Helix Electric Breaks Ground on Alabama Campus With 160 Jobs

New factory work is coming to north Alabama, a useful lead for anyone searching for jobs in USA with visa sponsorship in skilled trades or for local workers wanting a steady career. On 27 October 2026, Governor Kay Ivey announced that California-based contractor Helix Electric has broken ground on a $45.3 million campus in Jackson County that will create 160 jobs.

Project at a glance

What the campus will make

Helix Electric is one of the larger electrical contractors in the US. Instead of building all of its electrical systems on job sites, it will make many of them in a factory and ship them out ready to install. The Alabama campus will produce:

• Underground duct banks and duct bank risers
• Hangers and electrical devices
• Large modular electrical skids for construction and industrial sites

The site puts manufacturing closer to the company's East Coast teams and customers. It also fits Alabama's plan to grow its metals and advanced materials industry. Jackson County is one of the state's "Target Counties", areas the government is keen to bring new investment to.

Who could be hired

The state did not list job titles or wages. For a prefabrication plant of this type, typical roles include:

• Electricians and electrical assemblers
• Welders and metal fabricators
• Machine operators and production workers
• Quality inspectors
• Warehouse, shipping and forklift staff
• Supervisors, planners and engineers

Local leaders called these jobs life-changing opportunities for residents of the county.

How to apply

The announcement did not include a careers link. Check Helix Electric's own official website for job postings as the campus gets closer to opening. You can also follow the Jackson County Economic Development Authority for local hiring news.

What it means for job seekers

• Trade skills are key: electrical, welding and fabrication experience will make your application stronger.
• Prefab is growing: more contractors are moving work into factories, which means regular hours and less travel than site work.
• Get training: Alabama community colleges offer short electrical and welding courses that suit roles like these.
• Overseas applicants: most US factory roles do not sponsor visas, so look for employers that clearly state sponsorship is available.
• Watch the timeline: hiring usually ramps up a few months before a plant starts production.

The US South is adding factory jobs fast, from Blue Bird's 375 bus plant jobs in Georgia to SteelFab's welder jobs in South Carolina.

More openings: all USA jobs