$430M investment from automotive giant bringing 1,300+ jobs to Gadsden

Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford and the Alabama Department of Commerce announced Friday, March 6, that Taiwan-based global automotive supplier Minth Group Limited will transform a 400-acre brownfield site into a high-tech manufacturing flagship.

The $430 million project is set to become the company’s largest campus, signaling a massive industrial pivot for Northeast Alabama.

From steel to EV innovation

The project will breathe new life into the historic site of the former Republic Steel and Gulf States Steel mills. Once a symbol of the region’s industrial past, the site is being reimagined as a hub for the future of transportation.

The new facility will span nearly 1 million square feet and produce advanced plastic and aluminum components. These parts will supply major Southeastern automakers, including Hyundai in Montgomery and Kia in West Point, Georgia, as they transition to electric vehicle (EV) production.

The economic impact by the numbers

This announcement follows two years of quiet negotiations. Gadsden successfully beat out four other states for the investment, the mayor said. Here is the breakdown:

• Total investment: $430 million
• Job creation: More than 1,300 new positions at full scale
• Wages: Average annual salaries are expected to exceed $49,000, with starting pay at roughly $25 per hour.

‘Rubble to renewal‘

The move represents a major victory for local leadership. Mayor Craig Ford, who has prioritized filling the city’s vacant industrial “big boxes,” noted that this deal follows last year’s successful recruitment of Takkion to the former Goodyear plant.

“From rubble to renewal, from depression to prosperity — this site, once a reminder of jobs that moved overseas, now represents a bright future. It’s not rubber and steel anymore; it’s plastic and aluminum.

“We see tremendous opportunity here to serve the evolving needs of the automotive industry.”

William Chin, Chief Strategy Officer for Minth Group

A regional transformation

David Hooks, CEO of the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority, called the acquisition a “transformational moment” that will ripple across the broader economies of Etowah County and Northeast Alabama.

“The new investment not only impacts the property itself, but will impact the broader economies of Gadsden, Etowah County and all of Northeast Alabama.

“We are honored that Minth Group has chosen Gadsden as the location to expand its North American presence. We look forward to supporting their continued growth and to the long-term economic opportunities this investment will bring to our region.”

David Hooks, CEO of the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority

The project received significant support from state and federal leaders, including Governor Kay Ivey and Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair, who credited the state’s “stellar reputation” for automotive workforce excellence as the deciding factor.

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