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The Franklin County Commission has transferred the Moon property’s ownership to the Industrial Development Board to sell it to a prospective aluminum extrusion company in hopes of securing a $135 million investment that could provide up to 275 jobs.

The commission approved a resolution in a 14-0 vote on May 19 that authorizes the Industrial Board to enter into negotiations to sell the property, and if successful, turn the proceeds back over to the county government’s budget once the sale is complete. Commissioners Lydia Curtis Johnson and David Eldridge were absent from the meeting.

The resolution also gives the Industrial Board the option to lease out the property, instead of selling it, and secure a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes schedule, giving the company a tax break for a 10-year period as an incentive to locate in Franklin County.

Extrusion is a process used to create, in this case, objects by pushing aluminum material through a die to achieve a desired shape. Two main advantages over other manufacturing processes are being able to create complex patterns and being able to work with brittle material.

Aluminum products made through extrusion are used for architecture and building construction and aerospace and industrial applications. Another example would be lightweight vehicle tow trailers made from extruded aluminum.

Pam Kreidenweis, industrial development director, did not identify the company but described it by its code name, “Project Kualo.”

She said that if the company purchases the land, it would involve all of the Moon property’s 136 acres at $10,000 per acre, totaling $1.36 million.

Kreidenweis said landing the development project will bolster Franklin County’s economy.

“It’s a good deal for Franklin County,” she told the commission, adding that the entry-level salary would be $21 per hour.

She said J. Thomas Trent Jr., a Nashville attorney specializing in real estate transactions, would be consulted about the project.

Commissioner William Anderson also requested that County Attorney Joey Johnson be included in the review process.

Kreidenweis said the company has indicated it would like to complete the project in two phases over a five- to 10-year period.

The county has had the Moon property, located near Baxter Lane and Modena Road on the east side of Highway 64, on the table as an industrial recruitment tool for several years.

The county has also joined forces with Winchester in a major combined sewer-expansion project to accommodate the Moon property’s industrial potential and also aid with residential and commercial development.

Winchester Utilities has also committed to providing $3.2 million in lift-station and forced-main improvements.

The project involves extending a wastewater line the full length of Bible Crossing Road and tunneling under Highway 64 to access the 136 acres, formerly owned by Austin and Sadie Moon.

The city’s interests stem from recent and future development projects needing higher-volume sewer capacity.

The overall cost of the upgrades to serve the Moon property is estimated at $10.675 million with Winchester having agreed to provide up to $6.36 million in sewer improvements to accommodate the additional volume from the industrial property once it is developed.

The county’s $4.315 million share is coming from the $8.2 million it received in American Rescue Plan funds. Winchester also received $2.407 million from the program that is being used to fund part of the city’s commitment.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package, was a $1.9 trillion economic-stimulus bill passed by Congress to speed up the United States’ recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent recession.

The City Council unanimously approved on Aug. 29, 2024, to accept a $5.38 million combined bid from LTS Construction as part of Winchester’s commitment to the project.

The city’s move goes hand-in-hand with the Franklin County Commission unanimously approving in March 2022 to fund the $4.315 million commitment on its end.