Kubota celebrates 25th year in Gainesville

GAINESVILLE - A mid-afternoon rain shower did not stop but possibly shortened a 25 year anniversary observance in Kubota Manufacturing Company's parking lot Thursday.

Local elected officials and employees gathered with Kubota leaders for the celebration of the 1988 location of the Japanese company that became Gainesville's top manufacturing employer according to Chief Managing Officer Brian Arnold.

"We've gone from 38 employees to over 1,100, so it's been a tremendous success story, " Arnold said.

The original implement plant covered 150,000 square feet. Kubota Gainesville, building implements, tractors and utility vehicles, now occupies 1.1 million square feet on Ramsey Road off the Highway 365 four lane.

The cloudy skies did not spoil the fun or the memories for Tim Pilgrim, among a handful of original employees who were recognized during the ceremony for starting work at the new plant back in 1988.

"Looking back it's really hard to believe that it started as humbly as it did," Pilgrim said. "Everyone knew everyone back then. Now you might know a third of the people who work here."

Civic and business leader Phillip Wilheit, Sr. helped locate Kubota as a volunteer chamber member serving on the Economic Development Authority in 1988. He recalled the city owned land was originally intended as the site of a battery plant. The city decided a battery plant close to Lake Lanier was not a good idea and started advertising it for something else.

"The State brought Kubota to see us, the city asked me to manage the project for them and Chris Braswell and I did it together," Wilheit said. "It happened fairly quickly, in about six months we had the deal put together."

Mayor Danny Dunagan said Gainesville was fortunate that Kubota located in his town as he proclaimed Thursday 'Kubota Manufacturing of America Corporation Day'. Hall Commission Chairman Dick Mecum pointed to the tractor and implement producer's economic impact, with its $45-million annual payroll that rolls over locally to generate $315-million. Kubota started with a payroll of less than $1-million.

Kubota President Henry Kubota concluded the ceremony as the rain began to fall harder on the audience.

"Right now, we are preparing for growth for the future and the generations that will come after us," he said. "In the future many of our children and even grand children will work here."