UNIONTOWN – Friday evening, Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley approved a $700,000 low-interest-rate loan that will enable a local industry expand and create 20 jobs.

Harvest Select Catfish in Uniontown will use the economic development loan to meet increased product demand by adding a fifth processing line.

Harvest Select employs 246 people at its Uniontown plant and with the expansion will be able to process an additional 100,000 to 120,000 pounds of fish per week. The company owns and/or operates 4,800 acres of catfish ponds in three states. In addition to its pond and processing plant in Uniontown, Harvest Select also has a processing plant in Eudora, Ark.

The company operates a fleet of trucks to transport its products and supplies.

The economic development revolving loan fund is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs from money provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Loans are available to help businesses retain or create jobs within the state.

Loan repayments are retuned back to the program and made available for other ventures.

Bentley notified Uniontown Mayor Jamaal O. Hunter that the loan had been approved.