AMARILLO,TEXAS -- Amarillo received some good economic news Wednesday that will help hundreds of employees who were laid off from Owens Corning last year.
The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation has given a job creation grant to the company. Meaning Owens Corning can expand its workforce and re-hire some of the workers who were let go last year.
When the AEDC executive session came to an end $1.5 million was set aside for Owens Corning. That's the amount being given as a grant to help the expansion of up to 145 new employees.
The company is planning a three stage expansion project: increasing, production, adding new products and introducing proprietary technology.
The grant will go towards the hiring of the new employees, along with its $20 million expansion.
Alstom's new turbine Nacelle Manufacturing Facility, some of the components needed can be made by Owens Corning.
"We're hoping we'll see more opportunities for their product to actually be formed into products made here locally. That's one of the reasons we always include local spending criteria in this. If we can encourage a company to buy things locally and support other vendors here, that's a triple win...I'm not just saying win/win...but a triple win," said AEDC President, Buzz David.
Currently, Owens Corning has 468 employees with an annual payroll exceeding $24 million and local vendor purchases around $3 million.
