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Caterpillar Grand Opening in Athens GA Offers Community Economic Development Lessons

The successful development of the Caterpillar facility in Athens, GA was faced with significant challenges, and the project offers important lessons about how other communities can plan and compete for large economic development projects.

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Athens, GA, United States - October 31, 2013 /MarketersMedia/ --

Williams & Associates Shares Insights Learned from its Involvement in the Caterpillar Site Selection Process in Athens, GA and Congratulates Caterpillar on its Grand Opening set for Thursday, October 31.

The new Caterpillar tractor manufacturing facility is slated for its Grand Opening on Thursday, October 31, 2013. This event marks a watershed moment for local and state economic development advocates – both private and public – who worked hard to bring this development to Athens, GA.

One of the key behind-the-scenes players throughout the entire process was Athens-based engineering firm, Williams & Associates. In January of 2012, Williams & Associates was selected by development authorities in Oconee and Athens-Clarke Counties to provide site inventory, analysis and preliminary engineering for the new Caterpillar facility planned for the tract straddling the two counties.

Despite the land tract being selected as a potential site six months after the other sites were identified, Williams & Associates was able to pull together the information quickly and comprehensively, facilitating the decision-making process for Caterpillar, which ultimately swung in the direction of the Athens site.

Williams & Associates continued to work with Gray Construction (general contractor) to provide site development, civil engineering and surveying services for the site, which consists of 250 acres with an 892,063 sf. manufacturing facility, an 8,660 sf. product distribution center, 18 acres of gravel product storage area, employee parking for 1500 workers and tractor-trailer truck parking and circulation.

Representatives of various state and local governments will be on hand October 31st, 2013 for the Grand Opening of the new Caterpillar facility, as will President Jon Williams from Williams & Associates. Williams stated in a recent interview that “going from 0 to 800,000 square feet in fourteen months was a huge challenge for all parties involved, but it was worth it for the positive economic impact it will have for years to come.”

Williams also shared his insights into how other communities can better plan and compete for similar economic development projects.

The full transcript of his comments is here and the Powerpoint slide presentation can be viewed here.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.gaplanning.com/

Contact Info:
Name: Kelsey Berry
Email: kberry@gaplanning.com
Address: 2470 Daniells Bridge Rd, Suite 161, Athens, GA 30606
Phone: (706) 310-0400
Organization: Williams & Associates

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/caterpillar-grand-opening-in-athens-ga-offers-community-economic-development-lessons/25082

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