Rumbidzai Mufuka for GlobalAtlanta
Japanese automotive parts manufacturer Neaton Rome Inc., has laid the foundation for a new driveway and truck court as part of its $6 million expansion of its facilities in Rome.

Neaton supplies steering wheels and other plastic parts for Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. manufacturing facilities in the Southeast . The expansion will add airbag production to the facility.

According to Mike Pennington, director of economic development at the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, Rome’s proximity to Interstate 85 and U.S. 27 makes the city ideally located to serve the automotive industry throughout the region.

Mr. Pennington told GlobalAtlanta that he is in touch with Kia Motors Inc. about the possibility of attracting suppliers to Floyd County for its planned facility in West Point.

From its involvement with Honda, the chamber has learned that manufacturers do not want all their suppliers right next door so as not to drain local labor pools, he said.

By having some suppliers several hours away, the companies can draw on another employee base.

He also said that the city’s location between the facilities of BMW Manufacturing Corp. in Greenville, S.C., and Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Inc. in Tuscaloosa, Ala., make it appealing to automotive suppliers.

For more information contact Mr. Pennington at (706) 291-7663.