Industry of the Year winners: Recovery is here

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville industry leaders whose companies received Industry of the Year awards Wednesday at the Second Annual Industry Appreciation Luncheon spoke of recovery after two tough recession years.

They said 2008 and 2009 were the hard years, but now they are hiring and producing new products. The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce hosted the event and that's what Vice President of Existing Industry Shelley Davis said that's what she heard.

"I absolutely heard that and so many in our community know that we're very diverse as businesses but for industry I'm definitely seeing a recovery," Davis said. "I'm seeing a lot of hiring, sometimes it's rehiring, sometimes its brand new jobs And I'm seeing a lot of investment."

IMS Gear Georgia for small industry, ZF group for medium sized industry and Coleman Natural Foods-Kings Delight for large industry were the award winners.

The Employer Recognition Award went to ElringKlinger USA, Inc. ElringKlinger has increased from 47 to 163 employees in the past year and a half while manufacturing automotive shielding systems. The Environmental and Safety Recognition Award went to SKF USA, Inc.,a ball bearing producer,celebrating 5 million hours without a lost time accident.

Chamber Vice President of Economic Development Tim Evans said the hiring and new production would encourage new industry to locate in Gainesville/Hall County.

"We have new industries coming to the community as well and they'll be hiring here in 2011, so that will help those people who are looking for jobs," Evans said.

Elizabeth Umberson with ZF said for any company tied to the automotive industry 2009 was a terrible year. ZF produces drive axles and transmissions, but she said in 2010 recovery came on with a vengeance with new employment and the company's decision to build a new plant to manufacture gear boxes for wind turbines for the wind energy industry.

Greg Vitek with IMS Gear said his company lost 60 percent of its business but the company decided to keep its plant doors open and plan for the future and make new products including gearing for new generation electronic power steering.

Phillip Wilheit, Chairman of the Gainesville/ Hall Development Authority, recently named as a new member of the University Board of Regents by Governor Nathan Deal, said the Governor plans to keep $11 million in grant funding in his budget to support industrial development by funding REBA, Regional Economic Business Assistance.

Wilheit, head of Wilheit Packaging in Gainesville, said a million dollar REBA grant paid for grading and land development for ZF Group's new wind industry plant.

"We've got to have money if we're going to close these projects and compete with North and South Carolina, Virginia, and all of the Southeastern states," Wilheit said. "That is a key factor in getting a plant to locate because every other state in the Southeast is doing the same thing. You've got to have some grant money that the Governor and the Commissioner of Economic Development have autonomy over to make decisions on where it goes."

"Though Gainesville-Hall County's existing industries don't make front page headlines every day, the investments that these companies provide, the jobs they create and their community involvement is invaluable," said Shelley Davis, Vice President of Existing Industry for the Greater Hall Chamber. "The Greater Hall Chamber appreciates our manufacturers, processors and distributors every day, and we wanted to take this time for an event to allow the entire community to recognize what they mean to us and the impact they have upon our economy."

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