The former Albahealth building in Rockwood could soon be buzzing with workers again. Protomet Corporation purchased the building and an announcement from the state on Wednesday said the company will create 250 new jobs and invest $25 million into the building.
“This building was vacated and what a better way to comeback and take over an existing building and repurpose it,” Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter said. “Not only repurpose it, invest in the asset but also replacing all those jobs that were lost when Albahealth left.”
McWhorter joined Protomet Corporation President Jeff Bohanan and local officials for the announcement at the building on Wednesday.
“It’s so exciting,” Rockwood Municipal Administrator/City Recorder Becky Ruppe said. “April 10, 2024, will forever be etched in our minds as a great day in the city of Rockwood.”
Bohanan also described it as a great day for Protomet.
“I’ve been humbled by how many people have come up to us and told us how much this means for Rockwood, how much they appreciate what we’re doing for Rockwood, how much Rockwood needs Protomet,” Bohanan said. “Well I’m here today to tell you that this was a strategic business decision and Protomet needs Rockwood.”
Albahealth was a major employer in Rockwood. Jason Jolly said he started hearing rumors that Albahealth was leaving when he ran for mayor in 2022.
“Not long after I got elected that became true,” he said. “I laid awake at night worrying about it. I know it was out of my control, but it bothered me being newly elected and this business leaving here that’s putting food on a lot of tables in the city of Rockwood and Roane County.”
Albahealth’s departure left the building on North Gateway Avenue vacant. Protomet already had two facilities in Oak Ridge and one in Loudon. It was looking for another one.
“Andrew Jenkins, our VP of Operations, he actually found this building through some kind of internet search, so we came down and looked at it,” Bohanan said.
Protomet then went through a due diligence process and eventually ended up purchasing the building.
“We’ve already started renovating the facility,” Bohanan said. “We’ve actually taken 90 dumpsters worth of stuff out of this building. We’ve completely replaced the roof, poured new concrete. We’re excited for this to be our fourth owner-occupied facility in East Tennessee.”
Renderings of what the Rockwood facility could eventually look like were on display for Wednesday’s announcement.
“Our operations will start up in May of this year,” Bohanan said. “We will continue to renovate this facility throughout most of next year.”
Protomet is a manufacturing, engineering and technology corporation. It has been around for 27 years.
“We currently have about 280 employees scattered between the three existing facilities with plans over the next five years to add 250 more employees here,” Bohanan said. “One of core values is skills beat credentials. At Protomet you can work your way from the shop floor all the way up into the upper management of the company.”
