Corvaglia Group to Invest in Coweta County with U.S. Expansion

The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced that Corvaglia Group, a Switzerland based supplier to the beverage industry, will build a new manufacturing facility in Newnan. The new operation will create a variety of advanced manufacturing jobs and bring an investment of $25 million to Coweta County.

“Our economic development successes are based on strong partnerships, and corvaglia’s
decision to build a facility in Newnan is a result of these efforts,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat
Wilson. “Our economic development partners played a huge role in landing this project, and I
am grateful for their commitment to the state. Coweta County is perfectly suited to meet the
needs of this company, and I look forward to their future success.”
This new U.S. production facility will complement corvaglia’s existing operations in Eschlikon,
Switzerland and Ixtlahuaca, Mexico. corvaglia employs approximately 275 individuals
worldwide.

“This is a major strategic step in corvaglia’s history that positions us well to serve the U.S.
market,” said Corvaglia Closures USA President and General Manager James B. Fisher. “The
Newnan, Georgia location positions us well for operational success, and the sense of
community aligns with our core values.”

The facility will be operational by the end of 2018. Additionally, corvaglia will bring high-speed
digital printing to the new U.S. facility.

“We are honored to have been chosen by Corvaglia Group for the location of their new
manufacturing facility,” said Trae Westmoreland, President of the Coweta County Development
Authority. “Having just joined the team at the Coweta County Development Authority, I am
grateful for the time and energy that Amanda Fields, Director, Existing Industries & Workforce
Development, put into the recruitment of Corvaglia Group to Coweta County.”

“We appreciate the cooperative efforts between the Georgia Department of Economic
Development, the Coweta County Board of Commissioners, Pattillo Industrial Real Estate, and
our local utility partners in making this a reality. Corvaglia Group is a great company that values
the communities in which they operate and we look forward to watching them succeed in our
community,” said Amanda Fields, Director, Existing Industries & Workforce Development.

GDEcD project manager Nikki Yu represented the Global Commerce division in partnership with
GDEcD’s European Office, Workforce Division, Centers of Innovation for Logistics, Georgia EMC
and the Coweta County Development Authority.

“We are extremely proud that Corvaglia Group has selected Coweta County for its first U.S.
manufacturing facility. Coweta County is always looking for innovators in their field and
corvaglia certainly fits what we are seeking to make our county a better place,” said AL Smith,
Chairman of the Coweta County Board of Commissioners. “We look forward to working with
Corvaglia Group in providing quality jobs for the people of Coweta County.”

Honda Motor Co. Ltd. to Invest $100 million in its Northwest Georgia Plant

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co. Ltd. will invest $100 million in its northwest Georgia plant to make the world’s first 10-speed automatic transmission for front-drive vehicles.

The 10-speed automatic transmission will initially appear in the 2018 Honda Odyssey minivan. The product will be rolled out to other Honda and Acura models over time.

Honda decided to put the new product line at its 400,000 square-foot transmission plant in Tallapoosa, Ga. because of its proximity to the automaker’s Odyssey factory in Lincoln, Ala., a spokesman said.

“The ability to select a more optimal gear setting improves fuel economy, allowing engine rpm to be reduced to 1,500 rpm at 62 mph, compared with 1,920 rpm on six-speed vehicles,” theHonda spokesman said.

The new transmission, designed in-house at Honda, provides a smoother ride and boosts fuel efficiency, the automaker claimed.

The transmission is expected to deliver a 14 percent improvement in highway passing and a 30 percent faster gear-change response time, according to Automotive Engineering. The 10-speed is also expected to boost the Odyssey’s fuel economy by at least 6 percent over the 6-speed.

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Colorado Premium to Create 190 Jobs in Carroll County

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that Colorado Premium, a manufacturer of premium protein products, will create 190 jobs and invest $15 million in a Carroll County food processing plant by the end of 2018.

“Colorado Premium’s decision to establish a presence in Carroll County is a testament to Georgia’s commitment to providing a business-friendly environment and the resources necessary for economic growth in today’s market,” said Deal. “Georgia offers the freight and transportation network required to serve a broad, growing customer base. I am confident our strategic location will provide significant benefits for Colorado Premium as the company expands its presence throughout the southeast.”

The company supplies major consumer-ready meats to U.S. retailers and restaurant chains. Colorado Premium also co-packs specialty items for packing companies across the nation.

“We explored with various locations in the Southeast, the facility in Carrollton was selected due to the overwhelming welcome that we received from the Carroll County and State of Georgia business community,” said Kevin LaFleur, Colorado Premium owner and president. “We have been growing with our customers for several years and this facility will enable that growth and provide a better geographic shipping point for these customers.”

The company purchased an existing 130,000-square-foot building in Carroll County for the new processing facility.

“We are excited to begin the new year with this announcement,” said Daniel Jackson, president and CEO of Carroll Tomorrow. “As a family owned, highly successful and growing industry, Colorado Premium is a perfect fit for our community. We are so impressed with the owner and senior leadership team and we know that they will be a great asset to our community and a wonderful new corporate citizen.”

Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Project Manager Brittany Holtzclaw represented the Global Commerce division throughout this project in partnership with Carroll Tomorrow and Georgia EMC.

“Colorado Premium’s relocation in Georgia validates many of the initiatives we are managing to help our existing industries remain as competitive as possible,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “This additional facility is not only a credit to our logistics system, but to our nationally recognized business climate as well.”

About Colorado Premium : Colorado Premium was founded in 1998 by Kevin LaFleur and Don Babcock and is headquartered in Greeley, Colorado. As a family-owned added-value manufacturer of premium protein products, Colorado Premium serves major U.S. retailers and restaurant chains, and co-packs specialty items for packers across the nation. A leader in processes, efficiency and products, Colorado Premium strives to be at the top in every area of the business, creating a careful balance among all the elements that are critical to successful meat production.

Development Authority of Heard County Leases Land for a One Megawatt Solar System Located in the Floodplain of the Chattahoochee River in Franklin

The Development Authority of Heard County has signed a 25 year lease with two 5 year options with Inman Solar, a solar energy developer and contractor, for a five acre tract in the floodplain of the Chattahoochee River in the Industrial Park East in Franklin.

The project was awarded by Georgia Power under their Georgia Power Advanced Solar Initiative (GPASI) 2015 Edition.  All power and renewable attributes generated by the solar system will be sold to Georgia Power.

The one megawatt system will be owned and operated by Inman Solar’s investors.  Plasti-Paint, Inc. is considered the “host” of the solar system.  The project will, at its peak, offset the peak power consumption of their facility.

Inman Solar is a full service, turn-key developer.  They fully design and construct the projects then develop and operate them on behalf of their customers for the life of the project.

Prior to clearing and construction, the West Georgia Chapter of the Georgia Native Plant Society performed a native plant rescue in advance of development.  The plants removed from the site may be relocated to other sites including churches, parks, restoration projects and other locations selected by the Georgia Native Plant Society.

The Industrial Park East is already home to Plasti-Paint, Inc. and the Franklin campus of West Georgia Technical College.   Recently completed building sites include one 35,000 square foot building site, two 12,000 square foot sites and one 10,000 square foot g site; all within the city limits of historic Franklin!

ABOUT HEARD COUNTY

Located 52 miles southwest of metropolitan Atlanta, Heard County is centrally located between Interstates 20, 85 and 185.  This community of 12,000 offers the peaceful quiet of rural living nestled conveniently in the heart of the vibrant west Georgia region. In a time of fast paced growth and the limitless challenges that come with that growth, it is a unique pleasure to find a community that remains sensitive to the qualities of life that have historically set them apart.

Heard County is home to some of the finest hunting and fishing in the region.  Franklin, the county seat, is situated on the Chattahoochee River at the headwaters of West Point Lake, a 25,900 acre reservoir.

Heard County’s schools have been recognized in several ways for their academic excellence.  Recent recognitions include “National School of Excellence”, “Georgia School of Excellence”, and U.S. News and World Reports “Best School” designation.

Die-Tech Industries plans $6.75 million expansion in Carroll County

Die-Tech Industries of Carrollton announced that it will expand its presences in Carroll County, investing $6.75 million into an expansion project.

Die-Tech Industries supplies stamped parts to various industries, largely automotive, and is expanding to take on larger projects. Located next to the existing Carrollton plant, a new 90,000 square foot facility, loading docks, and employee parking lot will be constructed. A total of 15 new jobs will be added at the completion of the construction.

Third generation die makers and brothers Tom and Gerald Wysoczynski started Die-Tech Industries in Carrollton in 1987 after recognizing the need for quality automotive-style dies in the Southeast region. Starting from a small leased space, they quickly moved into a more permanent location which was expanded three times before building a new plant in 1997. A second plant followed in 2000 after operations were expanded to include automotive stampings.

“Die-Tech Industries is excited to have the opportunity to work on our manufacturing facility expansion with the community leaders at the City of Carrollton, Carroll County, Carroll Tomorrow, and the Carrollton Payroll Development Authority,” said Die-Tech’s President/CEO Tom Wysoczynski. “The support we have received from these professionals within our community will not only make our plant expansion a reality, but will also help to position our company for growth and success in the years to come.”

“The best economic development news for a community is when an existing industry is growing and expanding,” said Daniel Jackson, President/CEO of Carroll Tomorrow. Jackson noted that Die-Tech has enjoyed success and growth in a very competitive and time sensitive environment.

“Die-Tech is the kind of industry that a community appreciates so much,” Jackson said. “They take care of their business, support the local economy, and quietly take care of their customers and their employees in a professional manner.”

“We are very proud that Die-Tech continues to expand their operations in Carrollton and we wish them the best in their continued prosperity,” said Carrollton Mayor Walt Hollingsworth.

Since the beginning, Die-Tech Industries continually strives to exceed industry standards including a focus on using the latest hardware and software technology to solve industry problems. This focus started in 1991 with the formation of an internal network and the use of CAD for designing dies. In 1992, Die-Tech Industries became the first die shop in the South to send CAD data to purchase die shoes. Later, they implemented an industry leading MRP package, barcode and data collection system, and developed an in-house time and job tracking solution.

Today, Die-Tech Industries employs 175 people including 25 journeymen at two plants that consist of 128,000 square feet of manufacturing space with 60,000 square feet dedicated to stamping and the remaining to assembly and warehouse space. The parts they make can be found on the industry’s premier automobiles including BMW, Ford, Freightliner, Honda, Mercedes, Nissan and Toyota. Additionally, they supply parts to major manufacturers of office furniture, garage doors, lighting and appliances.

Reversing the Trend: Crane Industry Services Working to Fix Shortage of Skilled Laborers

Crane Industry Services is all about finding solutions.

Whether it’s how to teach journeymen the proper way to lift huge loads with advanced rigging techniques or helping to fix the nation’s skilled worker shortage, no task is too big or too small for the company, which has partnered with West Georgia Technical College and offers courses year-round on the college’s Waco campus.

Crane Industry CEO Debbie Dickinson said the company’s Centered on Safety Training Center on the Murphy Campus showcases hands-on, job-specific training for the crane and rigging industry in an aggressive, immersion class setting.

“We’re proud to have brought programs to West Georgia Technical College that didn’t exist before,” Dickinson said. “Our vision is to fix a huge problem in our industry — that we need more people. There are great careers in the industry, but a couple of decades ago, people adopted the mentality that to be successful in life, you have to have a four-year degree from a college. That’s just not true, and it’s led to a problem across the nation.”

A study completed by HomeAdvisors in February 2016 reports 93 percent of contractors believe their businesses would grow over the next six months, if not for hiring challenges. Likewise, 61 percent of skilled laborers believe there is a lack of exposure to the profession for younger generations.

“We’re working to reverse that trend,” Dickinson said, “but it’s not easy work. We think of ourselves as a secret that’s too well-kept, and getting the word out has been one of the greatest challenges we’ve faced in the past six months.”

The training center offers training for students from “all walks of life,” Dickinson said — from experienced journeymen looking for higher levels of certification to young men and women who’ve never set foot on a job site.

“We pride ourselves on taking people who’ve never worked in this kind of industry before and teaching them to use the tools at their disposal,” Dickinson said. “Not just understand what the tools are and how they work, but how to actually use them practically, in a real-world setting.”

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#1 State for Business, #1 Region for Growth

Once again, Georgia tops Area Development’s list of the 2015 Top States for Doing Business. This independent yearly survey of site consultants compares strengths in business environment, labor climate, infrastructure and global access.

Strategically located just a short distance from the world’s busiest and most efficient airport, West Georgia combines the best of the state’s strengths in one diverse and rapidly growing area. West Georgia also boasts high-skill labor thanks to the top-ranked workforce program in the nation, Quick Start. It’s easy to see why companies such as Kia, Honda, Caterpillar and Walmart call the region home.

In 2015, Kia hit the milestone of assembling its 500,000th vehicle at its plant in West Point and stated it is investing $1.6 billion in machinery and equipment. “By choosing West Georgia, Kia was able to take advantage of proximity to its future suppliers while benefiting from a solid infrastructure,” Kia’s Corinne Hodges told the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Much of Kia’s success is attributed to the support Georgia offers in terms of world-class logistic ecosystem, customized workforce training programs and a culture of collaboration. It’s estimated that Kia has created more than 15,000 regional jobs.

Honda Precision Parts of Georgia has been in Haralson County for ten years now. It recently expanded its transmission production facility in Tallapoosa, adding the casting and machining of transmission cases to its initial assembly operations. Honda more than tripled plant size from 100,000 to 350,000 square feet and increased capital investment from $100 million to $150 million.

Another company that chose West Georgia is Caterpillar. “We are excited about our growth opportunities in LaGrange,” said Kevin Thieneman, Caterpillar General Manager for Forest Products. “A large part of that is due to our world-class forestry team, who design and build forestry products that are shipped globally,” he said when announcing that Caterpillar was expanding its LaGrange facility. He told Area Development that the manufacturer would add 50 new jobs and invest $25 million into its LaGrange operations. “We look forward to building an even stronger base in LaGrange,” he said.

Walmart is one of the companies helping to make the area a major distributions hub. It based its distribution center in LaGrange, citing strong logistics advantages and resources for receiving, storing and distributing goods. West Georgia’s convenient location gives the retail giant prime access to four major interstates, rail lines, one of the largest air cargo networks in North America and two ports. 80 percent of the U.S. market can be reached within two hours by air or two days by truck.

Greater West Georgia Joint Development Authority congratulates all of our economic development and business partners who have helped us achieve this prestigious ranking three years in a row.

Reduced Fuel Rates for Georgia Power Customers

According to an article released by the Georgia Public Service Commission last week, a decrease in the Fuel Cost Recovery (FCR) rate for Georgia Power Company customers has been unanimously approved. The reduction is predicted to save the average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours about $5.00 a month for a total reduction of 14 percent on their monthly bill.

The Commission approved an agreement between the Company and the Commission Public Advocacy Interest Staff that increased the reduction from the Company’s original filing on September 18, 2015.

The Company’s filing indicates the falling price of natural gas is a key reason for the decrease.

“We are pleased we can lower Georgia Power customers’ rates and give consumers a price break, especially at this time of year,” said Commission Chairman Chuck Eaton.

“Keeping rates low, making our military bases more resilient, growing solar in Georgia without a subsidy, protecting our gas pipelines, and providing needed services for the hearing impaired–all important duties of the Georgia PSC,” said Commissioner Tim Echols. “It is my honor to serve my fellow citizens in this capacity.”

For more complete information, refer to the filings on line in Docket Number 39971 available on the Commission web site at www.psc.state.ga.us.

Carroll County’s Educators Explore Career Pathways in Manufacturing

The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce hosted approximately 80 local educators and officials from the Georgia Departments of Community Affairs and Economic Development for 2015 Manufacturing Day.  The Chamber’s Workforce Education and Development Task Force sponsored the tour of West Georgia Technical College’s Center for Manufacturing Excellence and two local industries, Yachiyo and OFS, allowing educators to explore the quality manufacturing career opportunities for high-skilled, high-paying jobs for Carroll County’s future workforce. Following the tour, teachers had the opportunity to question a panel of industry human resources professionals to further discover how to enlighten students and their parents on various career pathways.

Teachers from Carroll County Schools and Carrollton City Schools visited West Georgia Technical College’s Center for Manufacturing Excellence as part of the Carroll County Chamber’s Manufacturing Day.

Don Rhine (left), manager of the Southwire Center for Manufacturing Excellence at West Georgia Technical College, explained several of the programs available to high school graduates who wish to enter careers in local industry.

Rob Davyduck, plant manager for Yachiyo, provided an overview of the company’s product line to educators from Carrollton City Schools and Carroll County Schools as part of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce’s Manufacturing Day.

Panelists pictured below included: Theresa Fisher, HR recruiting and community branding manager for Sugarfoods Corporation; Sherry Mozee, assistant HR manager for Yachiyo; Nathan Wright, HR analyst for Southwire Company; Debbie Shurfeld of Elwood Staffing; Haven Morgan of Randstad Work solutions; and Harvey Parker, senior HR manager for OFS Fitel.

Elite Foam Expansion Announced in Coweta County