Expansion bringing new jobs
Nearly 10 months after purchasing property in Russellville, the expanded Southern Energy Homes facility will hold a grand opening event to celebrate the expansion and the upcoming addition of 50-70 jobs.
The event is scheduled for Aug. 8 at the new facility, located in Russellville Industrial Park #2 on Franklin 44 in Russellville.
Southern Energy Homes, Inc., a subsidiary of Clayton Homes, officially made the decision to relocate to Russellville last October when they purchased the empty Franklin Homes property in Russellville Industrial Park #2.
The state-of-the-art, home-building facility will be the predominant builder for SEhomes’ Southern Homes line.
The 176,000-sq. ft. facility sits on 27 acres and will have the capacity to produce an average of 1,500 homes annually, according to the company.
The facility, which was relocated from its previous facility in Double Springs, features cutting edge technology, such as motorized decking and shingle systems, state-of-the-art adjustable floor jigs, self-enclosed paint booths, advanced remote controlled cranes, and it allows for team members to build larger homes up to 86 feet in length.
SEhomes currently employs 270 team members at the Russellville facility, and company officials said they anticipate adding 50-70 new jobs.
“When an existing Alabama company chooses to expand, more job opportunities are created for Alabamians,” said Gov. Robert Bentley, who is scheduled to be at the grand opening.
“This new, innovative facility will bring more than 50 new jobs to Russellville and the surrounding area. I appreciate Clayton Homes’ continued investment in Alabama.”
The Russellville facility is the second home building facility the company has opened in Alabama this year. In 2013 alone, 5,398 homes were built in Alabama by Clayton Homes’ CMH Family of Brands.
“Alabama has been a valued leader in our pursuit of exceptional homebuilding, and we are proud to expand within the state, not only with an additional facility in Alabama, but with the most advanced home building facility in the nation,” said Keith Holdbrooks, president of CMH Manufacturing, Inc., Clayton Homes’ manufacturing division.
“This facility, like our pursuit of ISO Environmental certification, is but one example of how we are innovating home building every day.”
Additionally, SEhomes was selected by Systems Building Research Alliance (SBRA) to build three homes for a 15-month test of energy performance. The homes represent three levels of energy efficiency: a home that complies with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) thermal standards, an ENERGY STAR® qualified home and a home that meets the requirements of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Challenge Home Program. All three test homes will be located at SEhomes’ new Russellville facility through July 2015.
The Russellville facility solely will produce SEhomes’ Southern Homes brand, which consists of home models that are all built to HUD code, and require multiple inspection points. These homes can also be upgraded to ENERGY STAR® qualification for homeowners who want lower energy bills.
The homes from this facility will be available throughout the Southeast.
“We are excited to bring Southern Homes to Russellville and to join its growing community, while providing jobs and deepening our continued investment in the state of Alabama,” said David Brewer, general manager of SEhomes.
“SEhomes continuously pursues innovation, and strives to raise the global standards for home building processes. This is executed through the state-of-the-art building environment offered at our Russellville facility.”
Russellville Mayor David Grissom said the opening of the new expansion and the addition of jobs was a great thing for the local economy.
“We are fortunate and thankful that Southern Energy has chosen Russellville for their expansion, and we are looking forward to this grand opening event,” Grissom said.
“The addition of 50-70 jobs is huge for our local economy and we look forward to a long-term relationship with Southern Energy.”
