Governor Ivey Surprises Alabama With Positive News

Governor Kay Ivey recently made an announcement saying hundreds of jobs are coming to Alabama...

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Governor Kay Ivey recently announced that Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC), a Seattle-based company expanding micro-reactor technologies, intends to invest $232 million in Gadsden to manufacture its industry-leading Micro-Modular Reactor.

“Alabama is home to an impressive array of highly innovative companies, so our state is an ideal place for Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp.’s new advanced microreactor assembly plant,” said Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. “This unique facility will benefit the Gadsden community through a significant investment and the creation of good jobs, while also reinforcing Alabama’s reputation for cutting-edge manufacturing operations.”

"The highly automated MMR Assembly Plant (MAP) will manufacture, assemble, test and inspect the non-radiological modules needed to construct its advanced microreactors," according to a press release by the Governor. "No radioactive material is to be used or stored at the company’s new Alabama facility."

The decision to locate in Gadsden was made after a year-long search that included 16 states and hundreds of potential sites, according to Governor Ivey. The primary factors considered were the suitability and infrastructure of the site, the availability of skilled labor, and the overall project economics. It's also worth mentioning the Gadsden facility will be the country's first commercial-scale microreactor production facility. When fully operational, MAP will reportedly employ 250 people within the state of Alabama.

“We are attracted to Gadsden by their skilled workforce and the outstanding training programs and support they are bringing to the table,” said Ted Coulter, plant director for the MMR factory at USNC. “In Gadsden, I have confidence we can hire local talent and operate with both safety and efficiency. We are looking forward to becoming a member of the community.”

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