Element 13: An American start-up aluminium billet company looks to create job opportunity in Richmond

An American start-up company that will make aluminium billets is looking to set up its shed in the Midwest Industrial Park, bringing 30 new jobs to the city of Richmond.

On 4^th May’20, Richmond Common Council approved a series of tax abatement ordinances for Element 13 LLC that gets its name from the atomic number for aluminium.

The Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County has been working with the Element 13 ownership team and the company's consultant since early last fall. Element 13 plans to acquire about 15.5 acres in the industrial park at the intersection of Round Barn and Gaar Jackson roads, just southeast of Blue Buffalo.

A purchase agreement for the land will be reviewed by the EDC's board for possible approval at its next meeting on May 11. The board also will consider an Economic Development Income Tax grant application from the company.

Mike Rasmussen of Element 13: "We're excited about Richmond. It's just a great opportunity and a win-win for everyone.”

Although the footprint of the new facility hasn't been finalized yet, the company plans to build a 50,000-60,0000-square-foot manufacturing plant that will be the home of 30 employees. The average hourly wage for those positions will be $20.55.

Once operational, Element 13 will melt scrap to make billets, essentially aluminium logs of various sizes. Those then will be sold to extruder companies to makes items such as doors, windows, bleachers and more.