Mayor Says 2025 and A+ Year for Belton

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Belton marked 2025 as one of its most significant years for industrial growth, with two major manufacturers choosing the city and setting the stage for continued expansion in jobs and investment.  Mayor Eleanor Dorn said the community has been “very fortunate” as construction accelerated and long‑range plans began to take shape on both new sites.

Eastern Engineered Wood Products, first announced in 2024, moved from plans to construction this year with a project valued at a minimum of 20 million dollars.  The company is pushing to finish its new facility and aims to begin operations in the first quarter of next year, initially bringing about 35 jobs with plans to add more over time.

The city’s most recent headline announcement was Advanced Metalworks locating in the former Wells Aluminum/Sapa building inside Belton’s city limits.  The company is investing about 10 million dollars and plans to start with 69 jobs, with long‑term projections of well over 100 positions, potentially reaching around 150 as expansion plans are realized.

Both Eastern Engineered Wood Products and Advanced Metalworks already have expansion concepts built into their site plans, signaling that 2025 is a starting point rather than a peak for Belton’s industrial base. City leaders view the combination of immediate hiring and future growth potential as a powerful indicator that Belton is becoming a more competitive location for advanced manufacturing.

Dorn called the announcements “incredible” for a community of Belton’s size, noting that landing two substantial projects within the city limits is a rare achievement in recent years.  The new investments are expected to strengthen the tax base, create new career opportunities for local residents, and reinforce the narrative of 2025 as a year of genuine progress rather than incremental change.