Imperial Sugar Breaks Ground for Final Building

Imperial Sugar is one step closer to being back up and running at full capacity.
The facility exploded last February, killing 14 people.
Planning to rebuild since the day after the explosion, today they broke ground for the new packaging building.
C.E.O.  John Sheptor says despite the current status of the economy, Imperial Sugar is moving forward.
"Our investors are optimistic about the company. Our share price has gone up 40 percent over the last two months while the market has gone south," points out a confident Sheptor.
News Three's Alice Massimi was at today's groundbreaking and has more.

With their heads bowed employees of Imperial Sugar prayed for the lives lost.
“Today is a beautiful day. I know they are smiling down on us because I shed tears today,” says Beverly O’Neal, an employee at the plant for 22 years.
Never forgetting the horrific night of February the Seventh this group is now looking on to the future.
Standing on what many think of as hallowed land, they broke ground for the final structure.
Amidst smiling and clapping it's evident the employees spirits are high.
“I am grateful! I am grateful that we are rebuilding. I am grateful that I still have a job and I'm grateful that I still have my sugar Imperial Family, “ says Deloris Miller also an employee at the plant.
“I was here the night of the explosion. To be here today still alive and mourning the ones that are gone but here to help rebuild, its very exciting, “ says Demond Reddick.
Taking part in this momentous occasion Demond served as a source of strength for many throughout the past ten months.
“We need to go ahead and do what we need to do to stand firm and help the company get past this,” he recalls the words he had for fellow employees in the weeks following the explosion. Cynthia Hamilton says she always had hope..
“It’s hard to explain. I am just so excited. I am happy, I am nervous. It is just a feeling of glee. I'm very grateful, “ says employee Hamilton.
Grateful that out of tragedy will rise the promise of new beginnings.

Imperial Sugar plans on shipping out their first customer order for liquid sugar tomorrow.
They hope to be back up to full speed by next summer.