Montgomery — Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $252,900 grant to aid a Walker County industry in its expansion efforts, which will create new jobs and preserve existing ones. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funds will be used to upgrade and enlarge a water line to Nelson Brothers Inc., facilitating a $45 million capital expansion of its plant near Parrish. This expansion will help the chemical company retain its 55 employees and hire five additional workers.

“Nelson Brothers was founded nearly 70 years ago to meet a need in the mining industry, and it continues to thrive today,” Gov. Ivey said. “These funds will help the company continue to grow and serve its customers, while providing local jobs.”

The Parrish Water Works and Sewer Board, the grant recipient, plans to replace 5,400 feet of three-inch water line with six-inch piping and connect it to an existing six-inch line off Old Baltimore Road. This upgrade, along with connecting the line to a higher-elevation water tank, will boost water volume and pressure to meet fire protection requirements at the plant and improve service for other area water customers.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering the ARC award. Kenneth Boswell, ADECA Director, said, “The Appalachian Regional Commission continues to be a strong partner in helping water systems improve their service and in other quality of life and economic development projects. ADECA and Gov. Ivey are both grateful for the ARC’s contributions to Alabama over the past 50 years and more, including this project in Walker County.”

Gov. Ivey informed Cecil Canida, general manager of the Parrish Water Works and Sewer Board, of the grant’s approval. Local matching funds of $252,900 have been pledged for the project.