ATCO to build modular housing for oil, mining sites

POCATELLO (AP) - A manufacturing company has held a ribbon cutting ceremony in eastern Idaho where it's created 190 jobs for workers building modular workforce housing units to be shipped to oil and mining sites throughout the world.

ATCO, based in Alberta, Canada, held the ceremony Wednesday in Pocatello at the Gateway West industrial park off Pole Line Road.

Plant manager David Cook said the company will have to build the housing units quickly due to demand. A partially constructed, 720-square-foot unit was being put together on an assembly line in Building 36.

"We expect to complete three units per day, once we are up and fully running," he said. "Ninety percent of the supplies we use come from companies in Idaho."

Cook said Franklin Lumber and Wall 2 Wall Carpet are two of a number of local companies getting additional business due to the manufacturing plant.

"When I met with ATCO officials, the thing that impressed me the most was their concern for the Idaho companies they could use as suppliers," said Idaho Director of Commerce Jeff Sayer. "That's just not something you see nowadays."