CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Montgomery County Budget Committee approved a proposal this week authorizing delivery of land to LG Chem, which will bring the manufacturer closer to opening its massive local facility, providing hundreds of jobs, including 300 six-figure positions.
Buck Dellinger, president and CEO of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council, told the Budget Committee on Tuesday that LG Chem is now at the point where they’re ready to develop the 420 acres of land where their new cathode manufacturing facility will be located.
Dellinger said the resolution being proposed will officially transfer the land to LG Chem, while enabling them to develop the site. A groundbreaking is scheduled in December.
PILOT agreement with IDB
Dellinger said that under LG Chem’s PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with the Industrial Development Board, his organization looks to hold the manufacturer accountable on two fronts: land use and high-paying jobs opportunities. If LG Chem doesn’t develop all of the land within 10 years, Montgomery County would begin taking portions of the land back, Dellinger explained.
LG Chem is expected to bring around 300 six-figure jobs, which is 100 more jobs than previously expected on that pay scale, according to previous reports. These six-figure jobs will include opportunities in management and engineering.
In total, LG Chem will provide 860 new jobs, and the expectation is for each worker to make at least $22 per hour.
Dellinger said he and curriculum advisers at Austin Peay State University, Nashville State University and Tennessee College of Applied Technology will travel to South Korea to meet with LG Chem officials to learn how to build a curriculum for the employees they’ll need for their new facility.
Site development agreement
In addition to the PILOT agreement, there are several matters LG Chem and the county will be working on in the site development agreement.
This includes expanding Charles Bell Road to three lanes and extending a roadway to connect to the LG Chem manufacturing facility. The City of Clarksville has agreed to incorporate the business into the city’s fire zone coverage.
The proposal will now make its way to the Montgomery County Commission, which will discuss and vote on the matter next month.
