Giving thanks for jobs

By Staff
Jonathan Willis FCT Staff Writer
Someone in Franklin County must have put new jobs on their Christmas wish list.
If so, Santa has made an early delivery.
Stylecrest Products will open a distribution center at the former Heilig-Meyers building in the Russellville industrial park next week, said chief executive officer Thomas L. Kern at an opening ceremony at the plant Tuesday.
The distribution center is the first phase in what the company hopes will turn into one of its largest manufacturing facilities.
The company produces a various assortment of products, including vinyl siding, for the mobile home industry and services 48 states from 17 different locations.
The opening of the distribution center will lead to the creation of 28-30 new jobs, but state senator Roger Bedford said that number could grow quickly.
Several speakers at Tuesday's event, including Bedford and Kern, were quick to commend local resident Mike Madden for his efforts in the company's arrival to Franklin County.
Kern said that Madden's efforts played a big role in the decision to come here.
Kern said that his company looked at several locations across the southeast, but the combined efforts of the local leaders is why Stylecrest chose to locate in Russellville.
Bob Rogers, chairman of the Franklin County Development Authority, said that local banks were also key to making the area a logical choice for the company. Five different local banks joined to finance the project.
The addition of Stylecrest to the local economy is in large part due to existing companies, which hopefully, others will choose to build upon as well.