release details on what the news would be.

McMahan said Saint-Gobain would expand their current operations in a major way, using the new facility to mine Bauxite to be used in the manufacturing a BBs. The BBs will be used by natural gas drillers.

"It means a whole lot," McMahan said. "This just shows that Bauxite is on the way back."

McMahan said the plant is expected to create 100 to 120 jobs with salaries of up to $20 an hour. The company currently has a presence in Bauxite, though McMahan said he thought it currently employs fewer than 20 people.

You can read their full coverage at this link. Talk Business will report more on the story after Wednesday’s press conference.