Last Updated on Thursday, 09 February 2012 14:14

Work starts on $51 million mock city in Perry that will be used to train first responders
By WAYNE Crenshaw - To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.

PERRY -- Work is under way on what might be one of the most unique construction projects ever done in Middle Georgia.

For years, the whisper of the wind around vacant buildings has been about the only thing to be heard at the former Northrop Grumman missile plant in Perry, but on Wednesday it roared with the sound of earth-moving equipment.

Guardian Centers of Georgia is building a 70-acre mock city that will be used to train thousands of emergency personnel and first responders from around the country.

The excavating equipment stopped briefly as about 100 people gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony.

Guardian founder and Chief Executive Officer Geoff Burkart gave some new details about the $51 million project.

The layout of the city is patterned after the downtown street grid of Seattle. Burkart said the city’s L-shape restricts sight lines and presents challenges to trainees.

It also will feature a neighborhood based on New Orleans’ 9th Ward, which was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina. The mock-up can be flooded or drained as needed for training, he said.

It also will have a high school football stadium, because Burkart said that’s where staging of emergency personnel is most often done when there is a major disaster in a community.

He has been planning the project since he worked in the Hurricane Katrina disaster area in 2005.

“This is a culmination of a long journey,” Burkart said.

Work is expected to take about a year, and when it is operational is expected to employ 100 people full-time. Other jobs will be available for people to play the roles of victims.

As many as 5,000 emergency personnel may be at the site at any given time. There will be some lodging on site and some will stay in local hotels.

Local economic developers are expecting a direct impact of $75 million annually. That’s not counting indirect impact such as trainees spending money in local restaurants.

Although Burkart said it’s not something he considered in designing the project, he already has had some Hollywood people call about filming there.

Source: The Telegraph (Macon, Georgia)
Read more: http://www.macon.com/2012/02/09/v-print/1897619/work-starts-on-51m-mock-city.html

Blue Bird Announces Leadership Change
By HAROLD GOODRIDGE - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Blue Bird Corporation in Fort Valley announced this week that Greg Bennett is stepping down as CEO at the end of the year. Phil Horlock, the company’s chief financial officer and chief administrative officer also will take on the role of president, according to a news release from the school bus manufacturer.

Horlock joined Blue Bird in January after working 30 years at Ford Motor Company where he held a number of executive positions.

“The Board appreciates Greg’s significant contributions to the ongoing transformation of Blue Bird,” said Chan W. Galbato, chairman of Blue Bird’s board, in the news release. “Under Greg’s leadership, we have taken critical steps in improving Blue Bird’s product and cost competitiveness, in a difficult economic environment. We are now well positioned for long-term success and are excited about Blue Bird’s future.”

Source: The Telegraph (Macon, Georgia)
Read more: http://www.macon.com/2010/11/10/1335297/leadership-change-at-blue-bird.html#ixzz15N0kvxxe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Peach County Welcomes Valley Industrial Products
Submitted and released by Randall Myers on Tuesday, September 14, 2010 6:05pm  

"Valley Industrial Products is a privately held corporation that will produce plastic sheet and profile extrusions for various markets globally. It is anticipated that the facility will begin partial operations during the first quarter of 2011 and continue installing equipment and increasing capacity for the remainder of that year and into 2012.  Production trials will begin in January and the outcome of the trials will dictate the speed of hiring and the addition of production capacity."

Randall Myers, Plant Manager 

Major Growth for Fort Valley Blue Bird Plant
Submitted by Coreen Savitski on Fri, 2010-06-25 08:45

Blue Bird is bringing all of its operations to Middle Georgia.  Thursday, The Blue Bird Corporation announced it will move all bus assembly operations to its Fort Valley plant.

That means the company's north Georgia facility, which has 350 employees, will close by the end of August.

The move will centralize all production operations, technical staff and services into a single facility, which includes its Corporate Headquarters.

Source:  http://www.41nbc.com/news/100625767314/major-growth-fort-valley-blue-bird-plant

Supply Partner to Blue Bird Body Locates New Operation in Peach County 

Ft. Valley, GA (May 27, 2010)  Today, The C. E. White Co., Established in 1937 and North America’s largest and the leading specialty seat supplier to the school bus industry, announced it is opening a satellite assembly facility in Peach County, Georgia.  The facility will be geared toward servicing JIT deliveries and on-site support to the Blue Bird Body Co.   Thus, positioning the company for expansion in the South, and in other new markets and products. 

The C. E. White Co. will establish a 24,000 square foot satellite assembly plant in the South Peach Industrial Park in Ft. Valley.  The satellite plant will hire 10 employees in the first year with plans for significant future growth. 

“Our commitment to improving our products and services is the main reason this company has continued to grow over the past three years.  Also C. E. White’s primary focus is improving safety for your children in its products. This is our history and the focus of our future.” said Tony Everett, President/CEO of The C. E. White Co. 

The C. E. White Co. is working closely with Blue Bird and the Commerce and Development Authority of Peach County to assist in business incentives, workforce training and the “Certified Work Ready” program.   

“In effort to continue our growth as a world class supplier in the school bus industry, we made the decision to offset the high cost of fuel by setting up this support facility”, said Steve Frazee, Director of Product and OEM Development at The C. E. White Co.

“By establishing satellite operations like the one in Ft. Valley, we can be onsite for the customer and still utilize our design/testing capabilities and other manufacturing support operations from New Washington.  Not only will we add jobs to the Fort Valley economy, we will add jobs to the New Washington and Crawford County economy.  New Washington will always be the hub of C. E. White wheel as we continue to expand and grow across North America.” 

The C. E. White Co. has been a supplier to Blue Bird Body for over twenty-five years and is currently accepting applications for assembly workers.  According to Everett, the company believes in the spirit of ownership, employee empowerment and sharing.  Interested individuals may apply at Spherion Staffing by calling 478-956-1700 or stopping at their office at 311 Hwy 49 North, Suite 80A, Byron, Georgia. 

RELEASED BY: 

Steve Frazee, Director of Product /OEM Development

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (419) 492-2157 

Redneck Trailer Supplies to locate new distribution center
in Byron
Missouri-based company will create 10 jobs and invest $5 million in
Peach County facility

ATLANTA, August 18, 2009— Missouri-based Redneck Trailer Supplies announced today that it will locate a new distribution center in Byron, creating 10 jobs and investing $5 million.

“Georgia is a great fit for logistics businesses because of our strong transportation network, qualified workforce and business-friendly environment,” said Ken Stewart, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). “In Georgia, growing logistics companies such as Redneck Trailer Supplies are able to get their product to market efficiently and inexpensively.”

Redneck Trailer Supplies will host a grand opening of its 20th branch at 308 James E. Williams Drive in Byron at 9 a.m. on Sept. 1. The 17,000-square-foot facility in the North Peach Industrial Park will distribute a full line of trailer parts to accommodate customers in the southeastern region.

Redneck Trailer Supplies began in 1979 as Redneck Trailers and Supplies, a manufacturer building gooseneck trailers. These gooseneck trailers were primarily painted red and that was the start of the “Redneck” name.

“Byron, Georgia is the perfect spot for our 20th distribution center. As a business-to-business entity, it is critical that we position our locations to provide the highest level of service to our customers,” said Ed Brady, President of Redneck Trailer Supplies. “The Southeast and Georgia in particular are growing markets in our industry. Being able to serve this market is an opportunity for our company and the businesses we will serve who require higher levels of service and broader product selection.”
 “We are tremendously excited about Redneck Trailer Supplies choosing Peach County for its newest warehouse location,” said Charles Sims, executive director of the Peach County Development Authority. “They are a great company with a wide reach and their new facility is strategically located with visibility on Interstate 75.”

Annie Marie Baxter, project manager with GDEcD, assisted the company in its location.

About the company
Redneck Trailer Supplies, established in 1981, serves the needs of trailer builders and dealers from coast to coast. The company is based in Springfield, Mo. and has 20 branches across the country providing a full line of trailer parts. Redneck Trailer Company specializes in same-day shipping and strives to provide customers with quality service at the best price.