Georgia 2012 Manufacturing Appreciation Awards Luncheon

Manufacturing Appreciation Week 2012 (April 16-20) http://www.georgiamaw.org/ celebrates the economic contributions that manufacturers make to the state of Georgia.  The Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development founded this event and it has grown to quite a large affair. The Luncheon was held today at the Georgia International Convention Center and awards were given to the "best" Georgia small, medium, and large manufacturing company.  

With all the doom and gloom about manufacturing jobs being sent overseas, it was such a pleasure to see Georgia manufacturers not just surviving, but thriving!  The awards luncheon was excellently done.  Kudos and congratulations to all the winners.

• Manufacturer of the Year (Small):  Applied Thermoplastic Resources
• Manufacturer of the Year (Medium):  Quad Graphics
• Manufacturer of the Year (Large):  KIA Motors

Governor Nathan Deal presented the award recipients with their trophies.  He also spoke about the aggressive tax incentive packages that Georgia is using to attract and keep manufacturers.  The repeal on the energy sales tax got plenty of cheers from the audience.  Governor Deal then whipped out his pen and signed HB 386, the Georgia Jobs and Family Tax Reform Plan.  However, he made no mention of HB 48, also recently signed, which expands the Freeport Exemption to all types of inventory.  I am researching this as we speak for an upcoming article... 

I was the invited guest of Jonathan Warner, Chattahoochee Technical Director of Economic Development.  Thanks again Johnathan!