Cessna: $24 M plant in Columbus

Governor Sonny Perdue, Columbus Mayor Jim Wetherington,
Chamber of Commerce, and Cessna officials loft a shovel of
dirt at Wednesday's groundbreaking ceremony. (Dave Bender)

Wichita, Kan.,-based aircraft maker Cessna plant to build a $24 million plant in Columbus.

The plant expects to employ 150 workers, and joins two other existing Cessna facilities located at a nearby industrial park that employ 600 workers, according to company officials.

The new site is on a 40-acre tract of land at the Muscogee Technology Park, which the city acquired in a land swap with Ft. Benning, immediately to the south. The company says it needs the new facility meet the increasing demand for their business jets.

The plant will make rudders, flaps, ailerons and other mechanical parts for business jets, a company official told GPB News.

Governor Sonny Perdue touted the company role in the state at a groundbreaking ceremony:

"Cessna has already proved to be a great corporate citizen here and a serious marketplace competitor, and we're proud that you've committed to expanding the part of your workforce and the part of your business here and securing your position once again in our Georgia family."

Many of the employees will be graduates of a special, state-funded Cessna training program at Columbus Technical College.

The $11 million, 100,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed by August 2008, according to company officials.

Click here for more GPB coverage of Columbus business and aviation news.

New air service to Columbus

The Eclipse 500 is part of a new airplane category called "very light jets," and carries three passengers at speeds up to 425 mph — faster than the average propeller plane its size. (Wilfredo Lee/AP file)

A regional business air-carrier has just added Columbus to its roster of destinations in Georgia and across the southeast. DayJet bills itself as the world's first per-seat, on-demand jet service.

The carrier currently serves 45 destinations across the southeast, catering to business travelers able to pay premium prices. For example, a hop between just-added destinations, Columbus and Savannah, runs between $300 and $1,000 dollars.

While DayJet is aimed chiefly at Columbus's executive clientèle like AFLAC and Synovus, Georgia Third District Congressman Lynn Westmoreland says the increased flight options will bolster smaller industries, as well:

"With the hassle of airports and major hubs, now, we just think this is going to be the access for a lot of businesses; some of these businesses in outlying areas to have a chance of promoting business and getting people to come to their area, because they'll now have this transportation for people within the business."

Westmoreland, who sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the aviation subcommittee says Ft. Benning's planned expansion will also benefit from the increased air traffic.

The training post is expected to see over 30,000 troops and dependents moving to the area over the next three years, as part of the Army's base relocation project:

"With the expansion of Ft. Benning, and all the things that Ft. Benning is doing, and the armor division coming down, and the new infantry museum... we just think that there needs to be just a little bit better regional service to the Columbus area. I think, right now, Delta has maybe two flights a day."

Westmoreland says DayJet may create a market more attractive to carriers like Delta, Airtran or Southwest.

A company spokesman says they'll be announcing other Georgia destinations in coming weeks.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of transportation issues.

Columbus Airport seeking new carriers, businesses

Columbus Metropolitan Airport wants to revitalize regularly scheduled air traffic, and boost business. They're trying to get American Airlines back, after a decade's absence.

Currently, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, which serves Delta Air Lines, is the only regularly-scheduled carrier servicing Columbus, with just a few flights a day.

The airport commission is trying to revitalize the flagging facility and is weighing going ahead with comprehensive plan to bring long-term lease businesses to the facility.

Don Cook, one of five airport commissioners, who currently chairs the group, says they are aiming high, and have a good business case:

“We don't get a conversation with United, we don't get a conversation with Allegiance [Air], we don't get a conversation with US Airways or American Airlines if we can't build that business case... the facts say we can support three to four airlines.”

Cook says that they are seeking commercial development of the area, and are weighing several development proposals.

He says they are in intensive talks with American Airlines, and - if talks go according to their plan – expects flights by year's end.

“From June to July would be the decision-making process for American Airlines, and the first flight – if all the numbers go well – would land in December 2007.”

Columbus: hi-tech company invests $53M

(l-to-r) Mike Gaymon (Chamber of Commerce), Columbus Mayor Jim Wetherington,
PCI Director Dr. Yair Raz, Governor Sonny Perdue, Stella Shulman (Chamber of Commerce)
(Photo: Dave Bender)

A company that makes hi-tech parts for airplanes is expanding in Columbus after winning major military and civilian jet blades contracts.

Precision Components International plans to spend 53 million dollars to add another 60,000 sq-ft. to its facility and create 100 more jobs. The company makes finely-machined, jet-engine parts for military and civilian aircraft, among other forged metal products.

Governor Sonny Perdue attended the groundbreaking ceremony, and lauded the firm's abilities:

"They make some of the most precise components to go into some of the most severe use... aerospace, driving these F-15's and our combat aircraft..."

PCI employee sanding metal blade. (Photo: Dave Bender)

PCI is half-owned by an Israeli hi-tech consortium. It counts Pratt and Whitney, General Electric and Samsung among its customers. Both Perdue and Columbus Mayor Jim Wetherington called the move a vital part of an ongoing wave of area business investments.

Leading Columbus philanthropist, business leader dies

Carl Lloyd Patrick, the co-founder of the Columbus-based Carmike movie theater chain, was 88-years-old when he passed away on Wednesday.

Patrick was a highly-regarded community, corporate and philanthropic leader in Columbus for decades. He and his family donated generously to many organizations and charities, among them St. Francis Hospital and Columbus Technical Institute. Their philanthropy was recognized by first lady Rosalyn Carter.

Patrick fought as a paratrooper in Italy in World War Two and left the army at the rank of major. His bullet-riddled uniform is on display at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning.

He is survived by his wife and brother, two sons and two grandsons. Patrick will be laid to rest on Friday.

Major Ga. auto dealer to close branches on Friday: report

"Mr. Big Volume" Bill Heard dealership in Columbus. (Courtesy Mike Haskey/Ledger-Enquirer)

Columbus-based Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. will shut down its 13 auto dealerships on Friday, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reports.

Heard, once one of the largest Chevy dealers in the country, is also trying to unload its flagship operation in Columbus, according to the report.

The state of Georgia filed a $50 million deceptive advertising lawsuit against Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. in July of last year. The case was one of many complaints against the company, according to the Governors Office of Consumer Affairs.

Heard has dealerships throughout the southeast and Nevada, and closed a dealership in Arizona earlier this year.

Click here for more GPB News coverage about Georgia business.

Columbus: 'Smog Alerts Just A Start'

(Department of Natural Resources)

Air quality in Columbus is worsening, and the city is starting out the New Year with smog alerts.

Federal and State Environmental Protection agency officials are threatening the city with what's know as “non-attainment” of air quality goals. City officials say the designation would sharply curtail business development.
Today's air quality is at 42, considered according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Although the city says it currently meets federal air-quality smog standards, Columbus admits that in 2007, they racked up no less than ten violations for particle pollution.

Columbus Planning Director Rick Jones says, "...it means simply that our air standards don't meet national standards, that the EPA has established... What we're setting up is an email notification system, to let folks know what the air-quality will be for the next day...”

But Jones says the city's cleaning up their act before the 2009 cutoff date.

In September, the city spearheaded a volunteer program with over 60 municipal and local organizations to cut diesel emissions, car idling, limit open burning and raise public awareness of the issue.

Current air quality information is available here: http://www.air.dnr.state.ga.us/columbussmogforecast/

Georgians will be able to sign up for the emails as of next week at the city's website: http://www.columbusga.com/MPO

Click here for more GPB News coverage of pollution issues.

Business booming at state's ports

Business is brisk at the state's four ports, as record-setting numbers reflect their growing contribution to the state's economy.

The Georgia Ports Authority says records are being set at each of the state's four port terminals. Last year, the ports of Savannah, Brunswick, Bainbridge and Columbus collectively handled more than 21 million tons of cargo. At the Port of Savannah, business is up nearly 15 percent for the fiscal year ending 2007, with more than 2 million containers going through Savannah during the same period.

Robert Morris is with the Georgia Ports Authority. Fueling Savannah's growth says Morris, is a weak U-S dollar coupled with a growing international demand for Georgia made products. But, there are other reasons as well.

"The port of Savannah has been able to have the labor and infrastructure needed to make more international shippers want to come in and out of Georgia."

Savannah is now the fourth busiest and fastest growing container terminal in the United States. And, it's the east coast entry point for such major names as Target and Ikea. The state's ports and terminals provide nearly 300-hundred thousand jobs and contribute nearly 15 million dollars to the state's economy.

Columbus man running for state rep slot

Zephaniah Baker (Courtesy)

Columbus native 31-year-old Zephaniah Baker, plans to run for District 132 as an independent on the November 4 ballot.

Running what he calls a “people over politics” campaign, Baker says he's calling for better educational opportunities, especially in the district's middle and high schools. He says he wants to create a more welcoming business climate for industry, that would bring, in his words, “high paying jobs,” to the area.

Baker says he started canvassing the district in January, and has received a requisite 990 verified signatures to be added to the ballot as an independent candidate.

Baker tells the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper that he's running, in his words, "for the post," and not against the current Democratic representative, Calvin Smyre.

Smyre is a 30-year veteran of Georgia politics and serves as House Minority Whip.

Click here for more GPB political news coverage.

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.

Forbes adds Aflac to 'best-managed' firms list

Forbes magazine has chosen Georgia insurance giant Aflac as one of America's best-managed firms.

This also makes the ninth year the American Family Life Insurance Company of Columbus has made the financial magazine top 400 Big Business grade.

The 53-year-old family-run business is a Fortune 500 company, with some 40 million policyholders worldwide.

Forbes editors chose the company based on an array of data covering one to five years, that include sales growth and stock market returns.

AFLAC CEO Dan Amos, last month announced he was foregoing a 13-million dollar, “golden parachute” severance package as a goodwill gesture in light of the nation's severe economic situation.

Click here for more GPB News business coverage.

Columbus: GA GOP unites behind McCain

Sen. Chambliss addresses a sparse crowd of convention delegates at the Columbus Civic Center, on Friday, May 16th, 2008. Many more arrived for Saturday's session. (Dave Bender)

Georgia Republicans united behind likely GOP presidential nominee John McCain on Saturday and fired up their faithful members at the party's annual convention Saturday.

Delegates were selected to represent the state at the national GOP convention in September, and a steady stream of elected officials who took the podium said the party needs to come home to its bedrock conservative issues from taxes and immigration to military might and gun rights.

"We've got some work to do. We've got some proving to do,'' said U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Sharpsburg. "The base didn't get lost. We got lost.''

Governor Sonny Perdue urged Republicans to avoid poll-driven "gimmicks'' and suggested there was a damaging disconnect between party leaders in Washington and conservative states like Georgia.

Recent contests in the Bible Belt that have elected Democrats "ought to be a warning around the South and around the United States,'' Perdue said. But, he later told reporters, "I feel very good about Georgia.''

Democrats made gains in 2006 by winning control of the U.S. House and Senate, but Georgia bucked the trend by electing Republicans to a couple of statewide posts that had been held by Democrats.

However, Republicans said they were not taking anything for granted, especially after Democrats cast more ballots in this year's Feb. 5 presidential primary than the GOP.

The main order of business Saturday was to select delegates who will attend the national GOP convention. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee won Georgia's presidential primary with strong support from religious conservatives and independents. But on Saturday, John McCain stickers were everywhere and nearly every speech plugged the Arizona senator.

The slate of 30 delegates and 30 alternates selected included prominent supporters of Huckabee, as well as other former GOP contenders including former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; Fred Thompson, the one-time senator from Tennessee; and ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

Among the delegates were supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. A vocal group of Paul supporters were also in the stands, according to the Associated Press.

Bickering on the floor turned caustic at times. One delegate demanded a resolution condemning abortion as "prenatal murder.'' Another participant had his microphone turned off when he criticized the war in Iraq.

"I've never seen debate stifled that much,'' said state committee member Brian Laurens, of Ellijay, who said he's been involved in state conventions since 2002.

Turnout by delegates on Friday afternoon's 2 p.m. opening session was light; many arrived later in the evening, and on Saturday. (Dave Bender)

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss on Friday said he'd warned President Bush that vetoing the farm bill could hurt presumptive GOP nominee John McCain in reliably Republican states this fall.

"If they get turned off by Republicans it's going to make it tough for John to get those votes," Chambliss told reporters following his speech.

Chambliss, a loyal Bush ally who is running for re-election, said he told the president that that with his low approval ratings he should avoid alienating voters in agriculture-rich states in the South and the Midwest that have supported him.

White House officials have suggested Bush will veto the bill.

Chambliss, the top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, defended the recently adopted bill from critics who said it is heavy on rich subsidies to wealthy farmers.

"That's ridiculous," Chambliss said. He said the bulk of the farm bill spending went to nutrition programs, like food stamps and school lunches. And he argued that individual farmers earning more than $750,000 a year don't qualify for federal aid, under the bill.

Chambliss was asked about the five-year $300 billion farm bill by reporters but he made no mention of it in his speech to the party faithful at the Columbus Civic Center for the kickoff of the state party's convention. Also missing from the speech: Any reference to President Bush.
Bush's dismal approval ratings have many election-bound Republicans steering clear.

Chambliss did talk up McCain and urged Georgians to unite behind the Arizona senator. Georgia went for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Feb. 5 primary. Huckabee drew strong support from independents and religious conservatives.

Chambliss made a case for his own re-election to a second-term by issuing a dire warning about what the nation will be like if Democrats win a handful of additional seats in the U.S. Senate. Under Senate rules, Republicans will lose the ability to block the Democrats' agenda.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the presidential elections.

(The Associated Press)

Kia car plant driving local development

Two companies are investing in a new business park close to a planned Kia Motors plant in Harris County.

The Columbus Chamber of Commerce says that two firms plan to spend $11 million dollars on the venture, and employ 140 people. One of the companies will produce water valves and pipe fittings for the Kia plant.

The decision is part of a hoped-for wave of investments and state-backed development surrounding the one-point-two billion dollar assembly plant.

The move was announced on Tuesday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the North West Harris Business Park.

Kia officials say the plant, set to open in 2009 will employ nearly 3,000 workers and produce 300,000 vehicles annually. It will be the automaker's first US production facility.

Kia Motors recently pulled a half billion dollar bond sale for the West Point facility, initially spooking investors.

More on that story is here.

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.

Job cuts in Columbus

Pratt & Whitney has cut 55 jobs at its jet engine and repair business, the Columbus Engine Center. The Connecticut-based company says the cuts are a result of a reduction in the volume of engine overhauls. Earlier this year, the company conducted a voluntary separation program for workers at least age 60 with 10 years of continuous service.

(Associated Press)

CSU Graduation Set For Saturday

CSU belltower. (file photo/Dave Bender)

Columbus State University will recognize about 450 degree recipients in a commencement on Saturday.

The ceremony also will feature an honorary degree presentation to Thomas B. Buck Jr., a senior member of the CSU Foundation Board of Trustees. A well-known business and civic leader, Buck is credited for playing an important role in the growth of CSU and Columbus.

Expanded graduating classes in the past three years reflect a 35 percent enrollment increase since 2001, the university said in a statement released to the press.

A live Webcast will be available at http://graduation.colstate.edu. A high-speed connection is recommended, and a room in Lumpkin Center and Fine Arts Hall auditorium will be set up for attendees seeking an alternative viewing location, the statement said.

Click here for more GPB News about CSU.

Synovus spinning off TSYS

Synovus' Columbus headquarters. (Dave Bender)

Electronic payment processor TSYS (NYSE:TSS) said Thursday it will spin-off from parent Synovus Financial (NYSE:SNV) Corp. to become an independent company.

Financial services company Synovus, which owns an 81 percent stake in the company, will distribute all of its shares of TSYS common stock to Synovus shareholders.

Synovus CEO Richard E. Anthony, in a statement to stockholders said:

"This change presents an exciting opportunity for each company to focus exclusively on its core business, which we believe will lead to increased shareholder value."

Under terms of the agreement, TSYS will pay a one-time cash dividend of $600 million to all TSYS shareholders, including Synovus. The company plans to fund the dividend through a combination of cash on hand and a revolving credit facility. Based on the number of TSYS shares outstanding as of Sept. 30, TSYS expects its shareholders to receive a cash dividend of about $3.04 per share.

The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2007, subject to certain conditions, including the approval of the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.

(With The Associated Press)

Click here for more GPB News Georgia business coverage.

Wheeler's falls victim to housing slump

In business for more than half a century, Rome-based Wheeler's Building Materials is one of many forced to downsize because of reductions in new home construction. According to the Rome News Tribune, the company will reduce its 1,000 member workforce to less than 500.

Experts say Georgia has lost nearly 10,000 manufacturing jobs in 2007 and that additional losses in 2008, could mean a rocky road ahead. Jeff Humphreys directs the Selig Economic Forecast center at UGA's Terry School of Business.

"Prepare for subdued growth but recognize that the risk of recession is unusually high about 40 percent. So, we're close to a tipping point. It looks like we'll be safe. But there is a huge downside risk and the risk is greatest during the first half of 2008."

Not all economic news was bad news for the state. Humphreys says look for growth in the health care industry, as well as expansion in the Columbus area, where changes at Ft. Benning are expected to mean thousands of new jobs.

Columbus man wins big in GA lottery

David Huff, a 46-year-old Columbus resident and father of four can start living large, and he's got the first $5 million installment of a $20 million Georgia Lottery check to do it.

On Tuesday, Huff's itch to win had him invest $20 in a scratch-off game card at a gas station convenience store near the city's Civic Center.

What's he planning to do with the massive windfall? "I'd like to own my own business, let someone else do the work," Huff told the Ledger-Enquirer.

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.