A German textile supplier will build a manufacturing plant in Houston County, which will bring about $30 million and 140 new jobs to the county's economy.
According to a news release from Governor Deal's office, Sandler AG is a privately-owned company that supplies textiles to international manufacturers, including a number of Fortune 500 companies.
"We are excited that they chose to locate in Houston County and look forward to the forthcoming groundbreaking," Tommy Stalnaker, the chairman of the Houston County Commission, said.
Stalnaker said he did not have an exact timeline for construction to begin, but it is likely by the start of 2016. He said the company will locate off Perry Parkway, at the corner of Airport Road.
The business will use a "spec building", constructed in 2001 with county funds. It was intended to attract industry, but has sat vacant since it was built.
The facility will function as a production plant, warehouse and base for national sales and distribution. Employee recruitment and filling jobs for the plant will begin in early 2016.
Stalnaker said Sandler AG chose Houston County after numerous visits to the area, in the past six months. He believes they chose Houston County mainly because of its "strong education system and workforce." He said the executive director for the Houston County Development Authority, Angie Gheesling, is currently in Germany with Governor Deal, to finalize the deal.
In a statement emailed to county officials from Germany, Gheesling said, "We share this celebration with all the citizens of Houston County, as they have encouraged and supported economic development every step of the way."
Gheesling wrote that Sandler has been in business for more than 130 years, and that this will be the first North American location. She said they supply to companies such as Procter & Gamble and Kimberly Clarke.
"Establishing a presence in Houston County will allow us to answer to the increasing importance of the North American markets and to account for growing demand for outside Europe," Christian Heinrich Sandler, the CEO of Sandler, said in a statement.
Reached by phone, Chairman of the board for the Houston County Development Authority Mark Byrd said, "As a taxpayer and a business owner here in Houston County, I am thrilled for what this means for our economy." He called it "an exciting day" and a "huge win" for Houston County.
