Franklin County Times

Since 2010 when the city of Russellville’s first speculative building was completed in the Russellville Industrial Park, the mantra of the Russellville Industrial Development Board and the Franklin County Development Authority (FCDA) has been, “If you build it, they will come,” and local officials are glad to announce that an existing Franklin County company will be using the spec building to expand its operations in Russellville.

Ron Franklin, glass mat operations manager for Saint-Gobain ADFORS, has announced that Saint-Gobain ADFORS’s Russellville glass mat facility has entered into a partnership with Scannell Properties to expand customer service operations in Russellville through the use of the newly purchased Russellville Spec Building #1 on Sibley Drive.

“Scannell Properties has purchased the speculative Sibley Road property from the Russellville Industrial Development Board and will enter into a long-term lease agreement with Saint-Gobain ADFORS for use of the Sibley Road location,” Franklin said.

“Scannell will complete construction within the original 50,000 square feet for Phase I of the spec building project in May 2014. The Phase II expansion should be complete in August 2014 for a total of 100,000 square feet.

“The building will be used by Saint-Gobain ADFORS to expand warehouse operations of finished goods. A minimum of four full-time positions will be added in 2014 to support operations.

“Our company and local plant team have received prompt support from the Russellville Industrial Development board and entire community. We are pleased to make a long term business commitment in Franklin County and in Russellville.”

FCDA executive director Mitch Mays said the spec building is serving the purpose it was meant for when it was first constructed.

“We have said for years now that these spec buildings are important because they could be the difference in a company choosing to locate in this area or a company choosing to open or expand operations somewhere else,” Mays said.

“Saint-Gobain ADFORS has been a thriving company in this area for many years, and when their success and sustainability created a need for additional space for warehouse distributions, we were glad that we could offer the kind of space they were needing just right down the road from their existing operations on Walnut Gate Road.

“It’s exciting that we were able to sell this spec building to a great Franklin County company that is willing to expand and continue to invest in this community.”

Russellville Mayor David Grissom said he appreciated the efforts of Mays, FCDA assistant director Sherye Price, as well as Russellville Industrial Development board chairman Larry Archer and board members Paul Bingham, Sharon Hester, Howard Hillman, Jr., Lowell Moore, Alan Rhudy and Greg Trapp for their work on this project.

“It just goes to show what teamwork can accomplish,” Grissom said.

“We appreciate Mr. Ron Franklin and the company officials with ADFORS Saint-Gobain for continuing to support the city of Russellville through economic development, and we look forward to what the future holds for this company here locally.”