MOUNT VERNON — Sanoh America is undertaking an assessment that may lead to job growth for the area.
Company spokesman Lance Garzo said Sanoh is assessing its operations in the Mount Vernon area. He said the company has no desire to relocate the Sanoh plant at 115 Mount Vernon Ave., and added that the assessment is related to a possible expansion in the area. He declined to give a location for the possible expansion or to comment further.
The Mount Vernon Sanoh plant has 220 full-time employees and 13 temporary workers, according to Knox County Area Development records.
For well over a year, city officials have discussed the possibility of a local industry developing an industrially zoned parcel on Blackjack Road. In November 2006, the former president of the Knox County Area Development Foundation, Clint Compton, told members of Mount Vernon City Council about the possible development, but also said confidentiality requirements prevented him from identifying the company in question.
The city administration plans to improve and widen Blackjack Road and to run city water and wastewater along the section of the roadway that runs south of Moundbuilders Guidance Center.
Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Mavis said this infrastructure project is being undertaken for the benefit of a potential industrial development in the Blackjack Road area that is zoned for light manufacturing.
He said he cannot comment on the potential industrial development, but added that the infrastructure project is moving along well.
