Kubota adds Georgia factory
A Japan-based firm will construct a $73 million manufacturing facility in Northeast Georgia, creating 200 jobs.
Gov. Nathan Deal said Thursday that Kubota Corp. intends to build the plant in the Jackson County town of Jefferson. Kubota is Japan's largest maker of tractors and farm equipment, and has subsidiaries and affiliates across the globe. An associated company, Kubota Industrial Equipment, has an existing facility in Jefferson which manufactures tractor implements, including loaders and backhoes.
Authorities say construction is set to begin in early 2012.
State job grants help local firms
Four Chattanooga companies are getting a total of $54,030 in federally funded grants to help train workers who might otherwise face layoffs.
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development said the state agency has awarded incumbent worker training grants of $12,916 to Farley's & Sathers Candy Co., $14,254 to Kordosa Global, $23,240 to Master Machine Inc. and $3,650 to J.M. Hanner Construction Co.
"This kind of training grant not only helps educate workers, but also provides incentive to employers looking to relocate or expand in Tennessee," Gov. Bill Haslam said of the $1.1 million-a-year statewide program.