ARockdale minister once told a story about a church business meeting attended by a very elderly man who was one of the “pillars”—quotation marks on purpose—of the congregation.
After about an hour, the gentleman began banging his cane loudly on the floor until he was recognized by the chairman. “I cain’t hear a word of what you’re talkin’ about,” he said. “But I’m agin’ it.”
People who try to accomplish things are familiar with that attitude. It just seems some are wired to see the negative side of everything and some of them seem to relish it.
A case in point. When Bitmain’s original announcement that it was going to locate in most of the former Alcoa potrooms was made in July, 2018, there was a miscommunication from the company—not our words, theirs—about the number of jobs which would eventually be available.
That forecast was 400. It turned out actually to be about 50, although last week County Judge Steve Young noted there is still a chance the giant Chinese company could make its Dory Creek (Rockdale) site the repair hub for all its North American operations, and that could be really good news, jobwise.
From that date onward, some in our community have greeted a number of really good news announcements about new businesses, and new opportunities, with attitudes which could kindly be called skeptical. As in “remember those ‘400 jobs,’ well, huh, don’t you?”
So, with one month and change to go in 2019, let’s take stock of where we are:
• Ground has been broken on Whinstone’s data center, which is expected to be the largest in the world, peaking at 200 jobs.
• Bitmain is here, mining Bitcoin, and has been doing so since late July. That eventual 50 jobs is still an “in the ballpark” estimate.
• The Oppidian hemp business is expected to bring another 50 jobs to the area.
• The new Rockdale Housing & Rehabilitation Nursing Home is in the final phases of completion near the intermediate school. It’s a major upgrade over the current facility on Dyer Street with a net gain of at least 40 jobs.
• Don’t forget there are several solar farms in various stages at several locations around the county, including near Rockdale. While those aren’t huge permanent job producers they are helping solidify the area’s new brand as a high-tech center. Let’s say, conservatively speaking, they will eventually generate 20 jobs.
Add that together and you get 360 jobs. An interesting number when you compare it to the 400 we all got so excited about when the original Bitmain announcement was made.
And it’s not terribly far from the amount of jobs our area lost when Luminant decided to pack it in the first month of 2018.
Not bad for a stretch of 16 months. Not bad at all.—M.B.
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