Auburn Targets Auto
Industry Suppliers

With an investment of more than $40 million and initial creation of about 310 jobs, ATS is the first major supplier to the automobile industry to locate in Auburn. One of 10 Alabama cities under consideration, ATS officials made their first look at Auburn the final stop of a long day criss-crossing the state. So, Auburn's initial presentation of the site was done in the dark.
        "It was a headlight presentation," recalls Edwin Gardner, assistant economic development director for the City of Auburn. "We couldn't see a thing."
        Early on, sites in Mexico and South Carolina were still in the mix. Gradually, the selection narrowed to Auburn and Tuscaloosa, two cities accustomed to battle. In fact, Gardner says the competitive nature of the two helped the cause of both.
        "They let us go head-to-head once they found out we were arch rivals," says Gardner, one of several city officials with advanced degrees from Auburn University. "They were counting on one of us to give them the best deal."

Alabama Poised For Banner Year of Automotive Supplier Announcements Expect announcements of Alabama automobile industry suppliers to accelerate in 2003. In February, four more suppliers announced plans for new facilities.         Bridgewater Interiors plans to build a 90,000-sq.-ft. (8,300-sq.-m.) plant in Oxford to produce seats for the new Honda truck assembly line in Lincoln. Company officials say the plant will open this fall and employ 250. Bridgewater is a minority-owned joint venture between Johnson Controls and Detroit-based Epsilon LLC.         The other three announcements involve Korean suppliers to Hyundai's new assembly plant near Montgomery: • Shin Young Metal Industrial Co. will build a $110-million plant in Luverne, creating 400 jobs to produce automotive body parts. Company officials say the plant will open in June 2004. • HS R&A will build a $20-million plant near Enterprise which will employ 350 people upon completion. The 200,000-sq.-ft. (18,600-sq.-m.) facility will manufacture weather stripping, tubing and automotive hoses. • Halla Climate Controls will build a $28-million plant in Shorter to supply heaters, air conditioners and front-end modules. The supplier will employ about 200.

        Desirous of an idea of what might be coming to town, Auburn officials made three visits to Stahlschmidt & Maiworm's factory in Stalowa Wola, located in the southeast corner of Poland near the Ukrainian border. Two trips came before Auburn became the final choice.
        "We have a rule here in the city that we go look at a company's facility first to see if it's a good match and to meet key people," notes Gardner.
        ATS selected a 45-acre (18.2-hectare) site in the new Auburn Technology Park North adjacent to I-85.
        "Basically, we were able to offer them a prepared site," Gardner says. In fact, when ATS came calling, the city was able to serve up a 350,000-sq.-ft. (32,500-sq.-m.) compacted pad. The park offers underground utilities and a campus-like atmosphere, he says.
        Auburn targets small- and medium-sized firms in its recruiting efforts. Most automobile industry suppliers fall into these categories, so Gardner says it makes sense to recruit them. He says at least 75 percent of the city's current industrial prospects are suppliers to the industry.
        "We try to target companies that make value-added products that have found their niche in high technology," Gardner says. "We try to stay away from sunset industries."