Anniston hoping to lure new industry

Anniston city officials say There could soon be 75 new manufacturing jobs coming to their city.  Officials would not identify the company saying a deal has not been finalized but the city council discussed offering tax abatements.

Local economic developers said the abatements would help with the company's move, which would bring high-paying jobs to the city.

The council will vote on offering the company abatements from sales, use and property taxes during next week’s meeting.

Eric Basinger, city economic developer, who met with the council

also declined to name the company or describe what it manufactures only saying it was industrial.

Don Hopper, executive director of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council, said at the meeting that his organization had been working on bringing the company to the city for the last six months.

Hopper said if the company moved into the city, it would create 75 jobs over a two- to three-year period.