Company plans to add 10 new jobs
The Polk County Board of Commissioners has approved applying for a $250,000 grant to help a local company, Allrail Inc., with its expansion plans.
If the grant is received, Allrail, located at the intersection of U.S. 74 and Union Road near the Polk/Rutherford county line, expects to add 10 new employees over a two-year period.
Commissioners approved a resolution to apply for the grant from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Small Business and Entrepreneurial Assistance Grant Program following two public hearings held over the past couple months.
Allrail has agreed to pay approximately $100,000 in addition toward the expansion, and the grant will fund approximately $250,000. The expansion will include funding for equipment and commercial rehabilitation, including moving a modular facility to the property to use as offices; minor work on existing buildings; the addition of septic facilities and security lighting, among other work required to expand the facility.
If the grant is awarded, the Polk County Economic and Tourism Development Commission will receive $5,000 of the total, which it plans to use to enhance its website, including resources for entrepreneurs.
“We are a certified entrepreneurial community and want to apply the $5,000 to the website, which really needs expansion,” Polk County Economic Development Director Libbie Johnson said.
Allrail currently employs five people.
According to www.allrail.us, Allrail is a family owned and operated company providing used guardrail, posts and related barrier hardware.
Tom Calton, Allrail president, joined commissioners this week and thanked the county for supporting the grant. If awarded, the grant will be funneled through the county but will not cost the county anything.
Calton said his company is able to take a variety of metals to recycle, such as steel, copper, brass and aluminum, including vehicles.
Commissioner chair Ray Gasperson said it’s going to be exciting to have a facility of that nature close by.
“It’s less distance and also encourages people to recycle their own material by not having to travel long distances,” Calton added.
Calton said Allrail retasks and recycles many materials and already does work to produce highway safety materials.
He said he is hoping by September or October the expanded facility will be up and running.
Johnson said the economic and tourism development board feels that entrepreneurial development is well suited for this area and is very comfortable with Allrail’s plan.
Teresa Spires of the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (IPDC), which is administering the grant for the county, said the grant deadline is April 30, with a review scheduled to be conducted within 60 days of the deadline. She also said there is $3 million available this year, which is more than previous years and that Allrail’s application has strong support.
“You have a good company that has a good reputation and you have an entrepreneurial community that supports the plan,” Spires said.