KIA Factory Means Jobs in Small Ga. Town « Liveshots

Economy

Jonathan Serrie

Atlanta, GA

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KIA Factory Means Jobs in Small Ga. Town

November 16, 2009 - 12:19 PM | by: Jonathan Serrie

The first Sorento mini-SUVs are rolling off the assembly line at the new KIA motors plant in West Point, GA. The factory, which currently employs 1200, is already having a dramatic effect on the once-struggling economy of this small town 80 miles southwest of Atlanta, once famous for its textile industry. Now, even more jobs are cropping up with supplier companies and support services.

Local officials estimate KIA will pump as much as $6.5 billion into the local economy by 2012, hiring an additional 1200 employees and creating as many as 20 thousand affiliated jobs in Georgia.

As mills closed in the 1980s and 90s, West Point's city center became a virtual ghost town. Today, new shops and restaurants are springing up all over as entrepreneurs seek to benefit from the city's new automotive manufacturing economy.

"West Point is THE point," said April Ross, who is completing renovations on an old building with her husband Corey. The couple plan to use the space for their new business, Pearl's Coffee Shop.

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130 Comments

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CircuitBurner

Its clear that over 60% of americans are ignorant fools. Keep buying you foreign trash and putting americans out of work. You can eat your Kia radiator hoses when you starve. No wonder we are in the shape we are in.

November 19, 2009 at 12:24 AM

forex robot

Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.

November 18, 2009 at 11:47 AM

Blue Swede

In the small perspective it is fine that KIA builds a plant and provides thousands of jobs in Georgia for American workers. But in the bigger perspective few can disagree that it would be better if it was GM who was building the factory. Since KIA is a Korean company all the decisions are made in Seoul, far away from West Point. Workers and politicians can do nothing to influence the decisionmaking and whatever companytaxes KIA pays goes to the Korean government. I don't see how people in the US can think this is a good thing. In the end you will be totally dependant on foreign companys. I live in Sweden in Europe with harsh winters and climate that takes a beating on cars. I have had numerous American and European cars but the American ones are usually the most reliable. My 1983 Camaro Berlinetta (with V8) has almost 300 000 miles on the odometer and I have only changed the purge valve to the fuel canister in all those years. As for Gregs comment about problems with the power windows in a Dodge Caravan I can inform him that the powerunits for the windows on those cars are made by NipponDenso. There you have the Japanese quality.

November 17, 2009 at 11:16 AM

Clifton

The unions are the reason the auto industy is in the shape it is in. I have owned Silverado's for the last 20 years until this year. I am buying a Nissan Titan. Non union and built in texas, not mexico or canada...........

November 17, 2009 at 10:08 AM

Greg

I own a 1979 Toyota Truck with 300,000 miles, that's correct 300,000 miles. I have owned many american cars and the last, a 2001 Dodge Caravan that now has 105,000 miles. I have replaced the power windows on each door 5 times at $300.00 per window. The same problem every time. My son owns a 2008 Cobalt. The transmission is still not shifting without grinding. Had it fixed twice and replace once. Guess what my next vehicle will be? Toyota Tundra thank you.

November 17, 2009 at 9:44 AM

Steve

If the "O Bomber" wanted to help US manufacturing he would have broken the UAW, couldn't, buys too many votes. "o Bomber" wants Universal Health Care, well not bad enough to demand Tort Reform, after all most big time politicians are also lawyers (see Barry and Shelly Obama). Defensive Medicine is way when you tell your Dr. you have a headache he tells you to remove you shoes.

November 17, 2009 at 9:32 AM

Bryan

Anyone want to guess why the auto jobs are bieng added in the southern non UAW states? Anyone want to guess why the states where the unions have an iron clad grip on the workers and companies are dying?

November 17, 2009 at 9:04 AM

mrbob

20K is nothing, we drive A '99 Toyota Sienna with over 199K and still going strong. Regular oil change and maintenance.

November 17, 2009 at 9:04 AM

mrbob

FYI, we drive a '99 toyota sienna with 199,572 miles and still going strong. UAW are you listening, good stuff can be built without your buttin' in.

November 17, 2009 at 9:01 AM

Mike, Muskegon, MI.

I have driven nothing but the big three for 30 years but my last new purchase was a Kia Soul, the only new purchase I would consider of the big three would be either GM or Ford trucks, everything else in the middle of the road to low end line is unreliable and with styling nobody wanted and now its caught up with them

November 17, 2009 at 8:50 AM

Joe

The following were bought new. Owned a 74 Mustange..what a joke, always in the shop. Owned a 80 Camaro, fault carberator and brakes. Owned 84 Trans Am...bad engine..took GM to court and won. Owned 89 Cavalier...first rain, and I was driving around with a pool in the back seat area. Owned a 96 Camry..no problems. Owned a 98 Altima...no problems. Owned a 00 Accord....no problems. Owned a 07 Hyundai Santa Fe...no problems. Gee, I wonder why I won't even consider any of the vehicled from GM, FORD, CHRYSLER when I am on the market for a new car. If I won a GM car, first thing I would do is place a "For Sale" sign on the front windshield.

November 17, 2009 at 7:43 AM

Faye

Living in the county where West Point is located, I can tell you that what use to be filled with textile mills is now void of many. This has caused terrible situations here. Kia and the direct and indirect businesses are offering jobs. This is what we need. Now lets figure out why the textiles left and fix that. Same in other parts of the country, maybe different industries but same problem, so it is a national problem. We the people are indebted to the "greedy rich corporations" whether we like it or not. No poor man has a job for you.

November 17, 2009 at 7:30 AM

Pinay

The people who complain about a "foreign" company in America make me laugh. Please tell them to take a look at the tags on their clothes, shoes, coats, etc., and THEN tell me they "only" buy American made products. It's called global economy for a reason - and there is nothing you can do about it. If it brings jobs to America so be it!!!

November 17, 2009 at 6:09 AM

THOMAS J.

I HAD A 66VW TILL 82. HAD A PLYMOUTH THAT SPENT MORE TIME IN THE SHOP THAN ON THE ROAD, HAD A 81 MUSTANG THAT HAD FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS, HAD A 98 NISSAN SENTRA NO PROBLEMS AT ALL FOR 140THOUSAND MILES. STILL HAVE A 95 NISSAN 4X4 KINGCAB, WILL NEVER SELL IT.NOW I HAVE A 03 RIO THAT I PAID 6GRAND FOR NEW, STILL NO PROBLEMS, HAVE A O6 KIA SEDONA MINIVAN AND I LOVE IT, ONLY PAID 15GRAND NEW... TOP THIS BIG THREE, I LOVE UNIONS, BEEN A MEMBER SINCE 68, IT IS SUPPOSED TO SAY WE MAKE BETTER PRODUCTS THAN NONUNION PLANTS, WHERE IS AMERICAN PRIDE IN WORKMANSHIP, OUT HERE ON THE WEST COAST WE PRACTICE IT. LOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING TO BOEING, WE HAVE TO DO A BIG TURNAROUND AT LIGHT SPEED TO BRING IT BACK , AND RESTORE THE GOOD NAME AND ADD MEANING TO MADE IN THE UNITED STATES..

November 17, 2009 at 5:55 AM

magnoliabel

I had a Kia for 6 years and put 180,000 mile on it with not problems except regular maintenance. I bought a Hyundai this time (same company owns Kia and Hyundai) and I love it just as much as I did my Kia. I would recommend either brand to anyone. They are far superior to American autos and cheaper.

November 17, 2009 at 5:27 AM

LTC Sherwood Baker

Jobs are jobs? Too bad the jobs are not provided by an American company exporting to Korea. As an immigrant to america it is sad that we have become the literal beggar of the western world for manufacturing jobs. Reminds me of the scene in Oliver Twist, Please Sir, can I have some more?"

November 17, 2009 at 4:33 AM

Thomas Winther

Jobs are jobs

November 17, 2009 at 3:18 AM

Ranger-12

I wounder if the new messiah will take credit for these new jobs. It does not matter who provides the jobs as long as the american people are working that what counts in my book.

November 17, 2009 at 1:53 AM

Julie Kate

Well said. (I've had my Nissan since 2001, no problems ever.)

November 17, 2009 at 1:15 AM

Donna C

I just bought a beautiful 2010 Kia Soul and love it! I actually traded in a 2006 Chevy Equinox. I had it 3 years and this year I had to have it towed twice because of the ignition coil and could not turn the ignition on with my key. It stranded me twice and it almost did it again for the third time. My warranty was almost up, so I decided to trade it in. I am not looking back. Love my Kia! I think the plant is Georgia is a Godsend.

November 17, 2009 at 12:57 AM

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