The City of Jackson, Alabama was founded in 1816 and is named after President Andrew Jackson. Former names for the city include “Pine Level” and “Republicville”.  And while Jackson’s rich heritage and small-town charm have been preserved, the city has also grown by leaps and bounds over the past 194 years. Built initially as a “Timber town”, Jackson is now home to many types of industry and commercial development. From Bloomer’s Gifts & Floral to Boise Cascade Corporation, Jackson is a city with heart and a vision for tomorrow.

On Wednesday, April 10, it was announced that the Industrial Development Board of the City of Jackson has authorized the issuance of up to $150,000,000.00 in Industrial Revenue Bonds to be utilized in the financing of the new pellet plant that International BioMass Energy proposes to build in Jackson.

IBE is a company that was formed to pursue alternative energy opportunities in the United States. IBE of Selma, is locally represented by founder and managing member, Tom Bolton. Bolton teamed up with Jackson’s IDB in 2009 to bring us the Hampton Inn, now located on N. College Ave.

The proposed investment will exceed 100 million dollars, process 500,000+ metric tons of wood/pellets per year and employ 75-100 individuals. Mayor Richard Long expects construction to begin during the fourth quarter of this year.