Pensacola, Fla. – Oct. 11, 2011 – A ribbon cutting was hosted this afternoon to celebrate the growth of Ascend Performance Materials. On Sept. 22, Governor Rick Scott, Enterprise Florida and the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce announced the expansion of Ascend Performance Materials. Ascend plans to add 102 employees over the course of 3 years and invest approximately $50 million in capital improvements. These jobs include all areas from operators to PHD chemists.
Present for the ceremony were community members as well as Matt Lowell, manager of business development for Enterprise Florida; Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward; Escambia County Commissioner Wilson Robertson; Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce board chairman Donnie McMahon; director of Pensacola chemicals & operational excellence for Ascend, Tim Montgomery; and vice president of integrated supply chain for Ascend, Barry Penney.
“Ascend has shown great commitment to the State of Florida and we are proud to be a part of this project,” said Matt Lowell, manager of business development for Enterprise Florida.
“Rather than decreasing during a tough economy, we are proud Ascend is expanding,” said County Commissioner Wilson Robertson. “The county is in it for the long haul, and we look forward to future economic development growth.”
The project increases the capacity of nylon production, intermediate chemicals and strengthens plant utilities infrastructure to support manufacturing.
“We take pride in our heritage and there’s much excitement that comes with where we are going,” said Barry Penney, vice president of integrated supply chain for Ascend. “We already have 71 employees in the first year of our 100 estimated growth.”
Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in the production of Nylon 6,6. The Pensacola facility is the world’s largest fully integrated nylon 6,6 manufacturing facility and the largest Adipic Acid manufacturing facility. In the 1950’s, Monsanto formed its Chemicals Division, which included the production of Nylon 6,6. In 1997, Monsanto spun off this division to form Solutia, Inc. On June 1, 2009, SK Capital Partners, a private investment firm, purchased Solutia’s Integrated Nylon business and established Ascend Performance Materials, LLC.
Ascend’s headquarters is in Houston, Texas and the company is locally based at 3000 Chemstrand Road in Cantonment, Fla.
“Its exciting that we have a global player right here in our backyard,” said Pensacola City Mayor, Ashton Hayward. “Northwest Florida is experiencing tremendous economic growth and the City of Pensacola, Escambia County and the Chamber are committed.”
About the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
Founded in 1889, the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce's primary goal is to create a climate of growth and success in the community. Through five focus areas, membership, economic development, government and community affairs, armed services and tourism, the Chamber is committed to promoting, improving and enhancing the Pensacola Bay Area through responsible unity of private and public sectors.
In 2010, the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce launched the Vision 2015 initiative, the five-year plan for job creation in the Pensacola Bay Area. Vision 2015 focuses on recruiting new businesses, helping local businesses expand and strengthening the partnerships between the military and the private sector. For more information, visit www.pensacolachamber.com. |
