Kia Celebrates Grand Opening of $1 Billion State-of-the-Art Automobile Manufacturing Plant in Georgia

/PRNewswire/ -- Officials with Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), Inc. were joined by dignitaries from the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, the State of Georgia, and local city and county officials to celebrate the official grand opening of Kia's first-ever U.S. automobile manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, capable of producing 300,000 cars annually for the North American and global markets.

The ceremony was attended by approximately 500 VIPs from Korea and the U.S., including Chairman of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group Mong-Koo Chung; Group President and CEO of KMMG and Kia Motors America (KMA) Byung-Mo Ahn; Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue; and a number of other high-ranking Korean government and State of Georgia officials.

"Kia is proud to call West Point, Georgia home and we look forward to many years of growing together," said Ahn. "Continued diligent work has helped elevate Kia to one of the fastest growing automobile brands around the globe. With the successful launch of the 2011 Kia Sorento CUV and establishment of our first manufacturing plant in the United States, the Kia brand is well positioned for further growth and to become a worldwide leader in quality and innovation."

Representing a $1 billion investment by Kia Motors Corporation, the sprawling, new 2.2 million-square-foot automobile manufacturing plant is situated on more than 2,200 acres of land between Exit 2 and Exit 6 along Interstate 85 in West Point. KMMG consists of four main shops: stamping, welding, paint and assembly. The site also includes a transmission shop, module shop and a two-mile test track where every vehicle produced by KMMG will be thoroughly tested. KMMG's general assembly area is outfitted with more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the most favorable installation position for each team member and reduce physical fatigue. It is outfitted with wood flooring, which provides a more comfortable and forgiving work environment for team members.

Governor Perdue noted today's event meant the continuation of a mutually beneficial partnership between the State of Georgia and Kia that will mean many great things for the State in years to come.

"This is a momentous day for Georgia as Kia Motors has brought thousands of new jobs to this area, and is truly delivering as a tremendous corporate citizen," said Governor Perdue. "We value our relationship with Kia and pledge to continue providing specialized training through the Kia Georgia Training Center that will guarantee a quality workforce and the future success of this plant in Georgia."

The massive Kia automobile manufacturing plant and its supplier companies have already provided thousands of jobs. KMMG currently employs more than 1,200 team members and is expected to nearly double that number by the end of the year, while onsite and nearby suppliers will create up to 7,500 additional jobs in the region.

Randy Jackson, director of human resources and administration, said he was glad that KMMG could help give back to the local community through job creation, community development and tourism.

"The Grand Opening marks a new milestone for Kia," Jackson said. "Beginning this spring, we are pleased to open our doors to the community and have them see firsthand the quality and craftsmanship that is built into every Kia vehicle. We hope every Kia owner, and anyone thinking about purchasing a Kia, will visit us."

Mass production of the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento CUV began on Nov. 16, 2009 with the product officially going on sale in the U.S. in January of this year. Selling 7,398 units in its first month, the 2011 Sorento was Kia's best-selling vehicle in January.

"The outstanding early performance of the first vehicle produced from our West Point, Georgia plant is a significant achievement for KMMG, KMA and the Kia brand as a whole," said Ahn. "As we grow we will continue to expand our line of vehicles here and abroad while staying true to the Kia brand tenets of value, quality, safety and technology; and KMMG will play a prominent role in achieving our goals."

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. KMMG is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Georgia, and began mass production of the 2011 Kia Sorento on November 16, 2009. At full capacity, the plant will have the ability to build 300,000 vehicles annually from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

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Kia Motors' First U.S. Manufacturing Plant Starts Production in West Point, GA

/PRNewswire/ -- The first U.S.-built Kia vehicle(1), a white 2011 MY Sorento CUV, rolled off the production line today at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), officially opening the first U.S. Kia Motors(2) plant. KMMG is expected to produce 300,000 vehicles at full capacity and employ 2,500 people, with on-site and nearby suppliers creating 7,500 additional jobs in the region.

"The start of production for our first manufacturing facility in the United States further demonstrates our commitment to growth in North America and we are proud to be adding 2,500 jobs to the local economy," said B.M. Ahn, group president and CEO, Kia Motors America (KMA) and KMMG.

Representing an investment by Kia Motors of $1 billion, KMMG will establish new benchmarks for vehicle quality and productivity by utilizing some of the world's most advanced manufacturing techniques. KMMG's general assembly area is outfitted with more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the most favorable installation position for each team member and reduce physical fatigue. Also in general assembly, KMMG is the only plant in North America outfitted with wood flooring, which provides a more comfortable and forgiving work environment for team members.

Built on 2,200 acres, the complex includes a body stamping facility, a transmission shop where the all-new 2011 Sorento's six-speed automatic transmission is produced, and a two mile test track in addition to the main assembly plant. The plant's 186-foot-long stamping press delivers 5,400 tons of pressure to stamp steel into 17 different types of vehicle panels for the all-new Sorento, operating at a speed of seven to 15 strokes per minute. The massive stamping equipment spans from almost 20 feet below the floor to 39.4 feet high.

KMMG continues Kia Motors' aggressive investment in the U.S. market. Since 2002, more than $1.3 billion has been invested in various facilities throughout the country, including a dedicated corporate campus and design center in Irvine, Calif., a state-of-the-art research and development center in Ann Arbor, Mich. and custom-built vehicle proving grounds in Mojave, Calif.

Since coming to market in the United States, Kia Motors, through its US-based marketing and distribution arm, KMA, has expanded to a full product line of vehicles and enjoyed 14 years of consecutive market share increases, including a 50 percent increase through October 2009. Most recently, KMA posted its best sales quarter in company history and is one of only three automakers whose sales are up over their 2008 sales pace.

About Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. (KMMG) is the first manufacturing site in North America for Kia Motors Corporation based in Seoul, Korea. KMMG is located on 2,200 acres in West Point, Georgia. At full capacity, the plant will have the ability to produce 300,000 vehicles annually and employ approximately 2,500 team members.

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Care Improvement Plus Partners with Atlanta Regional Commission to Provide Preventive Services to Area Seniors

PRNewswire/ -- Care Improvement Plus, Georgia's largest state-wide Medicare Special Needs Plan for beneficiaries with chronic health conditions, today announced that it will be collaborating with the Atlanta Regional Commission's Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration (SPARC) coalition to organize 13 health fairs this fall across DeKalb and Fulton counties to improve community-wide delivery of disease prevention services among older adults.

"Over 60 percent of older adults in our community do not get the routine care they need to maintain their health," said Jennie Deese, community outreach director for Care Improvement Plus. "The mission of the SPARC program is well-aligned with that of Care Improvement Plus -- to improve the health of area seniors by providing access to valuable preventive services. We are honored to be a part of this program."

Originally launched as a pilot program in the Atlanta region in 2006, SPARC, which is administered by the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging, encourages the use of community resources and locations to improve access to routine preventive care.

The coalition is finalizing plans to host 13 senior health fairs between October and December at various locations throughout DeKalb and Fulton counties. Fairs will include health related activities such as flu and pneumonia vaccinations, bone density screenings, blood pressure and blood glucose testing, podiatry assessments, medication reviews, and nutritional information including free produce selections.

Current dates and locations for SPARC health fairs include:

Fulton County
October 1 October 7
Adamsville Recreation Jefferson Place
3404 Delmar Ln., NW 1135 Jefferson St.
Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta, Ga.
10:00-12:00 10:00-12:00

October 14 October 21
North Fulton Community Charities Norman Berry Village
11270 Elkins Rd. 2840 Norman Berry Dr.
Roswell, Ga. East Point, Ga.
10:00-12:00 10:00-12:00

DeKalb County
September 16 September 23
Lithonia Senior Center Lou Walker Senior Center
2484 Bruce St. 2538 Panola Rd.
Lithonia, Ga. Lithonia, Ga.
9:30-1:30 9:30-1:30

October 2 October 7
North Dekalb Senior Center Ashford Parkside Senior Residence
2248 Johnson Ferry Rd. 3522 Blair Circle
Atlanta, Ga. Decatur, Ga.
9:30-1:30 9:30-1:30

October 8 October 23
Dekalb Atlanta Senior Center Life Enrichment Services
25 Warren St. 1340 McConnell Dr.
Atlanta, Ga. Decatur, Ga.
9:30-1:30 11:00-1:30

October 24 November 14
Clairmont Oaks Austin Drive Senior Campus
441 Clairemont Ave. 1989 Austin Dr.
Decatur, Ga. Decatur, Ga.
9:30-1:30 10:00-2:00

November 18
Beulah Baptist Church
2340 Clifton Springs Rd.
Decatur, GA 30034
9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

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Federal OSHA Issues Third Largest Fine in History Following Sugar Refinery Explosion

PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today (July 25, 2008) issued citations proposing penalties totaling $8,777,500 against the Imperial Sugar Co. and its two affiliates alleging violations at their plants in Port Wentworth, Ga., and Gramercy, La. OSHA initiated the inspections following an explosion and fire on Feb. 7, 2008, at the Port Wentworth refinery that claimed the lives of 13 employees and hospitalized 40 others. Three employees still remain hospitalized. The proposed penalties against Imperial Sugar represent the third largest fine in the history of OSHA.

OSHA's inspections of both facilities found that there were large accumulations of combustible sugar dust in workrooms, on electrical motors and on other equipment. The investigation also determined that officials at the company were well aware of these conditions, but they took no action reasonably directed at reducing the obvious hazards.

"I am outraged that this company would show a complete disregard for its employees' safety by knowingly placing them in an extremely dangerous work environment," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. He added, "What is even worse is that a month after the devastating catastrophe in Port Wentworth that claimed the lives of 13 people, this company had done little to ensure abatement of the combustible dust hazards at its other plant. If OSHA investigators had not inspected and posted an imminent danger notice regarding areas at the second plant, the same thing could have happened again."

OSHA proposed $5,062,000 in penalties for safety violations at the Port Wentworth refinery and $3,715,500 for safety violations found at the Gramercy refinery. The citations include 108 instances of willful violations related to the combustible dust hazard, including the failure to clean up dust and not using appropriate equipment or safeguards where combustible dust is present. OSHA also has issued 10 citations for other willful violations, 100 citations for serious violations and four citations for other-than-serious safety and health violations.

The company has 15 business days to contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. OSHA's Savannah, Ga., area office staff inspected the Port Wentworth site, while the agency's Baton Rouge, La., area office staff inspected the Gramercy, La., location.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Kia now accepting job applications for Georgia auto plant

Governor Sonny Perdue and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia today invited interested Georgians to begin submitting applications for positions at the Kia auto assembly facility currently under construction in West Point, Ga.

“This is a very exciting day, and one we’ve been looking forward to since Kia chose Georgia for its first U.S. plant,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “The positive economic impact of these jobs will affect not only the families of Kia workers and the immediate region, but all of Georgia.”

“Kia is now hiring!” said Byung Mo Ahn, president of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, Inc. during a press conference held at the Callaway Center on the campus of West Georgia Technical College. “We are looking for the best-qualified candidates to become Kia team members, and encourage all Georgians interested to apply on-line at www.kiajobsingeorgia.com.”

As part of its commitment to hire approximately 2,500 workers for the new plant, Kia will hire members of its production, maintenance and die maintenance teams through an on-line only application process facilitated by the Georgia Department of Labor. Interested applicants will find complete information and instructions at www.KiaJobsinGeorgia.com. Applications must be completed by Feb. 7, 2008, and the company anticipates making preliminary job offers around April 2008.

Prospective applicants can access the Web site from their home computers or from Georgia’s 53 Department of Labor Career Centers, whose personnel have been trained to assist them.
Workforce training will be conducted by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education’s (DTAE) Quick Start program, which is building a training facility on the Kia site to provide workers with the skills they will need when the plant begins production in 2009.

The Kia facility, its first in the U.S., will eventually produce 300,000 vehicles a year. The economic impact to the state of Georgia is expected to be approximately $4 billion per year, according to a Georgia Tech study commissioned by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.