With the recession saturating the media, news of expansion in manufacturing is certainly positive.
On Thursday, a tax-break approval by the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority cleared the way for a $290 million expansion at the Mercedes manufacturing facility in Vance.
The growth will include expansions in the body shop and help them prepare for when the market turns around.
Dara Longgrear of the authority said, "I think it's very notable that this is the only place in the Daimler system that any sort of investment of this magnitude is being done. So, it's again a reaffirmation that Tuscaloosa County, Alabama’s a good place to do business and they're preparing for the future."
Mercedes officials say construction should begin in about a month. They also tell us there are no plans at this time to re-hire anyone who was recently laid-off, or, to hire new employees.
