Auto Part Maker UGN to Choose Indiana, Kentucky, or Tennessee for Expansion

[bizilady]

Auto part maker UGN is expanding with a $14.5 million plant expansion and technology upgrade that will create 30 jobs in Indiana, Kentucky, or Tennessee.
The potential sites re located in Valparaiso, Indiana; Somerset, Kentucky; and Jackson, Tennessee.

"We're pleased our business is thriving in the recession, and we've had a great experience in each of the three communities we are in," said Peter Anthony, UGN CEO. "We originally selected these communities because the local governments were accommodating to our growth and creative with performance-based tax incentives. We're carefully evaluating which one of the three offers the best benefits for our new facility."

UGN produces interior vehicle carpeting, headliners, and acoustics products. Its contracts from major Japanese carmakers allowed the company to increase its work force by 30 percent over the past year, and add 10,000 square feet of manufacturing space

http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems/7-14-2010/ugn-indiana-kentucky-tennessee07133.shtml

[Warpaint]

Somerset won't make it! The power people of this town don't want any outsiders cutting in on their empire. Our locals would rather see empty buildings, vacant lots, and fields of weeds, than a business that could occupy, build, and hire to make a dollar.

[leadfoot]

UGN are already here why not just add to the facility that they are at right now they have enough of land to do so. The parking lot can hold more cars for it is half empty all the time. Besides it right off of 914
I think Sommerset would be a good place for the addition because of the rail, truck route also easy access to highway, they don't even have to go through town to get their product moving. Very cost effective.

[Jack Oneil]

Lets hope Somerset get the expansion and the added jobs. Tennessee doesn't have a state income tax, and that alone will make them stiff competition for the other two places on the list.

Here is a look at some other stats on the three areas from citydata.com


For population 25 years and over in Jackson


    * High school or higher: 77.7%
    * Bachelor's degree or higher: 22.7%
    * Graduate or professional degree: 8.5%
    * Unemployed: 8.8%
    * Mean travel time to work: 17.5 minutes
Read more: http://www.city-data.com/city/Jackson-Tennessee.html#ixzz0v3E6yFOn


For population 25 years and over in Valparaiso

    * High school or higher: 90.6%
    * Bachelor's degree or higher: 34.5%
    * Graduate or professional degree: 14.5%
    * Unemployed: 4.4%
    * Mean travel time to work: 20.6 minutes
Read more: http://www.city-data.com/city/Valparaiso-Indiana.html#ixzz0v3EKWcaQ



For population 25 years and over in Somerset

    * High school or higher: 63.1%
    * Bachelor's degree or higher: 13.6%
    * Graduate or professional degree: 6.5%
    * Unemployed: 3.9%
    * Mean travel time to work: 17.0 minutes
Read more: http://www.city-data.com/city/Somerset-Kentucky.html#ixzz0v3ET9RFf

Those links have tons of other info for comparing the three cities.

[sambrown]

Unemployment rate at 3.9%?

[bizilady]

keep in mind that the info on these sites is usually provided by the chamber of Commerce....