By Anne Spencer

Published: May 9, 2008

Jackson County has lost out as the site for a new home-building plant, but the chosen location is near enough that local residents might seek employment there.

According to Ted Everett of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, ECO Lifestyle Homes Inc. of Yorkville, Ill., has affirmed its intention to locate a new assembly plant in Chipley, about 30 miles west of Marianna and closer to Graceville and Cottondale on Jackson’s west side.

The company’s name is pronounced “eco,” not E-C-O, Everett said as he talked about the business from his office in Chipley, the county seat with about 3,600 residents.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings,” Everett said when asked about other locations considered. But a five-county area was in the running, Jackson being one of them, he said.

ECO Lifestyle Homes manufactures affordable and environmentally friendly homes, Everett said. For example, the roofs are solar, the structure is mold and mildew resistant, the insulation is biodegradable.

Components are manufactured, but the homes themselves aren’t “manufactured,” as in mobile homes, he said. Still, they’re built to specifications within 72 hours, he said.

According to a press release from his office, the president of the company, Robin Webb, confirmed its choice of Chipley this week and expects to be operational by fall.

When up to full production capacity in about two years, the plant will employ 400, and within four years the number of workers could double, according to the press release.

The majority of the jobs will involve light assembly, but some will be skilled positions in the architectural design and building fields.

The new ECO plant will be built in the Tommy R. McDonald Industrial Park, Everett said. Chipley has two industrial parks, each with access to Interstate 10, major state roads and rail transportation.

In addition, State Road 77 that runs through Chipley leads to the site of the new Panama City International Airport currently under construction.
Washington County, like Jackson County, also promotes a ready workforce.

According to the press release, when Webb announced its choice for the plant site, he indicated that the business incentives offered by the Florida State Enterprise Zone, along with the prospect of a Foreign Trade Zone in the industrial park, played a major role in the company’s decision to locate in Washington County, along with the “warm welcome” offered by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Jackson County is also in the Florida State Enterprise Zone.