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Convenient access to customers and a welcome atmosphere
was all the convincing Mathew Brainerd needed to decide
the Research Triangle Region was the place to expand
his chemical company.
Tulsa, Okla.-based
Brainerd Chemical Co. purchased an 83,000-square-foot
plant in Dunn from Archer Daniels Midland Corp. that
ADM had not used in several years with plans to begin
operations there by the end of the year. The operation
will create seven jobs initially and up to 20 within
three years.
Brainerd's
new plant will produce specialty chemicals for the poultry
and swine industries, including detergents to wash pigs,
rid birds of salmonella and fumigate chicken houses
and solutions to clean feeding lines. It also will repackage
bulk chemicals like isopropyl alcohol and citric acid
into smaller containers.
"We've
been shipping to the East Coast for years and felt the
time was right to set up our own facility here to cut
some of our costs," says Mathew Brainerd. "
Harnett County provided us what we were looking for
in terms of location, and they also welcomed us with
open arms. Being a chemical company, we have lots of
regulatory and compliance issues, and local officials
were very open to meeting with us and solving any problems
we might encounter."
Brainerd Chemical expects to invest about $1 million in the plant, including some refurbishment of an existing Norfolk Southern rail spur, which was a key part of the deal since much of the company's raw materials are brought in by tanker rail cars.
"This
is a great addition to Harnett County's industrial community,"
says Lee Anne Nance, director of the Harnett County
Economic Development Commission. "They are putting
a vacant building to use, creating jobs and adding about
$2 million to our tax base. More than that, their presence
may help attract other companies that need the combination
of Brainerd chemicals and our local work force."
Founded in 1959 by Brainerd's father, Harold W. Brainerd, Jr., Brainerd Chemical blends more than 40,000 chemical compounds for industry and research laboratories, including solvents, acids and reagents. It serves more than 2,500 customers in 40 states.
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