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July 15, 2008
Confirmed: Chattanooga to Land VW Plant (updated)
Developing story: An email I just received states that a Hamilton County official (whom I won't name until I can get confirmation) was just telling* a small group of other local "heavy hitters" that Chattanooga will be chosen as the new site for a Volkswagen manufacturing plant.
My source says that Alstom Power, Inc., a local company with German ties, was influential in helping to land the deal. The aforementioned county official was quoted as saying "don't bet on Huntsville."
Stay tuned for confirmations, updates, etc.
UPDATE 1: The Times Free Press has an AP blurb up that seems to add weight to this story.
UPDATE 2: My email correspondent says that a high-ranking TFP official was among those aforementioned "heavy hitters" who were given the heads-up.
UPDATE 3: Now it's up on Chattanoogan.com and Bloomberg.
Whew. Now head to Chattarati for ongoing analysis and commentary.
*The verb used in the email was "hinting."
Will we get this plant, or will it be "far from 'noogan?"
Business , News | By joe lance | 9:19 AM
Comments
this morning we were wondering where we could get information like this....now we know! Thanks
Posted by: jonmoss at July 15, 2008 9:58 AM
I just got a text from somewhere ;) looks like we got it!
Posted by: Josiah at July 15, 2008 10:11 AM
Wow! This is huge. I wonder how much it is going to cost us?
Posted by: gid at July 15, 2008 11:33 AM
Gid, I know that about a million was set aside in the state budget for economic incentive packages. I'm not sure how much of that is going to VW, but the good news/bad news is that our fellow Tennesseans from all across the state get to share in at least some of the costs. :-P
And, on the flip side, other areas that have gained a similar business (and all its satellites) have reaped economic (and less tangible) benefits that have made it seem like, anyway, that the investment sort of pays off.
Posted by: joe lance at July 15, 2008 11:47 AM
This is bad news for people in Lawrence,Giles and Lincoln counties. Also another major plant has landed in the state and as usual Jackson/west tennessee was no where to be found as one of the finalists. When it comes to promoting their region of the state....Tanner,Kisber,Naifeh,Wilder and the vanilla wafer man arent worth a dime.
Posted by: dan t at July 15, 2008 12:10 PM
All Tennesseans share in the cost, but they'll also reap some of the benefits 5-10 years down the line from an increased taxbase.
Posted by: davidm. at July 15, 2008 1:11 PM
Chattanooga, Tennessee has landed the first United States Volkswagen assembly plant. The initial people needed will be in the construction fields. The Plant will take approxamately 3 years to complete. We are loking to place people in the following fields: General Laborers, Clean-up, Electricians, Plumbers, Carpeters, Roofers, Welders, Machinists, HVAC, Pipe Fitters, Sheetmetal Workers, Steam Fitters, Painters, Paperhangers, Drywall Installers, Title Installers, Tapers, Cement Masons, Concrete Finishers, Segmental Pavers, Brick Masons, Stone Masons, Plasterers, Glaziers, Insulation Workers, Duct Workers. http://www.TNVWJOBS.com
Posted by: Jobs at August 3, 2008 11:54 PM