Spring Hill loses out on bid to build GM small car

General Motors Corp. confirmed Friday it will use an idled assembly plant in Orion Township, Mich., and a parts stamping facility in Pontiac, Mich., to build small and compact cars, instead of its plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

GM confirmed the plant selection in a statement Friday, but said the decision is dependent on the outcome of negotiations between the company and the state on incentives.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen released this statement on the selection:

“I received a call from Troy Clarke this morning confirming their decision to produce GM’s new sub-compact car in Michigan. While I was obviously disappointed at the news, I was encouraged that he confirmed that the company views the plant in Spring Hill as a very good facility that is likely to be an important part of GM’s manufacturing strategy in the years ahead. During our conversation Mr. Clarke said that ultimately the Michigan incentive package was too good to ignore. I understand and accept his decision and offer my congratulations to Michigan and Gov. Granholm.

The Spring Hill plant is a very attractive factory with highly productive and skilled workers. Recent investments of more than $800 million have made this one of the most technologically advanced plants in the nation, and I’m confident it will be a part of GM’s future.

We’re now shifting our focus to helping the employees and families that will be affected by this decision. We’ve already begun working to develop training and assistance programs that will help Spring Hill workers affected by this decision and help them transition when assembly operations end this fall.

I am glad that GM will continue to have a presence in Tennessee and will continue to employ Tennessee workers. I hope that will grow over time as GM takes the necessary steps to stabilize itself and regain a path for long-term sustainability. General Motors is, and will continue to be, an important part of Tennessee. We will support them and their employees in every way we reasonably can.”

The Orion plant also beat out a plant in Janesville, Wis., for the work.

GM says the Orion assembly plant is expected to be retooled and run on two shifts, building 160,000 vehicles annually.

Source: WATE

Recession doesn’t stop new businesses in Gatlinburg

Even during the recession, one East Tennessee town is growing. All kinds of businesses are moving into downtown Gatlinburg.

New tourist attractions, condo developments, an outdoor center and new retail stores are just a few of the things tourists can enjoy.

A new hotel, the first of its kind in the state with an environmentally friendly concept, just opened.

Work is also underway on a nearly 9 acre hotel-retail complex called Gateway Gatlinburg, which will be the first thing visitors see when they pull into town.

City officials are thrilled that in a down economy, people are still opening businesses.

“Compared to prior years, it’s probably on a little less pace than it has been in prior years. We’re just really encouraged to find that there’s still some new development going on,” says Gatlinburg Tourism Manager Walter Yeldell.

The newest business, Zip Gatlinburg, opens Friday, July 3 and has tourists flying through the trees on a zip line adventure.

On Thursday, the Muszik family geared up for the first test ride at Zip Gatlinburg before it opens to the public.

It’s a concept Carol and Jerald Muszik, along with their three sons, came up with after zip lining on vacation. Now, the family hopes the concept will be a money maker in Gatlinburg.

“People come from miles and miles around just to do a zip tour. So we think it’s going to have a real positive impact economically on Gatlinburg,” Carol Muszik says.

Zip Gatlinburg is marketed as a family friendly adventure. “It’s nine different lines and two sky bridges for kids and adults,” Carol explains. “You don’t have to be a certain weight limit. There’s no walking. From the time you get up into the trees, you zip around until you come down.”

The platforms actually swing slightly and when you leave them, you feel as if you’re flying through the trees.

Zip line designer Robert Nickell describes it. “You get a bird’s eye view, tree top level and see a part of the canopy or forest you can’t normally see from the ground which gives you a whole new experience and connects you with nature.”

Extensive safety measures are in place and the 10 guides are well trained.

The Muszik family hopes the business really gets off the ground as they ready themselves for a busy opening holiday weekend.

“The Space Needle is right behind us,” Carol points out. “The fireworks will be going off July 4th. So we’ll be doing twilight zip tours while the fireworks are going off. We’re going to be running this until midnight every night.”

The tour through the trees lasts about an hour-and-a-half. Tickets are $65.

The business will employ 20 people. It opens Friday morning at 9:00.

Source: WATE

Mastercraft re-hiring 175 workers, resumes production

Mastercraft in Vonore has resumed production and began re-hiring 175 workers this week.

President and CEO John Dorton says some workers reported Monday, some Tuesday and more will come in on Wednesday.

Dorton says Mastercraft is building 2010 models. The plant has had sporadic production since February and no production in June. However, it’s now making five to six boats a day.

Last year, Mastercraft had 650 employees and made between 19 and 21 boats on a normal day.

Dorton says the problem this past winter was that dealers couldn’t get credit to buy the boats. Now, Mastercraft is backlogged with orders and he hopes production stays steady indefinitely.

Dorton also says the employees being re-hired are cross-trained and versatile and seniority is a factor.

Plus, management is looking at employees’ quality of work and attendance to determine who to re-hire.

Source: WATE

Boeing to buy S.C. Vought plant

The Boeing Co. announced Tuesday it is buying the Vought Aircraft Industries plant in North Charleston, S.C., for $580 million.

Vought makes and assembles structures and systems for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the company’s newest commercial jet. It also makes parts for several other Boeing aircraft.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter.

The 787, touted as Boeing’s largest and most advanced passenger airliner ever, has twice been delayed.

In December, Boeing announced a two-quarter delay in the Dreamliner program that it attributed to last fall’s strike by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

The revised schedule had called for the first flight late this quarter. Last month, the company said it would again postpone the first flight after structural problems were found during full-scale testing.

The company has yet to announce the new schedule.

Source: Charlotte Business Journal

Falcon Metal buys C&M Industrial Solutions

Falcon Metal Corp. of Charlotte has purchased the operating assets of C&M Industrial Solutions.

C&M is an industrial-management company launched in April 2008. It is based in Louisville, Ky.

C&M will continue to operate there, focusing on developing vendor-managed inventory services for manufacturers in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio.

Financial terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed.

Falcon Metal provides supply-chain and custom-inventory management for manufacturers.

Source: Charlotte Business Journal

Liberty National Life Insurance to hire 300 in Charlotte

Liberty National Life Insurance Co. has opened three branches in the Charlotte area and plans to hire about 300 workers in sales and management positions.

The company will hold a job fair July 15 at Embassy Suites Charlotte at 4800 S. Tryon St. Interviews will be scheduled for 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. for positions in the company’s Charlotte north, Charlotte central and Rock Hill branches.

Alabama-based Liberty National provides training for the positions.

The company says the average commission-based income for a customer-service/sales representative with a year’s experience with Liberty Life was $61,675 in 2008.

The company offers medical insurance, a retirement plan and other benefits.

Job seekers who cannot attend the job fair should call (704) 841-4014 for the Charlotte north branch, (704) 321-2752 for the Charlotte central branch and (803) 980-1444 for the Rock Hill branch to schedule another interview time.

Liberty National is a subsidiary of Torchmark Corp. (NYSE:TMK) of Texas.

Source: Charlotte Business Journal