Athens Technical College - Spotlight
Page 1 of 1
Directory
Contact ATC
Intranet Login
Home
General Information
Current Students
Prospective Students
E-Learning
Department List
Satellite Campuses
Foundation & Board
Alumni
ATC Spotlight
Economic development officials discuss Caterpillar potential
State and regional economic development professionals gathered at Athens Technical College’s auditorium Tuesday for a
forum/panel discussion on the new Caterpillar construction equipment plant planned for a site straddling Clarke and Oconee
counties at Georgia Highway 316 and Georgia Highway 78.
Coordinated by the state Department of Economic Development, the meeting presented an overview of the Caterpillar
Athens Plant project and parts supplier recruitment initiative to regional economic development experts and business leaders
Athens-Clarke Mayor Nancy Denson and Oconee County Commission Chairman Melvin Davis explained to the group how the
two counties and the state worked together to complete the deal with Caterpillar for its newest U.S. manufacturing plant. Mr.
Davis told the audience that only 64 days had passed from the time they heard a company was interested in the tract of land to the
completion of the deal.
State officials discussed potential suppliers, Caterpillar’s request to work together on a supplier initiative, and the types of
existing Georgia companies/suppliers sought by Caterpillar. . Caterpillar will be using hundreds of products to make its small
bulldozers and “mini-hex” hydraulic excavators — including engines, pumps, engines, radiators, lights, switches, windows and
batteries, officials told the attendees. The Caterpillar website referencing suppliers can be found at www.supplycatga.com. The
first area of priority for suppliers will be metal fabricators, officials said.
State experts also offered information on websites where economic development leaders in each county can update the
buildings and sites they have available for potential suppliers.
Photo caption: Gretchen Corbin, deputy commissioner for global commerce with the Georgia Department of Economic
Development, speaks during a panel discussion at Athens Technical College Tuesday, June 19.
Don Nelson
706 227-5460
http://www.athenstech.edu/Spotlight.cfm?i=377
6/20/2012
���������������������������������������������������������������������������
���������������������������������������������������������������������������������
�����������������������������������������������������