Manufacturing is in the top five
largest industry sectors in AthensClarke county. Manufacturing
employees contribute to the
economy by dining in local
restaurants, shopping in local
establishments, buying gas for their
vehicles, and paying ad valorem
taxes on their homes.
“The site in Athens gave us the physical footprint and
infrastructure needed to support this facility,” Henry said.
“In addition, the state of Georgia has a very positive
business climate and, along with local officials, provided a
very competitive package to support the complex nature of
locating a project like this from Japan to the U.S.”
According to the Athens-Banner Herald, $17.6 million in
property and infrastructure improvements were pledged by
the local government along with an estimated $24 million in
tax abatements over 20 years.
Athens government officials and community leaders, along
with their Oconee County counterparts, worked together
tirelessly to establish Caterpillar in the Classic City.
“(The entire community) did whatever it took. We were all
there to do what we needed to do,” recalled Athens Mayor
Nancy Denson. “We had support from getting facts and
figures together for the company from both school systems,
and St. Mary’s and Athens Regional hospitals. Local
industries supported us by providing information on the
workforce and their experience with the workforce in
Athens.”
At the 2012 Georgia Economic Outlook series, Gov. Nathan
Deal addressed the importance Caterpillar’s move to the
peach state.
“(The Caterpillar plant) is an excellent example of the work
that our Department of Economic Development is doing,”
Deal said. “And I tell you that one of the characteristics of
this facility is the fact that this is not just the relocation of
the plant from one part of the United States to another. It is
the relocation of a plant in Japan to the mainland, and part
of the mainland that was chosen was the state of Georgia.”
The move to Georgia has the benefit to Caterpillar of
putting its products closer to its customers in North and
South America. Caterpillar is the world’s leading
manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel
and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and dieselelectric locomotives.
Another benefit that Caterpillar is seeing is Georgia’s Quick
Start custom workforce training. Working through Athens
Technical College, Quick Start is training Georgia workers in
the full spectrum of Caterpillar’s needs – including those
working in the office and production employees.
Caterpillar is also leveraging the location’s excellent
proximity to two major interstates and its current
relationship with the Georgia Ports, which its existing
operations in Georgia currently use.
While the new facility is gaining state and nation-wide
attention, its new hometown holds the most pride of all.
“The true Southern hospitality and charm is very evident
with the people in the Athens area,” Henry noted. “I have
three Rolodexes full of business cards with people who
always greet me with the same sentiment: ‘How can I help?’
And they mean it!”
Job Creation
additional
jobs
For every
job created by
are created in support industries
manufacturing,
throughout the county
Average Wage
Manufacturing jobs $54K
Most Clarke County jobs $39K
Manufacturing employees in
ACC have a combined income
of $329,331,756 which is 12.6%
of our total wages
Taxes
The industrial sector
of ACC had a
taxable value
that accounted for
Capital Investment
$1 capital investment
For every
of
in manufacturing in Athens-Clarke County
is added to the
$1.35
local economy
Education of Labor Force
Elementary 5.4% ——
Some High School 12.3% —
High School Grad/GED 29.1% ——
Some College 25.3% ——
College Grad- 2 yr 5.1% —
College Grad– 4 yr 13.2% —
Post Grad Studies 9.6% —
SOURCE: Athens-Clarke County Unified Government
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