Volkswagen announced this morning that it would build a
manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. where it will build
a vehicle specifically for the North American market. The
plant will employ 2,000 workers from the tri-state area and is
expected to invest $1 billion in the local economy.
‘Commercial News’
Volkswagen announces plans for factory in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Friday, May 29th, 2009Alstom brings jobs, energy as it powers up for nation’s nuclear resurgence
Monday, June 21st, 2010With completion of a new “flagship” Chattanooga factory, Alstom executives say they’re ready to make the world’s largest steam and gas turbines for power plants as the company prepares for America’s nuclear revival.
“This is the latest and biggest,” Stephen Cai, managing director of the turbine facility, said of the sprawling 350,000 square foot factory built on the Tennessee River near downtown. “This is the flagship.”
Already the $300 million plant on Riverfront Parkway has a two-year backlog of business retrofitting power plant components, Mr. Cai said.
Another 230 Jobs Announced
Friday, June 26th, 2009Gestamp Corp. to build $90M Plant. VW Supplier to build Enterprise South Plant.
Gestamp Corp., which unveiled plans to build a $90 million plant and employ at least 230 people within three years at the Tyner site, is paying for the land, unlike Volkswagen.
Mayor Ron Littlefield said Gestamp, which will supply structural components for the new midsized sedan VW plans to build at its nearby plant, is paying about $35,000 an acre for a 49.7-acre tract, or about $1.74 million.
Gestamp’s new facility will go up near the intersection of Hickory Valley Road and Discovery Drive, close to the Hamilton County Schools offices and VW’s $1billion plant.
Trevor Hamilton, vice president of economic development for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, said Gestamp is the first of the tier one suppliers to come to the area. Tier one companies typically need to be close to an auto assembly plant because of the key parts they produce.
Mr. Hamilton said Chattanooga continues to land companies and jobs despite the challenging economic environment. With Gestamp, Volkswagen, Chattem, Alstom, Arch Plastics, and Dixie Industries, more than 2,800 jobs have been recruited in the region, he said.
Wacker Chemical Finds a New Home
Thursday, June 25th, 2009The announcement Thursday that Wacker Chemical Corp. will build a $1 billion plant near the Hiwassee Industrial Park in Charleston in northern Bradley County is wonderful news for the county, the region, and the state. It is the third $1 billion industrial investment announced in Tennessee in the past eight months and the second by a German firm in Southeast Tennessee in the same period.
IVC US, Inc. will invest $70 million, create jobs in Dalton
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009IVCS US, Inc. US operations of the Belguim-based IVC Group, has chosen Dalton for its first US-based manufacturing operation with plans to begin production in 2011 on the longest vinyl line in the world. The firm will invest some $70 million to construct a new 520,000 square foot facility that will produce 5,000 sheet miles of vinyl floor coverings each year. The company will also create 115 new jobs.
SIAG Schaaf Acquires Aerisyn, Adds 120 New Jobs
Monday, June 22nd, 2009Tennessee and Chattanooga officials applauded the announcement by Rudiger Schaff,CEO of German-based SIAG Schaaf Industrie Aktiengesellschaft, that his company has acquired Aerisyn, a manufacturer of wind turbine towers which is located in Chattanooga. In addition to acquiring the Aerisyn facility, SIAG Schaaf is investing $3 million and plans to create 120 new jobs.
Chattem Expansion Represents $35.5 million Investment
Saturday, June 20th, 2009Chattem, Inc., a leading marketer and manufacturer of branded consumer products, has announced plans for an expansion that will represent an investment of $35.5 million in real and personal property and will create up to 70 new jobs.
Columbus McKinnon Plans $5.5 Million Expansion
Friday, June 19th, 2009Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a leading designer, manufacturer, and marketer of material handling products, has announced plans to invest $5.5 million to expand its Chattanooga specialty forging and assembly operations (also known as Dixie Industries). Over the next three years, the company plans that approximately 120 jobs will be added to the current employment level, doubling the number of Dixie Industries employees in Chattanooga.
Forbes Magazine says Technology Makes Chattanooga a Great Place for Business
Thursday, June 18th, 2009Think of textile manufacturing in the South and you may picture cotton mills in North Carolina. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, the industry includes something very different: ESpin Technologies, a 19-employee outfit that makes nanofibers–filaments of polyester, nylon or other polymers that are only 20 to 200 nanometers wide. To perfect the design of a filter, ESpin got computational engineers at the Sim-Center at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to model thousands of air-and liquid-flow variables.
Volkswagen Group of America Announces Start of Construction for Paint Shop
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009Volkswagen announced that construction is set to begin on the paint facility for its Chattanooga plant. The company also announced that Walbridge has been selected as the general contractor for the $30 million facility, and will oversee construction for one of the three primary plant buildings. This $30 million is the first major portion of the company’s $1 billion investment in the new plant.
Chattanooga Among National Geographic’s 50Next Great Towns
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009A change of address can bring instant gratification. You could wake up tomorrow in Missoula and kayak off your own deck at dawn, sneak in singletrack at lunch in Chattanooga–or choose your own adventure in any one of the country’s best base camps.
