July 2024 Group Watch: 3M Puts More Money in Decatur
3M’s work on its plant in Decatur now tops $35 million invested in two years after a building permit was issued last week for the facility off the Tennessee River. The newest project is a $10 million alteration at the plant, and is the site’s third project since 2022. The multiple capital upgrade projects at 3M’s two-million-square-foot Decatur site — originally built in 1961 — include upgrades to facility and utility infrastructure, safety improvements, ventilation system improvements and process upgrades. These investments contribute to the facility’s safe working environment while supporting its ability to serve its customers with the products the plant provides. Previous expansions included work on the plant’s wastewater treatment facility to help the company reach its goal of reducing water usage globally by 25 percent by 2030, and also to return higher quality water to the environment after it is used in manufacturing operations. The facility in Decatur’s industrial park employs 859 and produces two-thirds of the company’s products.
