Gov. Rick Scott, Enterprise Florida and the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce have announced the expansion of Ascend Performance Materials, LLC. Ascend plans to add 102 employees over the course of 3 years and invest approximately $50 million in capital improvements.
“Ascend’s expansion is a success story for Florida as well as Pensacola. It shows that we’re moving forward on our commitment to high-value/high-wage job creation,” said Florida Gov. Rick Scott. “By helping Ascend facilitate its growth in Florida, we’re accomplishing our economic development mission.”
The project increases the capacity of nylon production, intermediate chemicals and strengthens plant utilities infrastructure to support manufacturing.
“Ascend is proud to be a valued and productive member of the Greater Pensacola community and we are excited about the growth opportunities for the community, our employees and Ascend,” said Tim Montgomery, plant manager for Ascend’s Pensacola facility.
Ascend Performance Materials is a global leader in the production of Nylon 6,6. The Pensacola facility is the world’s largest fully integrated nylon 6,6 manufacturing facility and the largest Adipic Acid manufacturing facility. In the 1950’s, Monsanto formed its Chemicals Division, which included the production of Nylon 6,6. In 1997, Monsanto spun off this division to form Solutia, Inc. On June 1, 2009, SK Capital Partners, a private investment firm, purchased Solutia’s Integrated Nylon business and established Ascend Performance Materials, LLC.
Ascend’s headquarters is in Houston, TX and the company is locally based at 3000 Chemstrand Road in Cantonment, FL.
“It speaks well to the local community when a business decides to grow here in Pensacola,” said Collier Merrill, chairman of the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors. “We are proud Ascend has chosen Pensacola as one of their locations, and look forward to seeing the company’s future success.”
