Although the economy is lagging in Decatur County, as well as nationwide, several local industries are continuing with their plans to expand, said Rick McCaskill, executive director of the Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County.

McCaskill briefed Authority members at the group’s regular meeting Wednesday, Nov. 16. He touched on several local industries that are expanding and others that may be close to expanding.

He said DaniMer Scientific, which produces biopolymers for the plastics and resins industry, recently closed on loans that will allow the company to install a new line at its facility. The line will produce a special “hot-melt adhesive” that can be used in a variety of paper products and other items, such as cardboard boxes.

R Squared Solutions, located at 254 River Oaks Drive, also plans to add new space by January, McCaskill said.

“It’s probably going to be about a 10,000-square-foot building going up,” McCaskill said. “I think it’s going to end up leading to additional jobs, which is going to be pretty good.”

McCaskill added that TexPar Energy, located at 268 Industrial Blvd., has plans to build a new office building in the Industrial Air Park.

“They’re still looking over the plans to decide if they’re going to pull the trigger on it,” he said. “It would be a real nice-looking facility right on the entrance to the industrial park.”

McCaskill said the authority is still looking for a company to fill the empty TRACO building, but thus far no suitor has come forward.

Authority Chairman Jon McRae said it has been tough to keep industries growing and attract new companies to Decatur County.

“With the economy like it is, we’re suffering along with everybody else,” he said. “But I think that when the economy turns, this community is going to be ready to step up.”

Joe Truhett, an Authority member, added that cooperation between different government entities has been key.

“There is a sense of cooperation that you see here, that you don’t see in a lot of other places,” he said. “I think we have something special here that a lot of citizens sometimes take for granted.”

McCaskill noted compliments, but said there is still work to do.

“The best thing we can do is get the jobs coming in,” he said.

In other business, the Authority:

• Named its new officers for 2012. Keith Lyle will be chairman, Ted Martin will serve as vice chairman and Mike Conder will be secretary-treasurer.