BREWTON, AL (WSFA) –
Hundreds of jobs are coming to South Alabama after the city of Brewton secured a million-dollar deal with a leading tech company.
According to Brewton City Clerk, Alex McDowell, about 300 jobs will be coming to the city after it secured a $6.5 million deal with Provalus and its parent company Optomi, LLC.
The 15-year agreement was finalized Monday and the site will serve as Optomi’s ‘flagship U.S. facility’ according to Provalus/Optomi President Chuck Ruggiero.
The partnership with Optomi, LLC, a tech-staffing firm, includes the construction of three buildings on 10 acres of the former Dogwood Hills Golf Course property. Once staffing levels reach 50 employees, McDowell says construction will begin on the first of three buildings, which will occupy a combined space of over 60,000 square feet.
Brewton beat out many other locations including the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee, according to city and company officials.
“What sold us on Brewton was its people,” Ruggiero said. “The first person I met was Mayor Yank Lovelace of Brewton and he represented the city very well. We have so much gratitude towards Mayor Lovelace for helping us along in this journey.”
The project is being funded by city and state resources. Gov. Kay Ivey also provided $1.5 million from the discretionary fund for the project.
“Gov. Ivey made it clear from the start that she was behind new technology coming to Alabama,” Lovelace said. “This project was a culmination of the work of so many, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome the company to Brewton.”
Optomi wants to be a part of the Brewton community by providing education and training. The first training class began Monday and the search continues for staff for the next class next month or September, Ruggiero said.
Ruggiero says Optima’s main mission is to provide value to the U.S. by bringing jobs back especially to rural areas.
Those interested in applying are encouraged to visit the company currently located in the former Cracked Pot on Belleville Avenue.
Construction on the facility is expected to take about a year.
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