Monday, December 17, 2007
Plant to impact Auburn
The addition of Seohan Auto USA and Seohan Driveshaft USA means more jobs for the community – a total of about 170 new jobs over the next few years.
February 28, 2007
Alabama Gov. Bob Riley joined city and state leaders on the Capitol steps in Montgomery on Tuesday to announce that two new companies would soon be setting up shop in Auburn.
The addition of Seohan Auto USA and Seohan Driveshaft USA means more jobs for the community – a total of about 170 new jobs over the next few years.
“This is a first class company with really solid technology that fits very well with the direction Auburn is going,” said Phillip Dunlap, director of Economic Development for City of Auburn.
But for residents who aren’t planning to work there, what does this announcement mean? Dunlap said, it means more.
“Say, you’re a resident of Auburn and you like to play tennis in the tennis complex, or you like to play softball in the softball complex or you have to children that you’d like to receive that fine education in the Auburn school system,” Dunlap said. New companies add to the city’s tax base.
So, it’s industry like this that, he said, helps make those things happen.
And the impact isn’t exclusive to the company’s new locale.
State Sen. Ted Little said progress doesn’t stop at city and county lines.
“This will be good for Lee County, Tallapoosa County, Russell County, Chambers County, Macon County and others,” he said. “Dollars put into economic development in Lee County and East Alabama has a ripple effect.”
More jobs, more money and, according to Dunlap, there’s more to come.
“That’s how it impacts the every day lives of citizens,” he said. “Besides providing jobs that pay taxes and that payroll that gets turned over in the economy it also provides taxes for schools and a lot of other things that we as residents of auburn like to see to support our quality of life.”
For residents that are interested in the new jobs, the company will be working with the Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) and the Auburn Training Connection when it begins the hiring process. Information about both organizations is available online. The AIDT Web site address is http://www.aidt.edu. The Auburn Training Connection is available through the city’s Web site at http://www.auburnalabama.org.
Construction of the new facility is expected to begin immediately. The companies hope to have production underway by the end of the year.
According to information from the Governor’s office, Seohan Auto USA and Seohan Driveshaft USA are part of the Korea-based Seohan Group.