Monday's updates

Please click www.hometownheadlines.com:

The Buzz of Northwest Georgia (click)

-VW: Jobs at the plant, with parts suppliers among key local targets.

-The Greener Burger taking shape on Broad Street.

-Almost live from Berry College, it's The Locker Room Report.

-Chamber expo set for Friday night, Saturday at The Forum.

-SPLOST, city elections on this Tuesday's ballot; election coverage.

-More media changes on the way. Plus: Georgia Trend on Rome/Floyd.

-Peaks & Valleys: Six-digit 'gives' by, to local hospitals.

Really close second-place finish for Cedartown's Schabort in New York City Marathon:  Krige Schabort of Cedartown finished second with a time of 1:35:58 in the 2009 edition of the New York City Marathon. It was a photo finish as Kurt Fearnley of Australia had the same exact time.> Details

Your latest weather:

-Monday: Sunny, high of 69, low of 40.

-Election Day: Sunny, high of 70, low of 40.

-Latest weather: Extended forecast /  Local radar / Regional radar

Norman Arey's Sports Roundtable>Arey

-All in all, an ugly weekend in college football, at least as far as uniforms are concerned

John McClellan's high school picks: Look for his region picks by Tuesday morning. John went 11-1 in local games on Friday night> Football Report

Georgia High School Football Daily:  Calhoun remains in first place in AA poll; plays Armuchee Friday night.> Details

Shorter shocked 14-13> Click

-This Saturday, at Belhaven, Jackson, Tenn. 12:30 p.m.

-Georgia Northwestern Mustangs start season Nov. 7> Click

Upcoming events at Rome Braves/State Mutual Stadium> Sports

-Braves' first Celebrity Shootout with Rocket Wheeler, Frog Smith.

-First annual Wing Ding due Nov. 21.

-Links to winter baseball leagues.

Downtown Headlines> Click

-What's ahead in downtown Rome: Chamber expo Friday, Saturday.

Three-Dot Buzz . . . :

-VW: Jobs at the plant, with parts suppliers among key local targets.

-The Greener Burger taking shape on Broad Street.

-Almost live from Berry College, it's The Locker Room Report.

-Chamber expo set for Friday night, Saturday at The Forum.

-SPLOST, city elections on this Tuesday's ballot; election coverage.

-More media changes on the way. Plus: Georgia Trend on Rome/Floyd.

-Peaks & Valleys: Six-digit 'gives' by, to local hospitals.

Work continues on The Greener Burger on Broad

Perhaps it is fitting that a "sandwich board" is responsible for building the buzz on a new burger place at the old Krystal site at 311 Broad St. next to Legends comic book store. Organizers of The Greener Burger are at work on the site and in business circles, promising "great burgers from our farm to your family." We'll have calls into the business organizers later today. Adding to the mystery is the black mail box for a farm to the upper right of the sandwich board.

>The early buzz on this year's Trick or Treat on Broad Street is good. Despite the rain, hundreds of kids and parents worked their way up and down Broad on Saturday, some far beyond the 2 p.m. cutoff time.

Georgia Trend's focus on Rome/Floyd: 'Marking Milestones.' Yet another big spread on Rome/Floyd County is in the November issue of Georgia Trend. This one, anchored by a picture of County Commission Chairman John Mayes, looks at recent projects and developments--including Town Green--and the SPLOST package before voters on Tuesday. For a closer read, click Georgia Trend.

Chamber's annual Business Expo this Friday, Saturday: 100 booth spots are reserved for this year's edition at The Forum. The Friday night event is for chamber members only as well as the vendors. Saturday is open to all, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. You'll see food vendors, health displays, banks and credit unions, and more. Admission: $3 per person; kids under 10, free. For more, click Expo 2009
-And while you're downtown at the Expo this Saturday, be sure to check out the sidewalk sale organized by downtown merchants.

Tune into Berry sports vis Locker Room Report: The new school year at Berry College also has produced a biweekly YouTube show called the Locker Room Report. Each edition features interviews with Berry coaches and athletes as well as some highlights and previews of what is going on in Berry athletics. The show is co-hosted by Berry's Director of Sports Information and Promotions, Scott Dunford and freshman student, Darren Barnet.  The college's interactive and social media specialist, Blake LeGate, is producer, editor and videographer. The show is true to its name: it is filmed in the Berry's men's basketball locker room. Guests so far this year have included women's basketball coach Stephanie Dunn, head soccer coach Lorenzo Canalis and players Kate Ross and Luis Salazar>http://www.youtube.com/berrycollegesports

-What we like: Berry continues to be a leader in online news and video coverage in Northwest Georgia. The last example: Live cuts from the Rome International Film Festival in September and key campus events (graduations, key ceremonies).

The Druck Report on WRGA three times daily; on-demand next: We appreciate the kind words we're hearing about The Druck Report, a weekday four-minute review of local business news, trends and other updates heard exclusively on WRGA 1470 AM. Starting this week, The Druck Report is available at 7:50 a.m., 12:50 and 6:50 p.m. We'll have updates soon on on-demand listening as well in conjunction with WRGArome.com.

-More media: Lots of media buzz still in the air about upcoming changes, some you're probably noticing already. We'll have several updates later in the week.

Election Day coverage: We'll have updates throughout the day as well as results on Tuesday night. We'll be using Hometown Headlines, e-mail alerts, Facebook and Twitter for updates. For our social media updates, please go to:

www.facebook.com/hometown  / www.twitter.com/hometown

>Coming Wednesday/Analysis of the elections' outcome: Some of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering in this election cycle will not be forgotten anytime soon.

With VW plant cruising toward the 2011 finish line in Chattanooga, Northwest Georgia seeks healthy chunk of the contracts, jobs.

By Natalie Simms

natsimms76@gmail.com

German automaker Volkswagen's billion-dollar manufacturing plant is rising rapidly in Chattanooga and, just as fast, Northwest Georgia development leaders are wooing would-be parts suppliers to build on this side of the state line

While cars will not be rolling off the assembly line there until 2011, a plant of its magnitude and sheer proximity to Northwest Georgia will breathe new life into our stagnant economy and job market.

"The plant is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs both directly and indirectly over three years," says Pete McDonald, vice president of Economic Development for Georgia Northwestern Technical College. "It's the largest economic impact in Northwest Georgia that we've had in decades."

According to Volkswagen Group of America Inc., the Chattanooga plant initially will create 2,000 direct jobs in the region. Independent studies say the new VW plant is expected to generate $12 billion in income growth and an additional 9,500 jobs over the life of the project. The Chattanooga plant will build a new midsize sedan specially designed for the North American market. Look for VW's new Concept to be built in Chattanooga (above image)

Hiring is under way with hundreds from our area already applying for jobs among more than 12,000 who applied this past week online for 1,200 positions. Applications will be accepted through midnight next Sunday. To apply, go to www.vwjobschattanooga.com.

"VW reached out to us to assist them with offering a location for applicants," McDonald says. "You can apply anywhere with an Internet connection but we (GNTC) have opened up our commuter labs for anyone to come and apply."
The labs are at the Floyd, Gordon and Walker campuses, and are open through Saturday as follows: Monday–Thursday: 12:30- 7 p.m.; Friday, 12:30-3:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.  

"We're anticipating over 100,000 applicants to apply from all over the world," McDonald says. "This application is just the initial step of the seven-step hiring process. VW has a very structured approach to hiring."

This image from the Chattanooga chamber shows a rendering of the new VW plant rising at the Enterprise South industrial complex. For more, click VW Chattanooga.

While the 60-plus miles to Chattanooga seems like a long commute for those living in Northwest Georgia, the good news is that VW will need several parts suppliers who build within 50 to 100 miles of the plant. Northwest Georgia, along with Northeast Alabama and other parts of Tennessee, all stand to benefit.

According to Volkswagen Group of America, nearly $436 million in local contracts have been awarded by the city, state and Volkswagen to date. This includes more than $238 million with local suppliers for the new midsized sedan and $98 million with Volkswagen contractors and subcontractors for plant construction, with another $230 million over the next 20 years.  At capacity, the plant will produce 150,000 vehicles a year.

Northwest Georgia hopes to gets its slice of the $230 million pie.

"The Volkswagen plant has great potential for Northwest Georgia," says Al Hodge, President and CEO of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce. "Existing auto suppliers, along with potential new employers, have many opportunities related to VW. Our existing suppliers have proven they produce high quality parts and are competitively priced for the plants they supply. We have been marketing to VW and allied businesses since the day the new plant announcement in Chattanooga."

Neaton Auto Products Manufacturing Inc. and F&P Georgia are among several local industries that could supply parts to the VW plant. Racemart International in Calhoun is a global supplier for floor mats and could be in the running for a contract with VW.

"Northwest Georgia will definitely play an important role for suppliers," says Jimmy Phillips, President of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce. "A project of this size will bring thousands of jobs to the region for Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia. Suppliers will be locating in our communities creating jobs and payrolls."

Phillips says Gordon County has seen some interest from potential suppliers but expects more activity in 2010. "We've got a good location along the interstate with lots of good sites, a ready workforce and utilities," he says. "We've got every opportunity for a new industry."

According to The Chattanoogan, a special industrial park for 15 VW parts suppliers is going up near the VW site. These 15 suppliers are primary or first-tier suppliers. Second- and third-tier parts makers are the ones being targeted by Northwest Georgia development interests.

"One of the many reasons we need to have a well-educated workforce, support from existing employers, and land with infrastructure for new business is so that we can take positive advantage of opportunities such as this one," Hodge says. "This is another reason to support the SPLOST so that 375 more acres may be developed and sold for more jobs in our community."

The 2009 SPLOST will be on the ballots for voters on Tuesday. The $42.3 million package includes $5.98 million for the acquisition and improvement of real estate for economic development. County Manager Kevin Poe says the money would be used to make improvements to the land at Ga. 140 and 53.

"We have 300 plus acres available to recruit future industry," Poe says. "We will use this money for infrastructure improvement and get it ready for future industrial development. But if an industry comes in and we need to build infrastructure somewhere else, we will have flexibility to use this money to get that industry here."

PEAKS & VALLEYS: The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to the staff of Redmond Regional Medical Center. Redmond's associates raised more than $100,000 for United Way:  The hospital continues to be one of the major players in local United Way efforts.

Peak to the Floyd Medical Center Auxiliary: The auxiliary presented a check for $110,000 to Floyd Medical Center at its 38th annual meeting Thursday. Among the areas to be supported by that check: Floyd's Breast Center. Auxiliary members put in thousands of hours each year in support of the hospital.

Valley to all the dark doorways on Halloween night: Sure, this year's Halloween fell on a rainy Saturday night but we're astounded to hear how many dark doorways there were around town this year. Looks like someone forgot what the "trick" part of Halloween is all about.