ERI Job Fair Draws 750 People to Badin

Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the first tenant in the Badin Business Park, drew quite a crowd for its first job fair on Saturday. More than 750 people turned out, hoping for a chance to work at the new electronic recycling facility located at the site of Alcoa's former aluminum plant. ERI will hire 20-30 people this summer and employ 150 people by the end of next year.

People started lining up at 6 am, and the line stretched around the Badin fire department and down the street by mid-morning. That demonstrates just how much the community needs new jobs. Alcoa is engaged in ongoing discussions with additional companies about moving to Badin Business Park and will continue efforts to recruit new jobs to Stanly County.

Read the AP article.

Read the Stanly News and Press article.

Read the Winston-Salem Journal article.

ERI Job Fair Coming to Badin

The first tenant of the new Badin Business Park, located at the site of Alcoa's former aluminum smelter plant, has announced that it will hold a job fair in Badin on Saturday, July 16 and immediately begin hiring a local workforce.

Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the world’s largest recycler of electronic waste, plans to hire 20-30 employees this summer to assist with the startup of its Southeast regional recycling hub. It will grow its workforce to more than 150 employees by the end of 2012 and eventually plans to hire up to 200 employees as its recycling volume grows.  

ERI will begin operations this month in a temporary facility before moving into a permanent, 165,000 square-foot facility in January 2012. ERI is investing $5 million in the facility, and Alcoa is spending an additional $5 million on building improvements.

Alcoa recruited ERI to the Badin earlier this year and continues to work with state and local officials to attract additional employers to the Badin Business Park, which will have 535,000 square-feet of prime industrial space and 50 acres available for development after ERI moves into its new facility.

Click here to read more about the job fair.

President Obama visits Alcoa

President Barack Obama toured Alcoa's Davenport, Iowa plant on Tuesday to see how it is making ground and air transportation lighter, stronger and safer. He announced that Alcoa is joining the President's Advanced Manufacturing Partnership, an effort to bring together industry, universities, and the federal government to invest in emerging technologies to create high quality manufacturing jobs and enhance competitiveness. 

“At companies like Alcoa reinvention is a way of life…that spirit is at the heart of our American story," President Obama said. 

Click on the video below to see highlights from his visit:

Click here to read more about President Obama's visit.