WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Start of KIA production to have ripple effect
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By Chris Vessell
WEST POINT, GA (WTVM) - The West Point KIA plant has built up a workforce of 1,200 employees from both Georgia and Alabama.
Meanwhile, nearby businesses are ramping up their own production, hoping to grab hold of what some are calling KIA cash.
The streets of West Point are filled with excitement and not just from KIA employees.
Business owner Eddie Striblin opened up a deli in downtown West Point one month ago. He's hoping that auto workers will stop in for lunch or dinner.
"It should be like a ripple effect or domino effect for lots of things," Striblin said. "I felt like the West Point area was growing, we needed this one here."
It's an added benefit that Chambers County developers say we can expect to see more of.
"There's a lot of opportunities to service the employees that work with these organizations as well as to take care of the grounds themselves," said Valerie Gray, executive director of the Chambers Industrial Development Board.
One dry cleaning business owner in LaGrange says he's glad to see a lot more KIA uniforms coming in.
"It has helped some and we're hoping for more as they continue to hire more folks," Mark Hinson, the owner of SOS cleaners said.
Four new auto suppliers in Chambers County, KIA will also generate more spin off business.
"I think they will slowly come along. A lot of these companies need to make product and actually get paid for the product before they can start spending money on local goods and services." Gray said.
And with more revenue comes more jobs.
"We hope and by my calculations think that our unemployment rate will drops so we're going to be anxiously awaiting to see that on Friday," she added.
The Industrial Development Board officials in Chambers County tell us even more auto suppliers are interested in their industrial parks. They expect this is just the start of the ripple effect from KIA.
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