Coastal Recycling to open in July

By Tammy Leytham

The Selma Times-Journal

Between 30 and 40 new jobs will be coming to Selma and Dallas County, officials announced Friday.

Coastal Recycling announced the opening of a facility at Selfield Industrial Park during a press conference held jointly by the Selma and Dallas County Economic Development Authority and Team Selma.

The company will invest $1.4 million into the project. Phase I includes recycling of all metals and should be in operation by July.

Coastal Recycling will hire skilled people like welders, burners and equipment operators along with general laborers.

Phase I, which is an aluminum smelting operation, is schedule for completion by January 2009, at which time the company will be at full capacity, Vardaman said.

The company is a full processing facility and will do its own on-site processing of various metals received, bailing and shearing, making it ready to go directly to the foundries, according to a press release.

Vardaman said having businesses the size of Coastal Recycling helps diversify the economic climate in the area.

Vardaman added that the unemployment rate is now at about 5 percent.

U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, D-Birmingham, said this kind of announcement &8220;is becoming the norm&8221; for Dallas County.

Davis credited the community for the growth that has occurred in the economy.

Mayor James Perkins Jr. and Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard were also on hand for the announcement, and welcomed Coastal Recycling to the community.

Ballard told Duncan, &8220;we’re proud to have you here. We want to be the kind of corporate neighbor to you that, if you expand, we’ll be here for you.&8221;

The company, which has been in the recycling business for a combined total of 24 years, has previously owned facilities in Piedmont, Gadsden and Pell City.