NASHVILLE—Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty, along with Southtec, LLC officials today announced the company will expand its current operations in Lebanon. The automotive parts manufacturer will invest $23.6 million to add onto its existing facility in Lebanon, as well as develop a new Lebanon property creating 210 new jobs.
“I want to thank Southtec for their continued investment in Tennessee and Wilson County,” Haslam said. “With announcements like this Tennessee further solidifies its place as a global leader in the automotive industry and today’s announcement supports our goal of becoming the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“Southtec’s decision to further expand in Tennessee is a testament to our outstanding workforce,” Hagerty said.” The automotive industry provides employment for more than 114,000 Tennesseans, supporting a wide range of OEMs and suppliers located throughout the state. As the global automotive industry shifts its focus toward the southeast, Tennessee is ideally positioned through our geography and ideal business climate to continuing winning new investments.”
Southtec is expanding due to volume increases attributed to businesses with OEMs. The company produces stampings and welded assemblies for the automotive industry. Southtec currently operates in Lebanon with 315 employees. That facility will require an expansion of approximately 30,250 square feet to accommodate two new large automotive stamping presses and associated equipment and employees.
Additionally, Southtec will develop a new, but existing facility, in Lebanon. In total, these expansions will bring Southtec’s total Tennessee employment to 525 employees, a 66 percent increase over three to four years.
“I want to thank Southtec for their expansion plans and for their vote of confidence in the citizens of Lebanon, Tennessee,” Lebanon Mayor Philip Craighead said.
“I welcome this wonderful announcement and view it as a confirmation of the successful partnerships we have cultivated between local governments and private industries,” Wilson County Mayor Randall Hutto said.
“I want to thank everyone who helped make this announcement possible, including the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Tennessee Valley Authority,” G. C. Hixson, Executive Director of the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Wilson County, said.
“TVA and Middle Tennessee Electric congratulate Southtec on its decision to expand in Lebanon and Wilson County,” John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development, said. “We are excited to be partners with the state of Tennessee, the Joint Economic and Community Development Board of Wilson County, city of Lebanon and Wilson County officials to help local communities gain quality jobs.”
Information and application information for current and future employment opportunities should be accessed through Tennessee’s State Workforce Development System (the Nashville Career Advancement Center).
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Tennessee was named “2013 State of the Year” for economic development by Business Facilities magazine. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tn.gov/ecd. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
###
