Baxalta Incorporated is still making its way toward bringing a large amount of new jobs and a new level of industrial growth to Newton County, and it progressed another step during a meeting of the Joint Development Authority (JDA) Tuesday.

The JDA, which owns Stanton Springs, approved a resolution to essentially turn over the name Baxter to Baxalta.

About a year ago Baxter International announced to split its business into two companies, placing its $9.4 billion medical products division and its $5.8 BioScience division into separate businesses. The plant, currently being built on the Newton/Walton county border, was placed under the BioScience company due to its production of plasma-based treatments Gammagard and Albumin by 2018.

On September 10, the BioScience company was announced to be named Baxalta Incorporated and to be led by BioScience President Ludwig Hantson.

"The naming of Baxalta is the latest milestone on our journey to becoming a separate, independent company," said Ludwig Hantson, Ph.D., president of Baxter BioScience, who will be chief executive officer of Baxalta in a press release. "The name Baxalta celebrates and sustains Baxter's heritage as an innovator with a legacy of leadership by incorporating the Baxter name and coupling it with 'alta,' which derives from altus, Latin for 'high' or 'profound.' Both companies share a deep commitment to meeting the needs of current and future patients, which will continue to inspire us going forward."

Baxter International purchased 162 acres in Stanton Springs Industrial Park off U.S. Highway 278, including 54 acres in Newton County and 108 acres in Walton County. Hantson told The News in April 2012 that only a third of the site will be built out for the initial $1 billion investment. The remaining 100-plus acres could be built out depending on company performance.

Baxter's plans call for an integrated campus of buildings totaling one million square feet, including three main manufacturing buildings, as well as support components such as warehouse and utilities buildings, administrative facilities and laboratories.

Stanton Springs, where the Baxalta campus is located, is overseen by the JDA, which is made up of Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton county officials. JDA directors at Tuesday's meeting were Keith Ellis and Mort Ewing of Newton County, Mike Owens and Kevin Little of Walton County, Steve Jordan and Carl Pennamon of Jasper County and Andy Ainslie and chairman Alan Verner of Morgan County.