ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
news@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council (EDC) was notified today that Hemlock Semiconductor, L.L.C. (HSC) will be terminating indefinitely the startup of the Clarksville facility due to unresolved issues in the alternative energy sector.
(Rick Doornbos, president and CEO of Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation, announces opening of plant in Clarksville, Dec. 15, 2008)
“The shutdown of the plant will be a great loss for the community,” EDC said in a press release. “The EDC is disappointed by this unexpected news and recognizes that this sector has been troubled and negatively affected on a global level by the U.S. and Chinese governments inability to settle trade agreements. We feel for the loss the employees are experiencing and our economic development team is already working with our City and County Mayors to ensure that we continue to create career opportunities for the citizens in this region.”
EDC noted that the community has experienced infrastructure improvements and the Industrial Development Board has been provided 833 acres of land that can be used to recruit new industries. From 2009 to 2011, HSC boosted the local economy during a time of recession by helping to create record highs in both sales tax and hotel/motel tax.
The EDC and HSC will work together to create a plan to repurpose the Clarksville site and potentially market it to other industrial prospects.
Other expansions that will create new hiring opportunities within the region include Hankook Tire, Agero, Bridgestone Metalpha USA, Akebono and Florim USA.
“Our entire staff, the Industrial Development Board and our Mayors are unified in our efforts to continue growing career opportunities for our citizens,” the statement said.