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You’ve heard that membership has its rewards? Well, it has nothing on location. Because of Lauren’s County proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, one of the largest metros in the world, and an infrastructure founded in port, rail, and road operations, it is easy to boast.

Laurens County is centrally located in Middle Georgia half way between Atlanta and Savannah on Interstate 16 – from anywhere in the County, it is a less than 2-hour drive to either location.
Laurens County is the fourth largest county in Georgia based on land size. Over 100,000 people live in Laurens and eight other, more rural counties, in which Laurens County acts as the primary service and industry area.
The Macon-Warner Robins combined statistical area is the third largest in Georgia, with an estimated population of nearly .5 million, and it is within a 1-hour commute of central Dublin and a half-hour of western Laurens County.
Interstate 16 is the major east-west corridor running through the County that connects to Interstate 75 at Macon and Interstate 95 at Savannah. Other major arteries converging in Laurens County include U.S. Highways 441, 319, and 80.
The County is a regional hub for distribution centers because of location. Within one-day, a shipment received at nearby Savannah and Brunswick port facilities can be as far as Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Miami, Florida; and Richmond, Virginia by open road or the Norfolk Southern or Georgia Central Railways. Freight can be any where in the world in 24 hours via Harsfield International Airport (ATL), which less than two hours away and Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) that is less than one hour away.
By air, there is more to consider than Savannah’s Airport and Atlanta’s International Airport (both less than a 2-hour drive). The “ultramodern” W. H. “Bud” Baron Airport is located in Laurens County and is fully capable of handling all varieties of corporate and private aircraft. A 6,000-foot paved and lit primary runway is equipped with an instrument approach system to handle commercial traffic, a state-of-the-art weather information system, an equal-sized taxiway, and a 5,000-foot crosswind runway. The 4,000 square foot terminal offers a fully equipped conference room.

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In the News

German Automotive Supplier Creates 178 Jobs in Dublin

Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that Erdrich Umformtechnik GmbH & Co.KG (Erdrich), a German-based automotive supplier, will construct a state-of-the-art metal stamping facility in Dublin in Laurens County. The company will create 178 jobs and invest $39 million in the construction of this plant.

“Automotive industry suppliers find in Georgia the logistics infrastructure, skilled workforce and overall business environment necessary for them to compete globally while meeting the needs of their customers,” Deal said. “I am also encouraged to see yet another German company call Georgia home, indicating even further that our efforts to build and foster international relationships are yielding positive results. Georgia is proud to welcome Erdrich to our state.”

Erdrich is a midsized family-owned company that produces complex metal parts and subassemblies for the automotive industry, and has been in the metal stamping business for more than 50 years. The company has two plants in Germany, one in the Czech Republic and another in China that supplies parts to other automotive supplier companies and as well to BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen.

“Following an extensive multi-state search for the right U.S. business location for our company, we were delighted to find the right fit in Dublin, Georgia,” said CEO Georg Erdrich. “This very pro-business community met our requirements with respect to logistics to our customers, access for our suppliers, operating costs, workforce and quality of life. The economic development leadership at the state and local level worked closely with us to make our decision a business location based on confidence in the data, the business analysis and the leadership.”

Erdrich’s Laurens County operation will be its first U.S. location, and will be a 130,000-square-foot metal stamping facility on a greenfield site in Dublin. The company expects its Georgia plant to mirror the size and importance of its German operations in supplying its North American customers.

“By the end of 2013, we will have capabilities to supply quality products ‘Made in the USA’ to our customers across the U.S.,” said Walter Huber, who is responsible for Erdrich’s U.S. operation. “We are anxious to grow our customer base in Georgia and the Southeast, and we’re confident in the continued support from the State of Georgia and Laurens County during the construction of the facility and the establishment of our first U.S. location. This will result in the success of our new location and jobs for the citizens of Laurens County.”

Erdrich will collaborate with Quick Start, Georgia’s nationally-recognized workforce training program, to train the company’s workforce on a range of advanced manufacturing applications. Quick Start provides tailored and industry-specific training resources free of charge to qualified new, expanding and existing companies creating new jobs in Georgia.

“We are extremely proud to have a proven company like Erdrich choose Dublin and Laurens County,” said Jimmy Allgood, chairman of the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority. “Nicolas and George Erdrich are the type people we love to welcome to our community. We look forward to many successful years ahead with Erdrich and our community.”

Georgia’s international office in Munich, Germany developed the relationship with Erdrich to initiate this business opportunity for the state. Jim Blair, GDEcD director of Foreign Direct Investment, managed this project on behalf of the state, in partnership with the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority.

“Georgia has a range of assets for advanced manufacturers that keeps our state top of mind for international companies and others deciding to expand or set up new locations,” said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “These companies require a well-trained workforce and the ability to efficiently reach customers. They find that and much more in Georgia.”

As positions become available at Erdrich, interested applicants can apply and get additional information at the Laurens County Department of Labor office.

Erdrich Bringing 178 Jobs

Metal Stamping Manufacturer Locating In Laurens

By JASON HALCOMBE - The Courier-Herald

The economic forecast for Laurens County got brighter Tuesday, after Gov. Nathan Deal announced German manufacturer Erdrich Umformtechnik GmbH & Co. KG was planning to construct a $39 million, 130,000 square foot metal stamping facility that is expected to employ 178 people in Dublin.

"Automotive industry suppliers find in Georgia the logistics infrastructure, skilled workforce and overall business environment necessary for them to compete globally while meeting the needs of their customers," Deal said. "I am also encouraged to see yet another German company call Georgia home, indicating even further that our efforts to build and foster international relationships are yielding positive results. Georgia is proud to welcome Erdrich to our state.

"Meetings were scheduled this morning for the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority, Dublin City Council and Laurens County Commissioners to complete the approval process for the new industry, which will be located at the Development Authority's I-16 Industrial Park off Ga. 257.

The midsized familyowned company produces complex metal parts and subassemblies for the automotive industry, and has been in the metal stamping business for more than 50 years.

The company currently has two plants in Germany, one in the Czech Republic and another in China that supply parts to other automotive supplier companies as well as to BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen.

Erdrich CEO Georg Erdrich gave Laurens County high marks in the company's decision to make Dublin its first U.S. home.

"Following an extensive multi-state search for the right U.S. business location for our company, we were elighted to find the right fit in Dublin," Erdrich said. "This very pro-business community met our requirements with respect to logistics to our customers, access for our suppliers, operating costs, workforces and quality of life. The economic development leadership at the state and local level worked closely with us to make our decision a business location based on confidence in the data, the business analysis and the leadership."""; :l:

The 130,000 square-foot metal stamping facility will be the first industry to locate at the I-16 Industrial Park site located on Achord Rd. The company expects its Georgia plant to mirror the size and importance of its German operations in supplying its North American customers, with a 2013 start date for the operation.

According to the company's website, Erdrich first began its stamping operation in 2002, manufacturing deep drawn steel brake pistons in proprietiory automated production lines. The company's capacity of eight million allowed it to expand in 2003, which further increased steel brake piston product to 17 million pieces.

The company is expected to partner with Georgia's Quick Start workforce training program to train the company's workforce "on a range of advanced manufacturing applications." Quick Start provides tailored and industry-specific training resources free of charge to qualified new, expanding and existing companies creating new jobs in Georgia.

"We are extremely proud to have a proven company like Erdrich choose Dublin and Laurens County," said Jimmy Allgood, chairman of the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority. "Nicolas and Georg Erdrich are the type of people we love to welcome to our community. We look forward to many successful years ahead with Erdrich and our community."

"Georgia has a range of assets for advanced manufacturers that keeps our state at the top of mind for international companies and others deciding to expand or set up new locations," said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "These companies require a well-trained workforce and the ability to efficiently reach customers. They find that and much more in Georgia."

Georgia's international office in Munich developed the relationship with Erdrich to initiate this business opportunity for the state. Jim Blair, GDEcD director for Foreign Direct Investment, managed this project on behalf of the state, in partnership with the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority.

Dublin-Laurens officials spent a good portion of one day touring Erdrich's German headquarters in June during a economic development trip to Europe.

Dist. 143 representative Matt Hatchett said it was a great day for Dublin and Laurens County.

"I want to congratulate the Development Authority because I know they have worked with this particular company for more than a year," Hatchett said. "And I want to thank the people of Laurens County for approving the SPLOST funds for economic development. Without that we would not be having the success we are currently experiencing.

"Congratulations to Cal Wray and the Development Authority. And thanks to the Governor and the Department of Economic Development for working so closely with our folks here at home. This is a great day for the people of Laurens County."

Dublin City Schools Implementing IB Program

International Baccalaureate Program To Prepare Students Globally

By PAYTON TOWNS III - The Courier Herald

The Dublin City School system is in the first year of a program its superintendent hopes will push their students to be more than they can be.

Dublin school superintendent Dr Chuck Ledbetter was happy to have the International Baccalaureate program in the system.

"This is a very high end, highest of the high end internationally recognize academic programs," he said. "It's a Swiss program that is recognized around the world as having a very high academic standards. Students who finish with an International Baccalaureate certification on their diploma, are sought after and accepted in most any college any where in the world. It is very demanding academically and there's a lot of writing and a lot of research to graduate.

"Along with all of the course work and all of the things that has to be done, the student has to write a 4,000 word essay," Ledbetter added. "Bottom line, as one of my superintendent friends like to call it, it's AP on steroids. It's kind of taking AP to the next level. Every class is an AP class, and everything you're doing is really geared toward preparations to the finest college education in the world."

Dublin is currently in "applicant status" for the International Baccalaureate Program and that it takes two years to get the program fully funded.

"The first year, you're an applicant status and in your second year you are in candidate status," he said. "After that, if you meet all of the hurdles and do what you're supposed to do, you become an approved program."

According to Ledbetter, the school system is starting a middle grades program which is for those ages 11 to 16. This will prepare them for the high school program which is for those in eleventh and twelfth grade.

"We realize that this is not for every student," Ledbetter said. "We're trying to make sure that we're challenging each student to be the best that they can be. This is one more piece of the puzzle where we can help them all grow.'

The IB program isn't in every school system. Ledbetter said this one will be the first in this side of the state. He said there is one that was recently started in Macon.

"But there's nothing else around," Ledbetter said. "You'll have to go to Atlanta or Savannah to find the next IB programs."

About 15 years ago, Alabama was trying to get Mercedes to come to their state. The executives from Mercedes said they wouldn't come there unless the schools had an IB program.

"A couple of high schools started an IB program near Tuscaloosa, Ala." Ledbetter said. "The IB has grown in Alabama and throughout the south the last 12 to 15 years. The bottom-line is the IB program is an internationally respected, top-line, academic program."

The IB program comes from part of the strategic planning that was done a few years ago. The idea was to have a "world class curriculum" Ledbetter said.

"We want to make sure that we're pushing every student to the very limits to what they can do and prepare them for when they leave Dublin High School," he said. "It's one more piece of putting together an overall picture of where we challenge every student and help them all become successful after they leave here."

"We want people to look and say "I want to put my children in that school." It could be a tool for development in this area. We're trying to do what we can," Ledbetter added.

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