Alcoa to break ground on aluminum mill expansion

Alcoa Tennessee Operations will break ground Thursday on the expansion of its aluminum rolling mill to accommodate automotive sheet production.

Currently, Alcoa is the world's largest producer of rolled aluminum can sheets for beverage cans.

Over the next three years, the company expects to invest $275 million in the project to meet the growing demand of the auto manufacturing industry.

The expansion is expected to generate 200 new jobs, which will be a mix of technical and trade positions.

Automakers are using more aluminum to improve safety, fuel efficiency, durability and overall performance of trucks and cars.

Several state lawmakers are set to attend including Gov. Bill Haslam, Sen. Lamar Alexander, and Congressman John Duncan.