Shoals, a manufacturer of solar energy panel components, will employ nearly 100 people at its new plant, including corporate executives, once fully operational. A business plan provided by the company anticipates that total growing to more than 300 employees during the next three years.

Shoals was founded in 1996 as an automotive parts manufacturing company. In 2004, as a result of a lagging automotive market, it diversified into the emerging alternative energy field, manufacturing components used in the construction and installation of solar panels and other alternative energy products. The company employs some 80 people at its only other U.S. facility, in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Because of the rapid growth of the alternative energy market and Shoals’ reputation for quality manufacturing, a second facility is needed along with another employee pool as the company anticipates continued rapid expansion.

“Our company is growing so fast, it became apparent to us several months ago that we would need to expand into another market and into a first class facility,” said Dean Solon, president and CEO of Shoals. “More than anything we also needed to identify a community and a state that would express to us an understanding and appreciation of our business and become, in a sense, partners with us. We are growing at such a pace that keeping up with our business is a challenge so we needed to make sure that this expansion would help our company grow without causing a large distraction.”

The company performed a building and site search during the past year, focusing on Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky before choosing Gallatin, citing its work force and business friendly attitude as major factors in the final decision.

“Shoals Technologies’ decision to build a facility in Gallatin speaks to the high quality of the area work force,” said Matt Kisber, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Shoals will construct a 100,000 square foot manufacturing building on property in the Gallatin Industrial Center and expects its total capital investment to be around $10.5 million, including machinery.

In addition to state tax credits and training assistance, the company will be the first to receive benefits from the city’s recently adopted Payment in Lieu of Tax (PILOT) program. While officials say the total benefit to the company cannot be determined until the construction process is complete, the investment and job creation totals qualify Shoals for Level 2 benefits of the three possible levels for manufacturing projects.

In hopes of educating the community and as an attraction to its visiting clients, company leaders say they will also construct a solar panel farm on site and are considering a working windmill as well.

For MORE NEWS BRIEFS, click here.