PUBLIC HEARING — R.C. Mitchell (standing, left center) offers words of welcome to Martin Marietta Composites during last week's public hearing on the proposed incentive agreement to help encourage the company to come here and provide jobs. County commission Chairman Eldon Edwards (standing, right) offered each audience member a chance to speak, as MMC Vice President Grant Godwin (center foreground, with notebook) listened and afterward responded and answered questions.

Mood is upbeat at public hearing on Martin Marietta Composites

The mood was upbeat as local residents had the opportunity last week to meet a Martin Marietta corporate official and to have their say about the company's plans to occupy the former Bristol Compressors building. An audience of about 25 attended the Jan. 22 public hearing at the Alleghany County Courthouse, convened jointly by the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners and the Sparta Town Council, regarding the proposed incentive agreement with the company.

In remarks at the meeting, Grant Godwin, vice president of Martin Marietta Composites (MMC), emphasized the company's potential for growth, his positive impression of the people of Alleghany and the company's commitment to hiring many of them at the plant.

Last month, MMC, a subsidiary of Martin Marietta Materials, announced plans to occupy the building. The company will use the facility to produce fiber-reinforced bridge decks and truck trailers made of composite materials.

"The future is looking brighter all the time for Alleghany County," said commission Chairman Eldon Edwards, who moderated the hearing. "I think we have a better outlook from this company than we had with Bristol."

Mayor John H. Miller also offered opening remarks regarding the hearing, saying, "We want to let the citizens know we are working, we're not just sitting around."

Hiring Strategy

County Manager Don Adams gave a presentation on MMC's plans and the incentive agreement. He said the production schedule is to begin at the Sparta plant in March, with about six people working on the bridge decking. Production on the trailers here should commence this summer, with the first line crew of 24. Adams said the company plans to hire about 24 additional workers every three months.

Godwin said job openings will be advertised in the newspaper — the first few in late February, followed by the first line crew around May — with applications handled through the N.C. Employment Security Commission.

Adams stressed that the incentive package is performance-based. MMC is expected to invest a total of about $12 million in the plant.

Meanwhile, under the agreement, the town and county would provide a combined $361,950 by 2017; that would reimburse most of the cost of the renovations to the building.

"The main purpose of this is to encourage the company to grow over this period of time," said Adams.

He and other officials repeatedly (but affably) emphasized that the property has another 180,000 square feet available for expansion.

Edwards gave each person present the opportunity to speak, whether with comments or questions. Most comments were favorable, as individuals, including some former Bristol employees, thanked MMC for the venture. "I'm one of the people who are unemployed," said Elizabeth Bryan. "I'm excited about you coming."

Robert Overbay of Sparta remarked, "I think our citizens are the ones paying for it to come in here; I think they should have priority (in hiring)."

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