Jasper, Alabama - Fontaine Trailer Company, the world’s largest flatbed trailer manufacturer headquartered in Jasper, has announced it will invest over $5 million in new business opportunities and expansions at its Jasper campus, beginning in 2012.
Fontaine has established two new businesses called Fontaine Intermodal and Fontaine Renew which will be located in Jasper. Additionally, Fontaine is expanding its Parts and Service organization called PartSource through the purchase and renovation of warehouse facilities in the Bevill Industrial Park. Fontaine is also enhancing its research and development capabilities by expanding into a renovated facility recently purchased in the Bevill Industrial Park.
"Fontaine's expansion in Walker County is a great compliment to the hard workers who've made the company successful," Governor Robert Bentley said. "Alabama has a strong workforce. We have a business-friendly climate. And we're committed to helping companies expand. I want to thank the leaders of Fontaine, the elected leaders from Walker County, our economic developers, and all others who worked together to make this expansion possible. Job creation remains my number-one priority, and Fontaine's expansion will mean more new jobs and more new opportunities for the people of this area."
“These expansions have already created about 50 jobs which have been filled and will create as many as 150 more jobs over the next several months here in Jasper, Alabama,” says John Craig, group president of Marmon Highway Technologies, Fontaine’s parent company. “Our local management team is excited about the opportunities we see for the future of Fontaine here in Jasper. The City of Jasper has been very helpful and cooperative to Fontaine since Fontaine started locating facilities here in 2005. We are very much appreciative of the efforts by our mayor and other leaders here in Jasper along with the Walker County Development Authority. The city leadership has been helpful and easy to deal with as we made the decision to invest here in Jasper.”
Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said, “Fontaine’s announcement today and its plans to initiate new manufacturing capabilities to accommodate the needs of its customers is a perfect match for our state’s economic development plan, Accelerate Alabama “We are pleased that the company continues to grow and hire additional Alabamians. We will be here to help Fontaine as it navigates new markets and establishes new product lines. Thank you for your confidence in the business climate of Alabama,” he continued.