Employee Skills Training Grant Award

Green Circle Bio Energy

In October 2006, Green Circle Bio Energy was awarded an Employee Skills Training grant for $200,000 to be matched with $324,749. Green Circle, located in Cottondale, is an innovative renewable energy company focused on creating alternative energy from wood fiber by producing compressed wood pellets. With an annual production capacity of 560,000 tons, the plant is the world’s largest pellet production facility. Green Circle exports large quantities of energy wood pellets to Europe through the Port of Panama City, a deep water port located just 58 miles south of the plant. The pellets are used for fuel in European power plants as a coal substitute with the aim of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

The plant began production on April 4, 2008. Receiving the WIRED Northwest Florida Initiative grant for employee training helped Green Circle build a skilled workforce from the ground up.

“The grant funding allowed us to bring people in before we actually started making product,” explains Rosemary Weaver, Green Circle’s human resources manager. “They got to see the construction phase which has equipped employees to be great troubleshooters because they know where everything is and what it does.”

Production began with two to three rail cars loaded per shift. Green Circle now fills eight to 10 cars per shift. “The plant runs 24/7 except for maintenance shut downs,” says Weaver. “Everyone is cross-trained. This high level of productivity allows us to send a ship to Europe about every three weeks.”

In addition to selling the product overseas, Green Circle makes a significant contribution to the local economy by purchasing goods and services such as propane, power and trash removal for the 225-acre site.

Green Circle is one of rural Northwest Florida’s highest paying employers and provides employees with 100% medical coverage. Weaver is also working to develop a tuition reimbursement policy for staff. “We encourage employees to further their education,” Weaver states. “Areas like electrical, welding, lubrication, information technology and engineering are important to our business. Nearby schools such as Washington-Holmes Technical Center in Chipley and Haney Technical Center in Panama City are ideal for our employees.”

Many of Green Circle’s 74 employees were hired locally thanks to help from the Chipola Regional Workforce Development Board. Green Circle also posted jobs through the neighboring Gulf Cost Workforce Board.