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Alliance economic update: new retail, manufacturing expansions and jobs highlighted to Marlington board
Summary
Rick Baxter, president of the Alliance Area Development Foundation, updated the Marlington board on local economic activity: new restaurants and shops downtown, a planned 93,000‑sq‑ft Robertson expansion (target December 2026), Salco Machine locating to Alliance with state grant and city loan (about 26–27 jobs), and Morgan Engineering’s planned investments and hiring.
Rick Baxter, president of the Alliance Area Development Foundation and Alliance Chamber of Commerce, briefed the Marlington Board on local commercial and industrial developments during the April 7 meeting.
Baxter highlighted recent retail and restaurant openings including Chick‑fil‑A, Wing Stop and a number of downtown businesses. He said one downtown plaza has added locally owned retailers and that the city plans a caboose‑area amphitheater and a summer concert series to draw more activity to Main Street.
On manufacturing, Baxter said Salco Machine will move into a converted warehouse after the city and state helped secure a $100,000 state grant and an $800,000 loan from the city’s revolving loan fund at approximately 2% interest to fund electrical, lighting and roofing upgrades. He estimated the project will create about 26–27 manufacturing and fabrication jobs.
Baxter also described a planned 93,000‑square‑foot expansion at Robertson with 22 new loading docks, expected to be complete by December 2026, and said Morgan Engineering intends about $2.5 million in fixed‑asset investments and roughly 43 new positions. He said $250,000 in state support was targeted to help Morgan recruit engineers to the area.
Baxter thanked local partners and said the development work aims to create opportunities for Marlington graduates to find local employment. He invited board members to follow downtown updates and upcoming business openings.
What happens next: Baxter and the Alliance organizations will continue to coordinate with local employers and the city to support recruitment and infrastructure work; board members were invited to monitor the developments and consider school–business partnerships.
