John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, has written an open letter to the people of Stanly County, North Carolina.
The full letter is reprinted below:
On July 16, 2011, Electronic Recyclers International held a job fair in Badin, North Carolina for its upcoming facility in Alcoa’s former aluminum processing plant. Over 400 people applied on line and over 800 people from Stanly County and the surrounding region showed up to fill out a job application in person. My 18 year old son, Tyler and I had the distinct pleasure to visit with so many of you during this job fair. What we both learned is that no matter the reasons for your current unemployment, every one of you were excited that a new employer was coming to town and hiring up to 150 employees over the course of the next 18 months. My son, Tyler and I both left Badin that day feeling very hopeful that Electronic Recyclers International would begin to fill the void of necessary new jobs that were needed to get North Carolina’s great people back to work.
As of today, I am proud to say that Electronic Recyclers International employs over 24 people at our new facility in Badin, North Carolina. This number of people employed is going to continue to grow as our operations expand into our new Southeast Headquarters located in Badin sometime in 2012. It is our ultimate goal to employ over 150 people by the 4th quarter of 2012.
The fact that ERI is now a corporate citizen in good standing in North Carolina is the reason I feel it is both my duty and responsibility to share some important recent developments that I have learned of this past week. It has come to my attention that a company named Clean Tech Silicon and Bar LLC is interested in developing a $300 million clean energy manufacturing facility that would bring 450 high paying jobs to Stanly County. This facility would be located at the Badin Business Park, at the site of Alcoa’s former Badin Works Plant, right next to Electronic Recyclers International’s new state of the art electronic waste recycling facility. These 450 jobs include 250 production jobs with an average wage of $55,000 and 200 customer service jobs with an average wage of $40,000 per year. All in all, Clean Tech’s jobs would have a combined annual payroll of more the $25,000,000 for Stanly County.
Clean Tech would produce silicon metal, primarily used in solar energy products. Clean Tech would also recycle scrap metal into rebar for use in infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. Clean Tech is prepared to begin construction on its proposed $300 million facility in Badin, North Carolina this Fall 2011. Clean Tech also estimates that more than 500 construction jobs would be created immediately in Badin, Stanly County, North Carolina!!
Clean Tech’s encouraging decision to locate in Badin is based in large part on a long term power agreement that is dependent on Alcoa receiving a new license for the Yadkin Hydroelectric Project. Unfortunately I have been made aware that some local political officials have created immense road blocks for Clean Tech’s final approvals to be completed. It would be both a travesty and a miscarriage of their public servant duties if Stanly County’s political officials stood in the way of the over 450 permanent jobs and $25,000,000 permanent annual wages that Clean Tech is ready to bring to Badin immediately! In addition to the 450 permanent jobs, Clean Tech will bring 500 immediate construction jobs and $300 million of infrastructure spending beginning in Badin, Stanly County, North Carolina this Fall 2011.
Just to be clear of my intentions in writing this open letter all of you great people, I have never met or spoken with Clean Tech’s owners or executives nor do I have a financial interest in Clean Tech’s business enterprise. I am writing this letter as a new citizen of North Carolina. A citizen who does not believe poor politics should get in the way of solving the most important problem facing both the great people of the United States, Badin, Stanly County and North Carolina. The paramount issue of our economy today is job creation and economic revitalization using the emerging green economy as the new platform to rebuild both this country and the economy of North Carolina.
It is my understanding that some concerned local citizens of Stanly County are holding a rally tonight at 6 pm eastern standard time at the City Hall in Albemarle. This rally is our moment to take our fate into our own hands by standing up and speaking up for these 450 new permanent jobs to be created in Stanly County, $25,000,000 annually in wages to our local Stanly County families, 500 immediate local construction jobs, and $300 million in infrastructure dollars spent right here right now this Fall 2011 in Stanly County and North Carolina. If we fail to send a strong, united message to our political leaders tonight, it is virtually guaranteed that another community in another state will welcome Clean Tech with open arms and these 450 new permanent jobs and 500 immediate construction jobs will be lost in Stanly County, North Carolina forever.
Please join ERI and take a few hours of your valuable time this evening to send a strong, united message that will be heard from Raleigh to Charlotte and every great city in North Carolina. We need jobs. We want jobs. Our time is now. Green is Good!!!
Thank you very much for the warm welcome that you have given me and Electronic Recyclers International in 2011. It is now our turn to collectively roll out the green welcome mat for Clean Tech in Badin, Stanly County, North Carolina.
John S. Shegerian
CEO
Electronic Recyclers International
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