Business

The Honeywell uranium fuel conversion plant in Metropolis, IL is still on track to restart work in June after a May shutdown to upgrade parts of plant. Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors prompted the shutdown when they found equipment there could not withstand a major earthquake or tornado.

Workers at Paducah's Gaseous Diffusion Plant will remain employed for at least the next 60 days as United States Enrichment Corporation officials continue discussions regarding future operations. USEC Spokesperson Paul Jacobson says the company has not yet decided on what kind of workforce it will leave behind. The plant currently employs around 1100 people.

An automotive business is set to bring 150 jobs and make an 11 million dollar investment in McCracken County. Whitehall Industries makes aluminum parts for automobiles.

Paducah Economic Development President Chad Chancellor said the manufacturer is planning to move into the Tyler Mountain Water building that has been vacant for several years. Chancellor said the company is waiting on the results of an environmental study, which should be final within a month.

“We’ve been wanting an automotive supplier for a while because there’s automotive all around us,” he said. “I think it will be great to take an asset that’s sitting there with no jobs in it and turn it into a project like this.”

Jackson Purchase Energy Cooperative residential customers can expect an approximate $20 monthly increase in August. But that money won’t be going to JPEC.

The cooperative’s president and CEO Kelly Nuckols said the extra revenue is going straight to Big Rivers Electric. JPEC buys its electricity from Big Rivers, which is losing almost half its revenue in August with the closure of the Century Aluminum smelter. Nuckols said he wants to inform customers as early as possible of the rate increase.

Paducah’s Mayor and Commissioners introduced an ordinance Thursday for a memorandum of understanding between Macco Organiques, Inc., the Greater Paducah Economic Development Council, the Paducah-McCracken County Industrial Development Authority, the City of Paducah, and McCracken County. Macco wants to locate a manufacturing and distribution facility for food-grade pharmaceuticals in the city’s spec building.