Gov. Nixon rallies behind Noranda employees, pledges his support

MARSTON, Mo -- Noranda Aluminum's hopes of rebuilding and returning to full production got a little brighter Friday.

As part of his visit to Southeast Missouri, Gov. Jay Nixon stopped at the facility and pledged his support to the company, a major employer in the region.

During the stop, he visited with company officials, spoke to employees and took a tour of the facility. It was part of an initiative to attract and retain major employers offering good-paying jobs in the state, according to a news release.

"It has been an unbelievable year for you all," Nixon said to employees gathered to hear him speak. Nixon was referring not only to the falling price of aluminum worldwide, but also the devastation and loss of production brought about by the January ice storm.

Following the ice storm, 75 percent of production capacity was lost as a result of losing incoming power to the facility. However, Noranda's woes began long before that with dropping aluminum prices, and there were 228 layoffs at the facility beginning in November.

"But because of your organization's creativity and simple hard work, this company, this facility, is going to make it and move forward in a strong fashion," Nixon said. "It's that simple."

The governor went on to pledge his support and aid in getting the company back in full production.

"The state of Missouri will do everything in its ability to make sure you get those lines back up," he said.

Nixon said it's his goal to make Noranda a central market for worldwide aluminum production the No. 1 place to get aluminum, the best product, delivered on time.