Last Updated:January 07. 2008 11:36PM
Published: January 08. 2008 3:30AM

Tax abatements were granted to two industries Monday in action that paves the way for as many as 113 additional jobs.

E.S. Robbins Corp. announced at the Muscle Shoals City Council meeting Monday that it plans to build a 50,000-square-foot building in Muscle Shoals for Aleco, one of its business subsidiaries.

Aleco, which manufactures flexible PVC doors, strips and partitions, will situate its company headquarters at this site.

The company's business expansion is an estimated $2.65 million project and will create about 48 jobs over a three-year period.

The council unanimously granted the company a sales and use tax abatement and property tax abatement for 10 years.

Under Alabama law, sales and use tax, as well as property tax, are acceptable for abatement to companies that qualify and are granted approval. Tax for the educational system will not be abated.

Muscle Shoals Mayor David Bradford said the abatement helps Robbins' plans to grow and create jobs in Muscle Shoals. "Any time we can help with new jobs and new growth, it's good," he said.

City Councilman Joe Pampinto said he was happy the council not only continues to help new industries "but also helps existing industries flourish in the city."

Robbins is a Shoals-based business group and has several subsidiary companies, including Centaur HTP Fencing Systems, Aleco and KleerStrip.

In Tuscumbia, the city council unanimously approved abating property and sales taxes for Tuflex Rubber Products. Tuflex is owned by Flexco Corp.'s parent company, Ropte, which plans to construct the plant on Flexco's Sixth Street property in an existing building alongside the Flexco plant.

"It's a separate operation, but will be at the building on the west side of the property," Flexco plant manager Don Blazer said.

He said the plant will bring in 50 to 65 jobs over the next three years.

"This will be good for our area," Blazer said. "It's adding jobs."

The Flexco abatements amount to $7,150 a year for 10 years in property taxes, and $17,812.50 through March 31 in sales taxes, said Susie Heird, vice president of the Shoals Economic Development Authority.

The sales tax abatements are divided among the city, Colbert County and the state of Alabama. The property tax abatements are divided among the city and state.

Tuflex manufactures resilient rubber flooring, particularly for uses in athletic-related purposes, such as at gyms.

Blazer said the flooring is made from 27-by-27-inch squares made from recycled rubber dust, mainly from tires. It is marketed globally.

Nearly all employees will be local, and the starting pay scale is $10 to $14 per hour, plus benefits, said Blazer, whose Flexco firm has some 220 employees.

Mayor Bill Shoemaker said the city will get much more in return, directly and indirectly, by offering the abatements. "This is good news for the city of Tuscumbia," he said.

Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@timesdaily.com.