SOUTH VINEMONT, Ala. – A groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning celebrated the family-owned The Shaddix Company’s upcoming move from Cullman to the town of South Vinemont. The company’s new home will be on approximately 22 acres adjacent to the Vinemont’s sports complex on Park Drive. Along with the planned 15,000-square-foot facility and front office, Park Drive is slated for improvements to make it commercial grade. The Vinemont Town Council voted in February to grant Shaddix a 10-year tax abatement.
At Thursday’s ceremony, Cullman Economic Development Agency (CEDA) Director Dale Greer recognized many of the individuals and agencies who worked together to make the project possible, including the Shaddix family, Vinemont Mayor Radginal Dodson and the Vinemont Town Council. He also thanked Kenneth Boswell, director of the Alabama Department of Economic and Development Community Affairs (ADECA), which oversees the grant program that made the Park Drive improvements possible.
The Shaddix Company is a 48-year-old, second generation precast manufacturing company established in 1971 by Tommy Shaddix and his wife Mitchelene.
Of their business’ history, the Shaddix family said in a statement: “The beginning of the vision: Tommy pulled from the weeds a septic tank mold discarded by another plant and relocated it to the front yard of their home in Trimble, Alabama. Working all night, they and teenage son Dewayne made their first concrete septic tank. Continuation of the vision: Losing their founder in 2015 was difficult. However, Tommy had firmly established his vision in the mind of the second generation. The Shaddix Company continues to invest in the community that has been so good to them.”
The family said the new building should be ready by spring 2020. The company will expand its product line, and a minimum of six jobs will be added to the manufacturing plant.
The Shaddix Company’s relocation helped the Town of South Vinemont receive an ADECA grant to upgrade Park Drive to commercial grade. The improvement will aid those participating in games and traveling to the sports complex, said the statement.
It continued, “Always seeking divine guidance and giving thanks for it, the company would also like to thank the Town of South Vinemont Mayor Radginal Dodson; Public Works Director Mike Graves; members of the town council; Jeff Taffar and Peoples Bank of Alabama; The Shaddix Company employees; and all others instrumental in making the relocation and expansion possible.”
Mitchelene Shaddix spoke to the guests and explained the genesis of The Shaddix Company and the vision her late husband Tommy Shaddix had 50 years ago.
“Not only was he my husband, but he was my friend and my business partner. Today we have two of our children with us, Dewayne Shaddix and Sheri Rasco. When Tommy laid down his precious vision in April of 2015, he moved from here, this life, to his ever life. But he didn’t lay down his vision. It continues through his son Dewayne.”
Dewayne Shaddix said, “We honor our past by continuing to grow in the future, by continuing to endeavor to expand dad’s vision and where we are going. We are excited to be not only relocating to this property in South Vinemont but to be expanding.”
Dewayne Shaddix said the new location will triple the space the company currently has, sharing, “We are excited not only for this expansion, but for future expansions we have planned in different phases.”
The Shaddix Company employees were on-hand to participate in the celebration and Dewayne Shaddix thanked them for their hard work, dedication and work ethic, smiling, “They are the core of who we are. I’d also like to thank our customer base. Our customers are the reason we are building this building.”
The Shaddix Company started with septic tanks, but it now focuses on sanitary, sewer, manholes and storm drain boxes. It is currently located at 344 County Road 1177, just off Alabama Highway 157 near Interstate 65.
Background: www.cullmantribune.com/2019/02/14/cullmans-shaddix-company-relocating-to-vinemont-expanding
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