Decostar Industries launches major expansion in Carrollton
Leading supplier of interior and exterior auto parts to add 120 jobs, invest $26 million
Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that Decostar Industries, a manufacturing division of the automotive parts supplier Magna Exteriors and Interiors, will expand its facility in Carrollton, creating a minimum of 120 new jobs and investing $26 million.
“Georgia’s dynamic business infrastructure continues to cultivate a growth environment that attracts and retains world leaders such as Decostar,” said Deal. “Our skilled workforce, international logistics network and resources for innovation ensure the state’s competitive position as a stronghold for manufacturing, and will help in our efforts to make Georgia the No. 1 place in the nation to do business.”
Decostar Industries has secured new business to produce interior and exterior auto parts. To accommodate this growth, a new 64,000-square-foot facility is under construction adjacent to the existing operation in Carrollton. Decostar currently employs more than 500 workers at its Carrollton location, and will begin hiring for the new positions in the spring of 2013. Georgia Quick Start, the top-ranked workforce training program in the United States, will assist the company with a customized training program for its new workforce.
“On this project we have been fortunate to collaborate with many talented and committed people and organizations who understand our business and can help achieve common goals,” said Bob Brownlee, president of Magna Exteriors and Interiors. “We are pleased to be able to bring additional jobs and investment to the Carrollton area, and we look forward to continued success in the service of our customers.”
Partners in the project included the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Carroll Tomorrow, the Carrollton Payroll Development Authority, the City of Carrollton and Georgia Power. E. Jane Caraway was the project manager for the state of Georgia.
“We are very appreciative of the City of Carrollton leadership and the Carrollton Payroll Development Authority for stepping up to make the project work on the community level,” said Daniel Jackson, CEO of Carroll Tomorrow. “This is just another example of our community's ability to be proactive toward our existing industries when creating new jobs.”
Georgia has been a leader in the automotive industry for more than 100 years. The state’s strategic location in the center of the Southeast and its prominence as a logistics and transportation hub have contributed to its current cluster of more than 300 auto and vehicle-related companies, employing more than 20,000 people. Global companies such as Kia, Porsche, Toyota, Honda and Lotus are represented in the state.
“Not only is this expansion a great addition to Georgia’s automotive sector, but Decostar’s expansion is a great example of how foreign direct investment benefits the state and why it’s a strategic focus for us,” said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “FDI projects tend to pay higher-than-average wages, create high-quality jobs and invest for the long haul.”
About Magna Exteriors and Interiors
Magna Exteriors and Interiors Corp., an operating unit of Magna International Inc., is a full-service global supplier of automotive exterior and interior systems. We design, engineer and manufacture front- and rear-end fascia systems; sealing systems; exterior trim; class A composite panels; top systems; engineered glass; under hood and underbody components; structural components; sidewall and trim systems; cockpit systems; cargo management systems; and overhead systems for automotive, commercial truck, consumer, and industrial markets. We also manufacture sheet molding compound (SMC) material, EpicBlendSMC™, in multiple formulations. For more information please go to www.magna.com.