Just as our nutrients can serve as a catalyst for the growth of healthy crops, our presence in more than 60 U.S. and Canadian communities can spur growth for local economies. Often, we are the largest employer and contributor to the local tax base in towns that are relatively small and in rural locations.

The expansions of our nitrogen complexes in Donaldsonville and Port Neal provide a good example of just how significant our impact can be on local economies. The employment of approximately 3,500 construction workers during the three-year building period has had an immediate impact. In fact, due in part to our expansion at Port Neal, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis recently shows that the Sioux City, Iowa, metropolitan area where the plant is located recorded the greatest income growth in the country during 2013, the most recent year data is available.

The expanded plants will soon begin adding approximately 200 new permanent positions with starting salaries that average $55,000 per year and increase, with full certification, to $85,000 per year. Additionally, we estimate that for every direct new position we create, seven indirect jobs will be created in the local community, meaning these two expansions are expected to result in a total of 1,400 new U.S. jobs.

These new positions will join a workforce of employees who make CF Industries a great company. That’s why we provide a rewarding workplace environment, attractive compensation, competitive benefits, an incentive bonus plan tied to our safety performance and participation in a pension or equivalent plan. Our benefits also include a wellness program that stresses preventive health care and a continuing education program that reimburses the cost of certain classes.

In 2014, our Medicine Hat Nitrogen Complex was named a Top 70 Employer in Alberta, Canada, and our Yazoo City Nitrogen Complex was recognized for the second year in a row as one of the Best Places to Work in Mississippi by the Mississippi Business Journal. Both recognitions underscore progress toward our goal to be an employer of choice.