So far in the first quarter of 2000, 46 companies have announced plans to locate or expand in Georgia. These announcements represent more than 3,500 jobs in 33 communities across the state. Below are just a few of the companies with which Quick Start currently is working.

Globe Business Furniture, manufacturer of folding tables, has just added 170 jobs to its Waynesboro facility. Intermet Machinery of Columbus, Ga., increased its workforce by 60 people in its casting finishing plant. New Holland, one of the most respected names in tractor manufacturing, added 35 jobs, expanding its Dublin, Ga., site. Vernay Laboratories, Inc., located in Milledgeville, Ga., has increased its workforce by 115 this year. Vernay is a designer and manufacturer of precision engineered fluid handling components. Best Buy has opened a warehousing and distribution center in Dublin, Ga., creating jobs for 170 people. Caterpillar recently announced it will add 35 jobs to its metal seals plant in Toccoa, Ga.

Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. of Albany, Ga., is expanding, adding 130 jobs in its truck tire manufacturing plant. FIAMM, a producer of batteries for the telecommunications industry, has a new plant in Waynesboro, Ga. The company will be employing between 150 and 300 people. Hobart Corporation, manufacturer of fine food service equipment, has expanded its Richmond Hill plant. Fifty new jobs were added to the payroll. Quad Parcel Direct recently announced it will be opening a new facility in Thomaston, Ga., employing 150 people in its wholesale distribution center. Racemark International has opened a new plant in Ringgold, Ga. Employing 100 people, the company will be manufacturing floor mats for cars.

Northside Packing Signs Quick Start Agreement Northside Packing, a meat processing plant that produces sausage patties for McDonald's Corporation, distributes its product throughout the entire southeastern United States. Pictured left at the recent signing between Quick Start and the company are: (seated, I-r) Joe Hill, President, Lanier Tech; Jim Rodriguez, Production Manager, Northside Packing's Cumming Plant, and Jackie Rohosky, Quick Start. (Standing, I-r) Russ Vandiver, VP Lanier Tech, Colleen Lasser, Human Resource Manager, Pa. Corp. office; Ray Delgado, Manager, Human Resources, Cumming Plant; Jeff Lynn, Quick Start; and Jim Mathis, Quick Start.