America's Promise Alliance and ING Release National List of 100 Best Communities for Young People

The Georgia cities of Cumming and Macon, along with Troup County, are tops in our great state for young people.

/PRNewswire/ -- In a celebration of America's young people and the communities most dedicated to helping local youth graduate from high school, America's Promise Alliance (the Alliance) today announced its 2010 list of 100 Best Communities for Young People presented by ING. An interactive showcase of the 100 Best and their accomplishments can be found at www.americaspromise.org/100Best.

"The 100 Best Communities for Young People are taking bold and effective steps to help their youth graduate and lead healthy, productive lives," said Alma J. Powell, Chair, America's Promise Alliance. "Each community has proven that they are developing programs and implementing initiatives to provide young people with the essential resources they need to graduate from high school and succeed in college and a 21st century career."

The 100 Best competition is part of the Alliance's Grad Nation campaign, a 10-year initiative to mobilize all Americans to end the dropout crisis. This year, more than 350 communities in all 50 states and Washington, DC, were nominated for the 100 Best competition. The winners come from 37 states and 30 are first-time recipients of the honor. They were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges that included some of the nation's most well-known civic, business and nonprofit leaders such as: William Bell, president and CEO of Casey Family Programs; Fr. Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA; Javier Palomarez, president and CEO of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Larry Naake, executive director, National Association of Counties; Jane Beshear, first lady of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and Dominique Dawes, Olympic gold medalist and youth advocate.

The 2010 winners will be highlighted at a ceremony in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC, with Alma Powell, Alliance President and CEO Marguerite Kondracke, and ING Foundation President Rhonda Mims. Winning communities will be pinpointed on an expansive ceremonial U.S. map.

Twilight star Kellan Lutz will make a special appearance at the event, assisting the Alliance and ING executives in revealing the list of 100 Best Communities and connecting with young people about the importance of staying in school.

"ING is committed to children's education and to the advancement of education initiatives that prepare our young people to graduate and have successful futures," said Mims. "Our support for 100 Best demonstrates our goal of honoring communities that produce real, measurable results for improving the lives of young people."

"100 Best is an essential building block of Grad Nation, an inspiring national movement that seeks to ensure every young person graduates," said Kondracke. "These winning communities are helping to build a generation of assertive, successful and dynamic young people that are the future of this country. Our ultimate hope is that 100 Best will inspire all communities across America to make a commitment to children, keep them in school and help them overcome the challenges that could otherwise determine their future."

First held in 2005, the 100 Best competition is open to all communities that make children and youth a priority, including small towns, large cities, counties and school districts. In addition to enhancing local educational opportunities, most winning communities help facilitate greater access to quality health care for young people, encourage youth civic engagement and supply developmental resources that create better places for young people to live and grow.

------
Community News You Can Use
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
Follow us on Twitter:  @GAFrontPage

Governor Perdue Announces Opening of I-85 Interchange and Roads in Troup to Serve New Kia Motors Facility

Governor Sonny Perdue announced the Georgia Department of Transportation’s new Interstate 85 interchange at Exit 6 in Troup County has been completed ahead of schedule and opened to traffic December 10. The interchange and related new roads in the area provide direct access to the Kia Motors Manufacturing of Georgia production facility currently under construction.

“This is another milestone in the partnership between Georgia and Kia Motors,” Governor Perdue said. “The assembly facility and nearby suppliers will create thousands of jobs for Georgians and billions of dollars of new investment. The construction jobs both at the plant and building the interchange have already contributed heavily to the area’s economy, and Georgia DOT has done a great job completing this project ahead of schedule.”

Georgia DOT Commissioner Gena Evans noted that the project is an enormous achievement for the Department considering a tight, 18-month construction timetable that needed to be met. Work was finished more than 30 days ahead of that schedule. It is the largest design-build construction project initiated to-date by Georgia DOT. Design-build focuses on combining design and construction activities in order to expedite the traditional design-bid-build process.

“This effort proves that design-build can be successful when applied to the right projects,” Evans said. “Georgia DOT is proud to have played a role in helping to bring new jobs and improved mobility to the area. It is a great day for West Point, Troup County and the entire State of Georgia.”

Opening the interchange and associated Kia Boulevard and Kia Parkway early will make it much easier for new and potential employees to access the training center and the production facility, said Randy Jackson, director of human resources at Kia. “On behalf of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation for the hard work it took to arrive at this point, on time and accident free,” Jackson said.

With more than 6,000 new jobs expected to be generated through the Kia plant and related automotive suppliers the economic impact of the overall project will be enormous, according to West Point Mayor Drew Ferguson, IV. “We are greatly appreciative of the vision of the Governor and the role the Georgia Department of Transportation has played in getting the project underway and finished so quickly,” Ferguson said. “The quality of work has been outstanding.”

In addition to the interchange, the $80.7 million project includes approximately five miles of new frontage and access roads, two new bridges, improvements to connecting roadways and new traffic signals at various locations. The project was singled out by the U.S. Department of Transportation to receive $1 million in grant funding through the Highways for LIFE program which focuses on improving highway construction projects through the application of innovative approaches to design and construction. This program also made it possible for the entire project to be fully funded by the federal government, saving the State approximately $16 million in traditionally required matching funds.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page

Cougar Killed in Troup County

Hunters around West Point Lake might be led to believe that Georgia has a new predator roaming the woods – the cougar. A Sunday kill of a male cougar on U.S. Army Corps of Engineer land at West Point Lake, south of Hwy. 109 seemed to verify that thought. However, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division, this simply is a one-time experience.

“Though cougar and panther sightings persist in Georgia, there are no known native populations of these animals roaming the woods,” advises Wildlife Resources Division Region Supervisor Kevin Kramer. “There is no reason to believe there are any more cougars out there. This likely is a unique experience and while exciting, is not something for which we should be concerned.”

The cougar, taken near the Abbottsford community west of LaGrange, was a male, 88 inches in length measured from the nose to the tip of the tail and weighed approximately 140 pounds. The hunter who took the animal was legally hunting deer from his tree stand at the time the cougar approached.

Initial external examination by Wildlife Resources Division biologists found no tattoos, tags or collars, and the cougar had not been declawed.

Further examination by The Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in Athens Monday afternoon confirmed the cougar to be healthy and well fed. Researchers determined the cougar had a very low parasite level and that the pads on all four feet were scuffed. According to SCWDS staff, these findings are consistent with a captive reared cougar, not a wild specimen.

Due to the fact that there are no known native populations of cougars in Georgia, no permitted cougars in this area and that the closest Alabama facilities permitted to house cougars (in Elmore and Macon Counties) have accounted for all permitted animals, the cougar taken Sunday likely escaped or was released from a non-permitted individual.

There currently are no leads as to who may have most recently held the animal, but the Division will continue to look into all possibilities.

-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone

Dominique Wilkins to Visit the Atlanta Hawks 2008 Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour in LaGrange

Basketball Hall-of-Famer Dominique Wilkins will make a special appearance at the Atlanta Hawks 2008 Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour stop in LaGrange on Thursday, July 24. The event will take place at the Troup County Parks & Recreation Department beginning at 10 a.m. Festivities include a youth basketball clinic led by former Hawks guard Charlie Criss, interactive elements from the Atlanta Hawks and Atlanta Thrashers, an appearance by Hawks mascot SkyHawk as well as the Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour vehicle on display. Admission is free and open to the public.

This summer, the Hawks and Kia Motors America have come together to host the second Atlanta Hawks Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour at more than 20 locations around metro Atlanta. The Tour is a free, high-energy basketball clinic that focuses on teaching the basic skills of the game to children. Each participant receives instruction on the fundamentals of basketball from former Hawks guard Charlie Criss, who will share tips designed to help participants improve their game and love of the sport. Criss also speaks on the importance of education, dedication, teamwork and responsibility and how skills developed on the court apply to everyday life. Each participant receives an autographed Charlie Criss player card and an official Atlanta Hawks 2008 Kia Motors Summer Hoops Tour hat. Visit www.hawks.com for more information.

Major Kia supplier to locate manufacturing facility in LaGrange

Today Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced that Sewon Precision, a major Kia supplier, will locate its first U.S. plant in LaGrange. The company plans to create 700 jobs and invest $170 million in a facility to manufacture automotive components for the Kia plant in West Point over a three year period.

“Landing a top-tier supplier such as Sewon Precision indicates that communities across West Georgia are continuing to benefit from Kia’s decision to locate in our state,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Suppliers have announced upwards of 2,000 jobs on top of the 2,800 that Kia will bring.”

Sewon Precision, based in Daegu, Korea, will produce stamped chassis and body components as well as some decorative trim pieces for Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. The company has selected a 65-acre site at the Callaway South Industrial Park in Troup County.

Construction will begin in spring 2008 on the 420,000-square-foot building. The facility is scheduled to go into production in fall 2009.

The Sewon Group, which is the parent company of Sewon Precision, has a more than 20-year history as a Kia supplier in Korea. This will be the company’s first plant in the United States. Governor Perdue met with senior Sewon officials in October during the Kia supplier dinner in Seoul.

“We are looking forward to making LaGrange and Georgia our new home,” said Moon-Ki Kim, CEO and chairman of Sewon Precision Industrial Company Limited. “Sewon Precision is celebrated for its high quality automotive parts and I know we will continue our tradition of excellence here.”

Today Sewon officials and representatives from the Development Authority of LaGrange signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the project.

Mark Lytle was project manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

“We are proud to welcome Sewon to LaGrange,” said Diethard Lindner, chairman of the Development Authority of LaGrange. “Sewon is the perfect anchor company for our new 1,200-acre Callaway South Industrial Park in LaGrange. Strong teamwork from the state, the Callaway Foundation, Troup County officials, City of LaGrange officials, the Chamber of Commerce and the Development Authority helped us attract Sewon Precision and we will all benefit from having such a high quality company in our community.”

Since its founding in 1985, Sewon has pursued a business strategy exemplified by management accountability, client confidence in its products and the growth of its business partners. Sewon Co. specializes in the manufacture of automotive parts and ornaments. The company has achieved superior product development and manufacturing technologies through the Six Sigma revolution and productivity enhancement plans.