154 replies to this topic

[aboutmetro]

It's often a chicken and egg thing. But one thing is for sure, when a major employer looks at a town, their first question is where will my employees come from, followed closely by what kind of education do they have.  The Chamber does a great job of posting job gains, but nobody really keeps a net of gains and losses.  So here, let's try to keep track of that in this post.  Keep a list of gain and loss announcements in Columbus/Phenix City, Lagrange, Opelika-Auburn.  And also keep up with any rumblings of those that stay under the media's radar... like this one. Universal Power Group

[aboutmetro]

WTVM quoted the O-A News "About 300 West Point Home employees at the Joseph L. Lanier Plant in Valley". I'm sure Kia won't come fast enough for some of these folks. Which brings to mind a question. How many new people will actually be brought in by something like Kia and how many will actually be re-employed.  Recent years have seen jusge layoffs and economic decline in this area from textile jobs going overseas.

[aboutmetro]

A plastics manufacturer in Columbus is closing one of its plants
- 36 jobs

[gah]

aboutmetro, on Jul 31 2007, 05:11 PM, said:

It's often a chicken and egg thing. But one thing is for sure, when a major employer looks at a town, their first question is where will my employees come from, followed closely by what kind of education do they have.  The Chamber does a great job of posting job gains, but nobody really keeps a net of gains and losses.  So here, let's try to keep track of that in this post.  Keep a list of gain and loss announcements in Columbus/Phenix City, Lagrange, Opelika-Auburn.  And also keep up with any rumblings of those that stay under the media's radar... like this one. Universal Power Group

Suspect most mid- and upper- level will be new folks moving in. The actual blue collar line workers, etc will be mostly former textile workers or those presently working in mills who want to earn a much better wage.  KIA will be the final nail in the coffin of textiles in the Valley.  The slow death of textile (and manufacturing in general) has been the reason that population growth has been stagnant.  New jobs merely replace those that are lost, so no net gain.  Guess that we have fared better than some in Rust Belt.  At least we have mostly held steady rather than nosedive.  Hopefully we have bounced off the bottom and the trajectory will be upwards rather than sideways.

[aboutmetro]

gah, on Aug 2 2007, 08:53 AM, said:

Suspect most mid- and upper- level will be new folks moving in. The actual blue collar line workers, etc will be mostly former textile workers or those presently working in mills who want to earn a much better wage.  KIA will be the final nail in the coffin of textiles in the Valley.  The slow death of textile (and manufacturing in general) has been the reason that population growth has been stagnant.  New jobs merely replace those that are lost, so no net gain.  Guess that we have fared better than some in Rust Belt.  At least we have mostly held steady rather than nosedive.  Hopefully we have bounced off the bottom and the trajectory will be upwards rather than sideways.

I'll second that. I think Columbus specifically has done very well considering it wasn't on the Interstate system, and barely is now. Wonder what could have been if it had. I look at those business parks with big distribution centers in Macon with I's-75,16,475 and can't help but think Columbus, and Albany for that matter should have had that too.

[aboutmetro]

Harris' new business park - Map

Post from another Topic[post]Harris Business Park

Didn't I read they got a concrete company for +100 jobs?

[ATLman1]

aboutmetro, on Aug 2 2007, 09:40 AM, said:

Harris' new business park - Map

Post from another Topic[post]Harris Business Park

Didn't I read they got a concrete company for +100 jobs?

Yes, there are two companies locating in the new business park that is creating around 200 new jobs.

[ATLman1]

Distributor to expand local facility
Alabama-based Buffalo Rock to create 50 jobs

Buffalo Rock, a Birmingham, Ala.-based beverage distributor, announced Thursday it will expand its Columbus operation.

The company will invest $4.5 million and create 50 jobs before the end of the year at Sun Fresh Beverage, a bottling facility on Veterans Parkway.

Products the company bottles include Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Diet Mountain Dew. It will also bottle Aquafina water and Lipton green teas.

The new equipment will be capable of producing 8 million to 10 million cases per year. It will give the company the ability to produce as many 30 million cases per year in Columbus.

[ATLman1]

Nonprofit declares Columbus its home
Teen Challenge's $2.5M project will bring 60 new jobs to Columbus

Nine months into its relocation and renovation, Teen Challenge has announced its regional and international headquarters is now in Columbus. The nonprofit drug recovery program's $2.5 million investment brings 60 new jobs to the area.

Teen Challenge is a 12- to 15-month faith-based residential program for teenagers and adults afflicted by behavioral problems or drug and alcohol addiction.

"There are not an awful lot of international headquarters here in Columbus, Ga.," said Jim Blanchard, retired Synovus chairman and chief executive officer. "Even more than the direct financial impact is the impact of a worldwide organization choosing your city as their home."

Blanchard is a local advisory board member for two Teen Challenge centers.

The offices of Teen Challenge Florida/Georgia and Global Teen Challenge are now located in two buildings at 24 W. 10th St. The organization has 1,352 residential beds at 30 programs in 27 cities in six states. Teen Challenge has two client homes in the area: a women's home in Columbus and a girls' home in Seale, Ala.

Jerry Nance, president and CEO of Teen Challenge Florida/Georgia and Global Teen Challenge, said he was attracted to Columbus because of "the warmth of the community."

"You've made us feel so at home," Nance told ribbon cutting ceremony attendees Wednesday. "You've really made us feel like family."

Nance also noted several appealing features of the city -- good schools and universities, local sports, an arts scene and more.

Teen Challenge began moving into the Columbus offices in November. It is still in its renovation process. Nance said it is undetermined when remodeling efforts will be completed.

Of the 60 mostly administrative jobs, 24 have already been filled. Of the 24 employees, up to 15 have been hired locally.

Teen Challenge headquarters were previously located in Orlando, Fla. The organization had to find a new location after interstate construction forced them to vacate their space.

On Wednesday, Mayor Jim Wetherington welcomed the organization to the community and said it meant something to see an organization of this kind come to Columbus. Wetherington, a former police chief, said he has seen the consequences of troubled young people.

"There's nothing more important than helping folks get back into mainstream society -- whether it's teens or adults," he said.

Sis Blanchard, a member of Teen Challenge's local advisory board, said having an international headquarters in Columbus means a boost to tourism as well.

In January, Global Teen Challenge will hold its first global corporate board meeting in Columbus. At least 40 Teen Challenge executives from different countries -- from Czech Republic to Australia -- are expected to attend.

"Thousands of people around the world will be affected because of decisions made right here in this building," Sis Blanchard said.

[gah]

Presumably this is the "big and important" announcement to which he referred in his speech.  Guess it qualifies -- but not as "big" or "important" as I had hoped!

[gah]

Cessna -  which already has 2 plants in Columbus employing 600 - will build a new $25 plant in Muscogee Tech Park to employ 150.  Expansion is due to success of the Citation Mustang private jet.

[aboutmetro]

West Point Stevens closing with taking away 300 jobs. Will be followed by the outlet store's closing after Christmas.  I wonder if we're in the black or the red for the year, both regarding announcements and actual openings and closings?

[aboutmetro]

+300 from Kia Supplier Dongwon.

[ATLman1]

Masterbuilt announces expansion, new jobs

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Masterbuilt, maker of electric turkey fryers, announced plans to add new jobs and triple the size of the company over the next five years.

Masterbuilt has already moved into a 67,000 square foot warehouse off Milgen Road in Columbus after 16 years at their facility on Brown Avenue. The company invested $2.5 million to buy and renovate the facility that includes new office space.

"We plan on staying right here in Columbus, Ga., and growing here," said John McLemore, president and CEO of Masterbuilt.

The company will add 40 new jobs over the next five years in all departments including sales, accounting, design and engineering. The company currently employs about 50 people.

"If you want things to grow, you've got to spread them out a little," said Don McLemore, vice president and COO.

Masterbuilt was founded 34 years ago by Dawson McLemore in his backyard making baker's racks, fern stands and orrnamental ironwork. Today his sons, John and Don McLemore, own and operate the company. Masterbuilt designs and markets products including grills, smokers, gas fryers, automotive cargo carriers, bike racks and accessories.

[aboutmetro]

Panasonic closing - minus 250 jobs.

[gah]

aboutmetro, on Nov 6 2007, 11:04 AM, said:

Panasonic closing - minus 250 jobs.

A troubling trend lately of losing manufacturing jobs (Charbroil, etc).  Its one thing to lose jobs in a low-paying, troubled industry (textiles).  Quite another to be losing higher end jobs requiring some technical skills.  Replacing jobs with employment opportunities at chicken processing plants like the one in PC or the retail/hospitality jobs that will be created by BRAC wont cut it in today's economy.  We need some more announcements of increased jobs like those at with AFLAC or TSYS.  Still hoping for a big announcement for a Kia supplier @ Muscogee Tech Park -- which is seriously underutilized.

[aboutmetro]

Does Kia have recruitment operations in Columbus?  This article in Newnan only discusses Lagrange and Auburn-Opelika. If the Chamber was so involved in Kia, shouldn't there be activity in Columbus? Did I miss the info in the Ledger?

[aboutmetro]

Sewon Precision creating 700 jobs in LaGrange is great news for the metro area.

[aboutmetro]

AlaTrade Foods, which opened its $15million, 85,000sf poultry processing plant in Phenix City, AL's Phenix Industrial Park is hiring 300 workers.  Plans are for 800 total if things go well, according to this WTVM News Story.

[aboutmetro]

Plus 700 Jobs - WTVM story here

Kia spinoff MP Tech to make LED lights.  Locating in Cussetta Industrial Park in Chambers County, AL.  Located one-half mile of I-85 at Exit 70 near the Lee County line.