Yesterday, CTCO Shipyard of Alabama, LLC formally announced that it had purchased 88 acres situated in the Demopolis Airport Industrial Park. The process of renovating an existing facility and reclaiming a barge slip on the Tombigbee River has been underway for quite some time.

CTCO Shipyard of Alabama will manufacture marine equipment, including liquid petroleum tank barges. They expect to employ about 50 employees initially, with plans for 100 employees by December of next year.

These are good jobs with good benefits.

These are the kinds jobs counties and communities clamor for. These are the kinds of jobs people want and these are the kinds of jobs the people of this area deserve.

We extend a huge thank you to the Mayor and Council of the City of Demopolis; the Demopolis Industrial Development Board and its former Executive Secretary, Jay Shows; the Marengo County Commission; the Marengo County Economic Development Authority and its Executive Director, Debra M. Fox and the Alabama Development Office. Without their hard work and diligence, this may never have happened.

The best thing for a sluggish economy is the availability of good jobs with good companies.

The chips are beginning to fall into place for our region and we thank the men and women who have finally made that happen.