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Above is an aerial view of the Volkswagen plant under construction in Chattanooga.Volkswagen News WHAT MAKES US SPECIALVolkswagen’s new plant is expected to be the only auto assembly plant to open in the United States in 2011.KEY MANUFACTURERSEmployees in the Chattanooga areaMcKee Foods Corp. 3,200Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. 1,600Roper Corp. 1,500Astec Industries 1,300Shaw Industries 750Alstom 600Koch Foods 590Source: Chattanooga Area Chamberof Commerce
The Chattanooga area is poised to take advantage of major job-growth projects, including Volkswagen’s $1 billion plant that will begin production next year.
Despite manufacturing job losses over several decades, the sector still is the largest private sector employer in the area, said J.Ed. Marston, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of marketing.
“Manufacturing is one of the primary pillars of the Chattanooga area economy,” he said.
German automaker Volkswagen plans to make a new midsize sedan aimed at the American motorist and employ over 2,000 people. Suppliers to the company also are to employ hundreds of workers.
Frank Fischer, chief executive of VW’s Chattanooga operations, said the plant project is “completely on track.” He said the paint shop for the plant will be “the most environmentally friendly in the world.”
Up to 30 percent of the new midsized sedans that VW will make at the factory are expected to hold clean diesel technology, according to the automaker, which plans to sharply increase local hiring this year.
Another German company, Wacker Chemical, is to start building a $1 billion polysilicon plant in Bradley County in late 2010. The plant will manufacture materials for the solar energy industry and is estimated to bring 500 jobs.
Wind energy tower maker SIAG Aerisyn is adding jobs after its purchase by a German company. French energy giant Alstom continues to build its local facilities to make steam and gas turbines as it seeks to capture business related to nuclear and fossil power plant construction in the United States. Alstom plans to add about 360 people to its 600-member work force in the city.