Muscle Shoals, Ala. (WDNews) — According to Governor Kay Ivey, Virginia Transformer plans to build a new 600,000-square-foot power transformer manufacturing facility in Muscle Shoals that is expected to create 1,100 jobs in northwest Alabama.
Officials said the state-of-the-art facility will be located on about 90 acres at the Shoals Research Airpark in Colbert County. Construction is expected to begin immediately, with initial production targeted for January 2028.
Virginia Transformer, headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia, is the largest power transformer manufacturer in North America. The Muscle Shoals location will become the company’s seventh manufacturing facility and will produce transformers ranging from two Megavolt-Amperes (MVA) up to 500 MVA.
“Muscle Shoals is known around the world for its musical legacy, but companies like Virginia Transformer know the Shoals can make a lot more than music,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “With a driven, skilled workforce, our business-friendly climate and unbeatable quality of life, the Shoals and all of Alabama are indeed open for business. Virginia Transformer will add value to the community with this advanced-manufacturing investment and employment opportunities.”
Earlier this month, Governor Ivey announced the Shoals Research Airpark would receive approximately $4.5 million through the Growing Alabama Tax Credit program to help fund site work and public infrastructure improvements.
“With locations in multiple states, we know Virginia Transformer has options when deciding on a new site,” said Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair. “Alabama is proud to offer the right combination of infrastructure, capable workforce and community partners to make Virginia Transformer’s expansion a success.”
Officials said the site’s dedicated Norfolk Southern rail spur will help support shipping and supply chain operations for the facility.
“For more than 50 years, Virginia Transformer’s growth has been driven by our commitment to delivering for our customers. We are The Commitment Company,” said Virginia Transformer CEO Prabhat Jain. “This investment represents the latest step in our ongoing expansion across North America, will create our seventh manufacturing facility, and reflects our confidence in the markets and customers we serve, as well as our dedicated workforce.”
The company said the Muscle Shoals facility will serve utility, renewable energy, industrial and data center customers across the United States and Canada.
“Virginia Transformer’s decision to locate its newest manufacturing facility in the Shoals is a powerful endorsement of Northwest Alabama’s highly skilled manufacturing workforce, strategic location and capacity for continued industrial growth,” said Shoals Economic Development Authority President Kevin Jackson. “For generations, the Shoals has built a reputation for producing talented men and women who excel in advanced manufacturing environments, and that workforce will be a tremendous asset as Virginia Transformer grows its operations here. This project was made possible through strong collaboration among our many economic development partners, and we look forward to building a long-lasting partnership with Virginia Transformer that benefits the company and our region for years to come.”
The Alabama project comes as Virginia Transformer also continues expansion work at its Rincon, Georgia facility near Savannah, which officials said will increase production capacity there by 50 percent.
