Special Report: Introducing Evonik 2

LAFAYETTE, Ind (WLFI) - Eli Lilly is known for supporting various community organizations and events, but what about the company that is acquiring the Tippecanoe Labs?

WLFI-TV traveled to Mobile, Alabama to learn more about Evonik.

Greater Lafayette Commerce ranks Eli Lilly as the area's seventh largest manufacturer. About 700 people work there, and will continue to be employed when a new company takes the reins by the end of the year.

Evonik employs a similar number of people in the Mobile area. Troy Wayman is the Vice President of Economic Development with the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.

"Mobile has had a long history of ship building and aerospace and the chemical industry. That is because of our location with the port on the water," said Wayman.

According to Evonik, its annual payroll is $45 million. The company paid $5.7 million in local and state taxes over the last three years.

"Evonik is a major employer, not just number of jobs, but a high wage employer and a major contributor to our economy," said Steve Perry, Executive Director of the FORUM. The FORUM is an organization of the major industries located in southwest Alabama.

The Mobile Area Chamber ranks Evonik as its the fifth largest manufacturer.

Mayor Sam Jones said the company is also responsible for bringing in other companies to this area.

"We just recruited Thyseen Krupp is the largest economic development project in the United States," said Jones. "Some people from Evonik and Degussa were instrumental in communicating with Thyseen Krupp."

Jones said the company has received tax breaks in the past.

"They have lived up to their promises, and then some," said Jones.

Tom Bates is the President of Evonik Degussa Corporation and Site Manager in Mobile. He said Evonik wants to be a good community partner, as Lilly has been. 

In Mobile, Evonik supports a number of schools. At Hollinger's Island elementary, the company provided grants for a butterfly garden, playground, and supplies.

"There's never enough public funding to do all we need to do," said Principal Shirley Thompson. "We rely heavily on our partners in education."

The school has about 400 students. Evonik has been Hollinger's Island Schools

"Partner in Education School" since 1984. "Their support extends beyond financial support. Employees donate their time to read to the kindergarten students under the Rolling Readers Program," said Thompson.

Evonik's financial support for education in the Mobile area is around $45,000 each year.

Evonik helps sponsor the local BEST robotics competition.

"This is an investment by industry to ensure they have a workforce and to ensure these students get excited about science and technology," said Director Robin Fenton.

Since 2007, Evonik has donated $10,000 to BEST in Mobile.

Evonik was a founding member of the Exploreum, a hands on science education center. A wing of the building is named after the company.  The Exploreum has more than 150 interactive exhibits and an IMAX theatre.

"Each year we have 200,000 to 250,000 school kids come in here," said Assistant Director Caroline Etherton. "Of that, 50,000 are school children and they come from a three state area."

Evonik donates approximately $44,000 annually to support civic activities like the Exploreum.

United Way director Angelo Miller said Evonik employees are important contributors to the organization's $5 million dollar campaign.

"Average corporate employee giving is $140,000 a year, you can count on them for that."

In 2008, Evonik Degussa Corporation donated $5,000 to the Mobile Symphony. It also donated $5,000 to the Mobile Opera last year to help fund educational programs for students.

Tom Bates said decisions on what community projects will be supported will be made at the local level. For now, the priority for this new facility will be supplying Lilly and marketing the excess capacity to other companies.