RIPLEY, W.Va. — Jackson County Commission President Dick Waybright says maybe 2015 will be the year the Century Aluminum Plant in Ravenswood reopens.
“We are hopeful that something is going to get turned around. All signs that I see right now and I’ve heard of seem to be a positive, but yet there’s been no decision to reopen the plant,” Waybright said. “That would certainly be a plus to our county to get that plant open again.”
Century closed the large plant and laid-off 600 workers. Health care benefits were cut off to retirees a year later. A number of efforts have been made to try and convince the company to restart including a multi-million dollar state tax break and an electricity deal approved by the PSC. Century said the deal wasn’t good enough.
Century hasn’t stood still. The company has spent more than $100 in purchasing other aluminum plants in recent years.
Meanwhile, Jackson County Commission President Waybright said the county has been attractive to others.
“I understand there is fairly good news with other developments in the county,” Waybright said. “It looks like there are two or three companies that are looking pretty strong at Jackson County right now.”
Waybright recently spoke with MetroNews affiliate WMOV in Ravenswood.