Bill Payne

Chattanooga-based EMJ Corp. on Tuesday won its first Volkswagen contract in which it will take on construction activities at the plant site.

EMJ entered a joint venture with Walbridge of Detroit to win an $11.3 million project for work on the Volkswagen Training Academy.

"We feel our chemistry and way we approach work is very similar," said Jim Sattler, EMJ's chief executive, about the partnership with Walbridge.

Late last year, EMJ won a $2.25 million job from the city's Industrial Development Board for construction administrative services related to VW's new auto assembly plant.

Tuesday, the city panel awarded the companies with a contract that calls for installing electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning and other work at the training center.

City Engineer Bill Payne said EMJ and Walbridge offered the low bid, with the work to be paid from a state grant. Mr. Payne said the initial base bid was over budget and was reduced significantly.

The foundation and the shell of the training center was already bid out and the Enterprise South industrial park project is on schedule, he said.

The training center is where many of the 2,000 employees who will work at the plant will learn their job skills. The plant is to start producing cars in early 2011.

Mr. Sattler said EMJ is working with Walbridge to procure other construction contracts related to the VW project.

"We hope there are others down the road," he said.

He added that the training center project includes a number of local subcontractors.

"We've approached every piece of work to try to use as many local contractors as we can through our associations and other things," Mr. Sattler said.