Caesarstone to Build Georgia Plant
(Article updated on Nov. 7 with updated information on plant opening and statement from Georigia Gov. Nathan Deal.)
RICHMOND HILL, Ga. – Caesarstone’s U.S. production line is headed to this Savannah-area community, creating up to 200 new jobs in a new facility by mid-2015.
The Savannah Morning News reports that the Bryan County Commissioners approved a master-plan agreement that includes the new quartz-surfaces plant on Oct. 29 during a special meeting.
The paper reports that Caesarstone will be the first company in the Belfast Commerce Center southwest of Savannah, and invest between $70 million-$100 million and create 180-200 new jobs.
On Nov. 6, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal officially announced the plant in a statement from his office.
On Nov. 6, Caesarstone officials confirmed the new plant’s location and construction while reporting 2013 third-quarter earnings.
The company also noted that “site-specific considerations” prompted an opening-date revision from late nest year to 2015’s second quarter. Caesarstone will also accelerate its initial investment to approximately 70 percent of the total expected capital cost of $100 million in order to support an expedited launch of a second production line.
Caesarstone officials indicated earlier this year that they planned a U.S. plant, using some of the proceeds from the company’s public stock offering next year.
The News noted that the Georgia Department of Economic Development worked with county officials on the project, supporting it with state incentives. The News also quoted Bryan County officials that Caesarstone chose the southeastern Georgia site over other settings in the state, as well as locations in Arkansas, South Carolina and Texas.
Caesarstone joins more than 40 Israeli companies already operating in Georgia. The state’s economic-development department maintains a satellite location in Jerusalem.
“It’s an honor to host Caesarstone’s continued global growth and success. Georgia’s outreach to the international business community and strong capabilities, including the fourth-largest and fastest-growing port in the United States, have attracted this very significant investment,” said Deal. “Caesarstone brings jobs and economic growth to the region, and we look forward to bringing to bear the logistics, workforce and other resources that will help it succeed.”
Caesarstone will use the Georgia Quick Start workforce training program. Once hiring begins, jobs will be posted by the Georgia Department of Labor office in Savannah.
Caesarstone will import raw materials for manufacturing and export finished products through Georgia’s ports.
“We are excited, after a careful site selection process, to have found the right combination of a highly skilled workforce, a strong logistics infrastructure and a welcoming state, county and city,” said Yos Shiran, Caesarstone CEO. “Our planned state-of-the-art facility will support our business and competitive position throughout North America, which has quickly become both our largest and fastest-growing region around the globe. We look forward to a long and very fruitful partnership with Georgia and Bryan County.”
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