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Gov. Nathan Deal announced recently that Caterpillar, Inc. (NYSE: CAT) will make a major investment in its Griffin Engine Center in Spalding County. The Peoria, Ill.-based company will create at least 200 jobs and invest $120 million in machinery, equipment and upgrades to the existing facility.
“As one of the world’s most recognizable and successful brands, Georgia takes a great measure of pride that our state is one of the places Caterpillar calls home,” Deal said. “Several industries in Georgia and around the world benefit from the Caterpillar operations here, so this investment creates great opportunities not only for the company, but also for the people and communities throughout our state.”
The Caterpillar Griffin Engine Center assembles engines and generator sets for more than six different engine models. Caterpillar has one of the most diverse engine lines in the construction, mining and power distribution industries. Spalding County and Caterpillar have a long-standing relationship resulting from the company’s existing presence in the county, including the Perkins Engine facility, along with several other facilities located around Georgia.
“We look forward to investing in our facility in Griffin, which will allow us to improve process capability, flexibility and flow of our operations to optimize efficiency,” said Rod Shurman, Griffin Engine Center Facility Manager. “We have a great relationship with state and local officials and appreciate the work they have done to make this project happen. This location has been very successful for us, because it keeps us close to our customers and supply base.”
The Griffin and Spalding County community has a skilled workforce of talent experienced in manufacturing units similar to the products that will be manufactured with the new product line.
“Caterpillar’s planned capital investment of $120 million represents the single largest capital investment announcement, to date, in Spalding County by any company,” said Chuck Copeland, Chair of the Griffin-Spalding Development Authority. “The long-term financial impact of this investment, coupled with the creation of 200 badly needed jobs is tremendous good news for our community.”
“This is an outstanding project for our community and the state as a whole. We appreciate and thank Caterpillar for their commitment,” said David M. Luckie, Executive Director of the Griffin-Spalding Development Authority. “We are also thankful for our continuing partnership with the state and the project managers that provide huge assistance.”
Quick Start, the nation’s No.1 workforce training program, has a continuing long-term relationship with Caterpillar at this facility, designing and delivering high-level skill training, as well as maintenance and troubleshooting courses. Quick Start provides customized training free of charge to qualified new, expanding and existing companies creating jobs in Georgia.
Georgia Department of Economic Development regional project manager E. Jane Caraway managed this project on behalf of the state.
About Caterpillar
For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With 2010 sales and revenues of $42.588 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.caterpillar.com.
