Infantry Museum Opens

The National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning is officially open. The ceremony and ribbon-cutting in west Georgia Friday morning was bolstered by some star power--retired four-star General and former Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke at the event.

The focal point of the $100-million project is the museum honoring the 234-year history of the U.S. Army Infantry. Also included at the complex is Patriot Park, with markers honoring the fallen.

The Infantry Museum has extended hours this opening weekend, from 9am to 8pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Museum Could Bring Jobs and Millions

A study projects that Columbus might get an annual $26.3 million economic boost with the opening of the new National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. The Columbus State University study projects between 380,000 and 400,000 museum visitors a year, 95 percent of them from out of town. The study concludes that 520 jobs will be created through employment at the museum and other new businesses in the city that hire staff, and existing businesses that add employees to take advantage of the increase in tourism. The $91 million museum, which will be opened Friday with a visit by retired Gen. Colin Powell, is expected to benefit the south Columbus area, which for years has been a center for nightclubs and cheap motels.

(Associated Press)

State High Court Favors Columbus In Hotel Tax Suit

Georgia’s Supreme Court ruled Monday the city of Columbus has the right to impose occupancy taxes on the amount online travel companies charge customers for hotel rooms. The 4-3 decision upholds an earlier ruling by Muscogee County court against Expedia Inc.

The Columbus government sued Expedia in 2006. It said the company must pay the city occupancy taxes based on the room rate collected from customers, not on the lower wholesale price it pays to hotels. Columbus charges a seven-percent occupancy tax on hotel and motel rooms.

This lawsuit is similar to ones filed by dozens of other municipalities. Many have been dismissed by federal or state judges.

Big Turnout For 50+ NCR Jobs in W GA

A job fair in Columbus over the weekend drew more than 1,600 people applying for an initial 53 jobs. The openings are for NCR Corporation, which recently announced its move to Georgia from Dayton,Ohio. The maker of ATM’s and other automated technology equipment is moving headquarters to Duluth, while establishing a manufacturing plant in Columbus. Salaries for positions at the Columbus-plant would average around $40,000 dollars.

Applications Open for Columbus Jobs

ATM manufacturer NCR is already hiring for its new Columbus plant. The corporation eventually expects to hire 870 people for the facility. The Department of Labor has an online referral request form for 26 professional positions. You can link to that site here. There is a hiring event for the production jobs on June 13th at the labor department’s Columbus Career Center.

State Uses Tax Credit Bill To Land NCR

A new state law heavy with tax breaks helped lure technology equipment-maker NCR to Georgia.

NCR, the company that makes equipment including ATM’s and cash registers, is relocating its headquarters from Ohio to metro Atlanta. With it come 1,250 jobs to Duluth, along with another 870 to Columbus for a new production plant.

The deal was sealed with a more than $60-million incentive package--most of which used the so-called Mega Tax Credit bill signed by Governor Perdue last month. Georgia’s offer doubled that on the table from Dayton-Ohio officials.

Sam Williams, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, says yes--the state’s investment outlay is large, but two lawmakers who sponsored the bill ensure its viability:

"Senator Ron Stephens and Representative Larry O’Neal scrutinized the numbers from a payback point-of-view to make sure that this was more than justified even in an economic downturn."

The process to lobby NCR reportedly began in February, around the time the legislation was introduced to state House lawmakers.

Officials with the Department of Economic Development say NCR is eligible for up to $56.9 million over five years. But that amount will be offset by a net gain of $49 million from items like income and sales taxes, to be felt over 10 years. Officials say added value to the deal for NCR includes global access through the airport, consistent population and workforce growth, and access to multiple university resources.

NCR To Relocate, Bring 2-K Jobs To Georgia

Official word has come this morning that a Fortune 500 company is moving to Georgia, bringing with it more than 2,000 jobs. The automated equipment firm NCR will move its corporate headquarters from Ohio to metro Atlanta’s Duluth. In addition, the company will also build a manufacturing plant in Columbus. The move will spur 1,250 jobs to the metro Atlanta area, and bring 870 fresh jobs to west Georgia. NCR has strong ties to Georgia already, with hundreds of workers in the metro Atlanta region currently, and another 900 jobs to be created with a facility in Peachtree City. NCR makes cash registers and bank ATM’s among various produced equipment.

Columbus Man Gets Life For Hospital Shootings

A man who killed three people at a Columbus hospital in March of 2008 has been sentenced to life in prison. 64-year-old Charles Johnston pleaded guilty Thursday in Superior Court--he was then sentenced to three consecutive life terms. Johnston had been accused of entering the hospital March 27, 2008 and fatally shooting an administrative assistant, a nurse and a patient. Police say Johnston held a grudge against a nurse he believed was responsible for the death of his mother five years ago. But the person he killed, 44-year-old Pete Wright, was not that nurse.

Accused Columbus Shooter To Plead Guilty

A man accused of killing three people in a shooting rampage at a Columbus hospital in March 2008 is expected to plead guilty. Charles Johnston is on today’s guilty plea docket in Superior Court.

The 64-year-old Johnston was accused of entering the hospital on March 27, 2008 and killing three people, including an administrative assistant, nurse Pete Wright, and a 76-year-old patient.

Police say Johnston had a grudge against a nurse he believed was responsible for the 2004 death of his mother and mistakenly thought Wright was that nurse.

Georgia Hit By Severe Weather

Another round of severe weather moved through parts of Georgia Sunday night, leaving some damage in north and western portions of the state. Officials in Cherokee County report some damage to homes, with downed trees and power lines from high winds. In the Columbus-area, some homes there sustained what was termed "major damage" by the the National Weather Service. Forecasters have not yet determined whether any of the damage reported came from tornadoes. The storms also brought heavy downpours of rain, with a wide swath of counties reported hail.

EPD Investigates Sewage Spill Into Chattahoochee

Columbus water officials could face stiff fines from a major sewage spill into the Chattahoochee River over the weekend.

Weekend rainfall flushed more than 1.5 million gallons of sewage into the Chattahoochee and nearby Lake Oliver in western Georgia.

Steve Davis with Columbus Water Works says more than five inches of rain overwhelmed the city's sewer system at two points. But, he says the spill likely is not a public health risk:

"We'd be very surprised. We don't suspect that even through our water quality sampling that we'll see much impact. From a public perspective, I wouldn't be concerned."

Davis says sewage that overflowed into the river was already well-diluted, and diluted further by strong river flow.

Columbus Water has already filed a report to the Enviromental Protection Division, with a meeting between officials soon to come. The EPD says Columbus Water Works could face fines, based on completion of a full review.

Businesses Opening in Columbus, Norcross

Two digital imaging companies have announced plans to bring several hundred jobs to Georgia over the next few years.

YesVideo is hiring 300 people for a regional plant set to open in Norcross in Gwinnett County next month.

The Santa Clara, California-based firm converts home movies and videos to DVDs and other digital formats.

Steven Bush is the city's economic development manager. He says the jobs are quality positions:

"They are going to be a lot of tech jobs; a lot of jobs that require some training.”

Bush says salaries will be in the mid-40's. He also notes that the conversion service is available at 30,000 retail locations, including Walgreens, CVS and Costco.

The firm is the second high-tech company to open its doors in Norcross recently: Solar powercell maker Suneva opened a $75 million dollar plant in Norcross late last year.

Meanwhile, in west Georgia, Kodak is adding on a third production line at their Columbus plant.

A Kodak spokesperson says they'll add another 50 spots to the current 250 jobs over the next three years.

The plant makes digital printing plates for the packaging and printing industry.

Click here for more Georgia business stories.

More Jobs Coming to Columbus, Norcross

Two companies have announced in recent days that they would soon add several hundred jobs in Georgia.

YesVideo, a company that converts home movies and videos to DVDs and other digital formats, will bring 300 jobs to Norcross next month.

The Santa Clara, Ca.-based firm says they have has 30,000 retail locations including Walgreens, Costco and CVS.

"Metro Atlanta is well-centered, geographically, to service the entire eastern seaboard, Midwest, and south central areas with cost-effective ground logistics," YesVideo Chief Operating Officer Gregory Ayres said.

On Friday, Kodak announced that they were ramping up a third production line at their Columbus plant.

Kodak officials say the just-completed $15 million dollar investment will add another 50 jobs in coming years, bringing the total staffing to 300.

The facility makes digital plates for the printing industry.

On the red side of the employment ledger, however, JP Morgan Chase says they plan to close a credit card customer service center in Kennesaw by mid-2010, eliminating 730 jobs.

The center primarily worked with the now defunct electronics retailer, Circuit City.

Chase didn’t say when the cuts would begin, but says employees will be eligible to apply for other jobs in the company.

(The AP contributed to this report)

Click here for more GPB News coverage about Georgia's economy.

Columbus Bank To Merge With Neighbors

The president of Columbus Bank and Trust Company says it’s "strength in numbers" for his institution’s decision to merge with three other banks in the region. The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports this morning the Columbus bank will merge with banks in LaGrange, Warner Robins, and Phenix City. All four institutions are affiliates of the Columbus-based bankholding firm Synovus Financial Corporation.

An approval from regulators is expected by early June. The new merged operation would operate under the name CB&T, with $7.5 billion in assets serving 10 markets.

Columbus Job Fair: Officials Optimistic, Despite Cuts

Applicants looking for work throng the hall of the Columbus Trade and Convention Center, on Thursday, Feb. 5, 1009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

More than 2,500 job-seekers attended a job fair held in Columbus Thursday. Employers from the area, as well as out-of-state and national firms were at the event, held at the city’s convention center.

Department of Labor officials say some 55 companies, from Aflac and local hospitals, to local and Atlanta MARTA police departments, to Georgia Power and employment agencies are taking job applications.


Miguel Flores (facing) of Fort Benning assists a job-seeker at the Columbus job fair, on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Fort Benning's Warrior Transition Battalion has a representative here as well, to aid troops in making the sometimes complex conversion from uniform to civvies.

There are also representatives from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in nearby Lumpkin, and the Florida Highway Patrol.

The large-scale fair is held several times a year, and Labor Department officials say while the turnout by employers is a little more than half last year's showing – they’re optimistic that employers and applicants will be introduced to each other.


Applicants submitting resumes to company online websites. (Photo: Dave Bender)

To that end, they’ve set up a bank of computers for applicants to go directly to the companies’ websites, and set up interviews there, as well.

Many of the job-seekers are either in, or soon after college, and some have recently completed military service.

Celeste Edge of Columbus is looking has a degree in Communications and wants a position in her field:

"It’s been ok; I’ve talked to a couple of people who seem a little promising, like the hospital and one of the staffing agencies who thinks they might be able to place me – but, you know – I’m just hoping for the best."

There were many resumes and handshakes, and many people filled in applications online.

Jim Huntzinger of the DOL is one of the fair’s organizers, and says they’re trying hard to lower jobless rates:

"We have 55 employers here, with, as i say, with the economic situation, is, I think, fantastic. And it’s 55 employers that have jobs."

Some came away frustrated from the experience, though.

Eric Harris of Columbus recently finished the Army and is studying criminal law at Troy University; he got a lot of what he calls “headnoes”:

"...that’s everybody shaking their heads, saying, ‘No; go online; we don’t have any applications, we’re not hiring…so it’s like, I’m very discouraged at this point so I’m just thinking about dropping school and going back in the military – and I’m, not the only one feeling like this. There’s a lot of others in there stressing the same thing about their feeling the same disappointment at this job fair – they need to do better."

About 3,000 people turned out for last year's job fair, and Department of Labor officials say they’ll hold a similar job fair in May.

Kia Motors' tier-one supplier, Sewon American, will accept applications for 400 to 600 production workers for a car parts factory that will open in a few months.

They'll be taking applications next week in Lagrange.

The Kia plant in West Point is about half an hour north of Columbus, and is set to open its doors in the late fall.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the job situation.

Cessna to Cut Jobs in Columbus

Cessna Skyhawk (Illustration)

Cessna Aircraft says they plan to lay off about 100 workers at their plant in Columbus. There are 650 employees at the west Georgia facility, which make sheet metal parts for their light aircraft.

The job cuts are part of the Kansas-based firm’s effort to trim their workforce by 2,000 – or about 13 percent.

Cessna officials say the worldwide economic downturn is forcing customers to cancel or delay orders for new aircraft.

Cessna employs about 15,000 people worldwide.

The company also plans to order employee furloughs, beginning in March, although details haven't been released.

Workers being laid off will receive 60-day notices within the next few weeks, Cessna spokesman Robert Stangarone said in a telephone interview, adding that the cuts will be spread "across all areas and all salary levels."

Click here for more GPB News coverage about business in Columbus.

Kia Plant an Example of Jobs, Job Losses

Kia Motors assembly plant and new access road, along I-85 between West Point and LaGrange, Ga., December, 2008. (Dave Bender/file)

As state unemployment rates soar to the highest in a quarter-century, west Georgia is seeing both business development -- and recession over the new Kia auto plant under construction at West Point.

KIA and state officials unveil Now Hiring! sign at ceremony at West Georgia Technical College, Jan. 8, 2008. (Dave Bender/file)

The Latest Georgia Department of Labor statistics say almost 400,000 Georgians are looking for work.

Jobless numbers for December doubled to over eight percent since the same period the previous year.

In Columbus, a prospective Kia supplier is canceling a planned facility after changing owners. That plant would have brought 350 jobs to the city to make car parts.

Despite the gloomy figures, Mike Gaymon of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce says west Georgia will weather the recession better than much of Georgia:

"Within the next couple of quarters, you'll see the economy in our region start to come out quicker than the state; which will probably be followed sometime later on in 0-10. So, based upon all the primary jobs that will be coming into play, over the next several months, and within the next six months to a year, our economy we think is poised to be a bright spot in our state and in our region."

One signpost of that recovery is the announcement by another Kia supplier, who plans to open a seat-belt plant in West Point, that will employ 50 people.

Kia officials say the assembly line is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of '09.
Signs of the times in west Georgia. (Dave Bender)


Click here for more GPB News coverage about Georgia's economy.

National Infantry Foundation unveils soldiers' sculptures

Entrance road to the museum, December, 2008. (Dave Bender)

The National Infantry Foundation on Thursday unveiled a sample of 50 life size sculptures of military personnel that will be included in the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center at Fort Benning, near Columbus, Ga.

Thirty-eight of the sculptures are of infantry troops, and the remaining 12 represent other historic figures.

The sculptures are modeled after live U.S. Army soldiers who each had to go through a three-hour-long casting process, according to a statement.

The museum is scheduled to open in March, 2009.

A crane hoists a Bradley Fighting Vehicle into place at the museum, June, 2007. Due to its size and weight, the vehicle was installed early on, in order to fit into the facility before the walls went up. (Dave Bender)

(PRNewswire)

Click here for more about the National Infantry Museum.

Columbus job-seekers swamp job fair

Roadside sign welcoming job applicants, and car buyers at the former Bill Heard dealership in Columbus, Georgia, on Dec. 10, 2008. (Dave Bender)

State Senator Emanuel Jones is reopening a flagship Bill Heard auto dealership in Columbus, as a controversial 15 billion dollar federal bailout for automakers hangs in the balance.

Jones hopes to welcome car buyers into his showroom by Christmas. To do that, he'll need staff and mechanics. On Wednesday, close to 1,000 job seekers packed the showroom.

Torrential rain pounds down on the giant marquee, that reads in moving red letters: "Come Back To Your Legacy – Job Fair Today!"


Close to a 1,000 applicants tried out for 100 positions at the former Bill Heard dealership in Columbus, Georgia, on Dec. 10, 2008. (Dave Bender)

10 job seekers for every spot at the dealership took that advice.

Department of Labor officials say they're expecting close to a thousand to show up, vying for 100 positions.

Scarlet Barker of Columbus has been out of work since August, but worked at Bill Heard in the past. She wonders, however, if that's to her benefit:

“I know almost all of them, because I worked here for years; I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I know most of them that are in here."

Many of them were among the several hundred laid off when Heard shuttered its doors in September.

The chain was 11th largest in the country, with over a dozen lots scattered throughout the southeast, Arizona and Nevada.

But Heard filed bankruptcy after a quadruple whammy of high gas prices, poor sales, a credit crunch, and a state lawsuit charging Heard with 16-years of deceptive sales practices.

Emanuel Jones and Georgia Department of Labor team during the intake of new applicants at the former Bill Heard dealership in Columbus, Georgia, on Dec. 10, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Jones owns two other dealerships, and says he isn't fazed the prospect of General Motors going bankrupt:

"One thing that I know: General Motors is as big a part of America as any other corporate entity, and there's no doubt in my mind that Chevrolet and Cadillac as a brand will always be here."

Jim Hunsinger of the Georgia Department of Labor says he values Jone's optimism.

Georgia Department of Labor's Jim Hunsinger and staff signing in applicants at former Bill Heard dealership in Columbus, Georgia, on Dec. 10, 2008. (Dave Bender)

He's here with a team from the DOL streaming hundreds of applicants into private interviewing booths:

"We appreciate the senator taking that chance in a dire economy."

Jones says there'll be another wave of hiring before a grand opening on December 19th.

Meanwhile, as the line of applicants slowly snakes forward, the rain washes the dust off hundreds of still-unsold cars that fill the parking lot.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of unemployment issues in Georgia.

ATF investigates Columbus mill fire

Five pumpers surrounding the Bibb mill in Columbus poured thousands of gallons of water into the smoldering rubble, Oct. 30, 2008. (Dave Bender)

Agents from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating a blaze that destroyed the historic Bibb Mill in Columbus, said to be one of Georgia's largest-ever stuctural fires.

The four-story, 750,000-square-foot brick textile mill on the Chattahoochee River closed in 1998 after a century of operations. Firefighters fought the blaze for eight hours Thursday morning.

The ATF's National Response Team, which investigated bombings of the World Trade Center in 1993 and the Oklahoma City federal building, was called in over the weekend by Columbus fire officials.

Its presence does not mean terrorism or arson is suspected.

"Our primary responsibility is to establish the cause of the fire," ATF spokesman Marc Jackson said.

Click here for more GPB News coverage and exclusive photos of the Bibb Mill fire.