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The State of Georgia has experienced a record increase in both exports and imports for the fourth consecutive year. Georgia increased to the 11th largest exporting state from the 12th. The state also increased to the Nation's 8th largest importing state.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

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U.S. Class I railroads originated 108,590 carloads of crude oil in Q4 2013,bringing total Class I crude oil originations for the year to 407,642 carloads. That's a 74% increase over the 233,819 carloads originated in 2012. (Source: AAR.org)

Delta Air Lines' $2.7 billion profit for 2013 was the highest net profit in airline history. The previous record was German carrier Lufthansa's 2007 profit of $2.6 billion.

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Net absorption in the U.S. during Q4 2013 totaled nearly +45.7 million square feet. Atlanta's overall absorption during the 4Q was 2.73 million square feet. In 2013, net absorption in the U.S. totaled +156.5 million square feet, the highest annual level of demand since 2007. For the year, Atlanta registered the third-highest absorption rate in the country, with +11 million square feet. (Source: Newmark Grubb Knight Frank) 

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Georgia's PMI rose 6.7 points to 56.7 in February, the highest reading since March 2013.New orders in Georgia rose 13.1 points to 58.3 and production rose 13.7 points to 54.2. Georgia's PMI is now 3.5 points above the national PMI.  (Source: Kennesaw State University)

Release date: MARCH 6, 2014
http://www.fema.gov/news-release/2014/03/06/federal-aid-programs-state-georgia-declaration

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama's disaster declaration issued for the State of Georgia.

Assistance for State, Tribal, and Affected Local Governments Can Include as Required:

• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for emergency protective measures taken to save lives and protect property and public health.  Emergency protective measures assistance is available to state and eligible local governments on a cost-sharing basis.(Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

• Payment of not less than 75 percent of the eligible costs for repairing or replacing damaged public facilities, such as roads, bridges, utilities, buildings, schools, recreational areas and similar publicly owned property, as well as certain private non-profit organizations engaged in community service activities. (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

• Payment of not more than 75 percent of the approved costs for hazard mitigation projects undertaken by state and local governments to prevent or reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters.  (Source: FEMA funded, state administered.)

How to Apply for Assistance:

• Application procedures for state, tribal, and local governments will be explained at a series of federal/state applicant briefings with locations to be announced in the affected area by recovery officials. Approved public repair projects are paid through the state from funding provided by FEMA and other participating federal agencies.

ATLANTA (March 3, 2014)  |  Senate Resolution 941, which urges Congress to increase the number of visas awarded to Korean citizens who work in certain specialty industries, passed the Georgia Senate today by a vote of 51 to 1. The resolution was sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore David Shafer (R – Duluth).

“Korean businesses have invested millions of dollars in our state, operating 51 facilities that employ over 50,000 Georgians of all ethnic origin. We should do all we can to recognize that mutually beneficial relationship for business growth,” said Sen. Shafer

SR 941 urges the U.S. Congress to expand economic investment by increasing the number of visas designed to permit Korean citizens possessing skills in a specialty occupation. Additionally, the resolution recognizes the importance of the U.S. – Korea Free Trade Agreement of 2012, which increases opportunities for U.S. exporters to sell goods and services to Korean customers.

SR 941 now moves to the Georgia House of Representatives for consideration. The resolution must be adopted by both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2014

Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
jennifer.yarber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028

by Phil Bolton | March 4, 2014 
 
Global Atlanta http://www.globalatlanta.com/article/26798/korea-seus-chamber-upbeat-at-kia-dinner/

Kia Senior Vice President Randy Jackson addresses unemployment and workforce development concerns.

A rejuvenated Korea Southeast U.S. Chamber of Commerce met at the Kia Georgia Training Center in West Point the evening of Feb. 27 with a new slate of officers and an ambitious schedule of events for the remainder of the year.

Chamber president Andy Kim especially welcomed Korean War veterans among the 150 attendees from Alabama and Georgia and outlined the proposed activities including a golf outing in May, an economic forum in July, a trade mission in October and a second annual dinner in November.

Besides saluting outgoing president, June Towery, a partner in the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley and Scaborough LLP, Mr. Kim, chairman and CEO of the marketing firm Corman Global Co., announced the following officers:

Vice presidents Arndt Siepman, director of industrial recruitment for the city of Auburn,Ala.; Andy Hardin, market president of the BBVA Compass Bank in Auburn and Chaney Park, general manager of Korean Air;

Angie Levin, events planner associate of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, secretary and Jim B. Kim, CPA, KS Tax and Accounting Services LLC, treasurer.

Bok-ryeol Rhyou, deputy counsull general at the Korean consulate general in Atlanta, pointed to “a new era of trade and friendship” between the U.S. and Korea following the passage of the free trade agreement in 2012.

She also praised the Georgia Assembly for recognizing “Korean American Day” at the state capitol, and encouraged support in the U.S. Congress for increasing the number of visas to allow skilled professionals, especially those form Korea, to work here.

During his keynote address, Randy Jackson, senior vice president of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, dramatically underscored the strengthening of ties between the state and Korea.

Mr. Jackson recounted the transformation of 2,200 acres of hay field off of Interstate 85 into the facility’s 2.2 million-square-foot site.

The development of the $1.2 billion project began in 2006. Installation of sewerage and water systems and underground cables had to be completed before the construction of the plant could even begin.

By November 2009, in less than four years, the plant was able to produce its first car, an accomplishment, according to Mr. Jackson, that was “unheard of in the industry.”

The plant today has the capacity to produce 360,000 vehicles annually under a three-shift schedule that he added was another milestone in the industry.

“I can remember the days when I was at Toyota and at Mercedes hearing people say it would be impossible,” he said. “But we wanted to be a leader.”

On July 11, 2013, the plant produced its 1 millionth vehicle.

Mr. Jackson pointed with pride at the growth of the Kia brand saying that its success has enabled the company to support a wide array of athletic and community service projects from the National Basketball Association to the College Football Hall of Fame.

But although the Kia brand can be seen “almost every time you turn around,” he nevertheless remains concerned about the level of unemployment, which currently is at 9 percent having declined in the area from 15 percent when the plant first opened.

Before the first car was able to roll off the assembly line, 1,700 employees were trained in Korea. Since then, according to Mr. Jackson, Kia has generated some 14,000 “direct and indirect” jobs locally without counting the multiplier effect of additional jobs spawned by the company’s presence in the area.

He also referred to the suppliers moving to the area and new dealerships on both sides of the state line separating Alabama and Georgia as well as the positive impact of Kia parts being imported at the Savannah port on the economy there.

Workforce preparation is another prominent concern of his, he said, resulting in the company’s supporting the development of vocational school programs in the area.

“My workforce in 10 years is going to be from the students in the sixth grade,” he said. “What are we doing today to get those sixth graders ready?"

He answered his rhetorical question by describing the goals of the $900,000 grant the company has spent locally to support programs to encourage elementary school children to follow science, technology, engineering and math courses. 

He also said that the company was involved in state programs to increase the vocational training of Georgians, who will have to fill 70 percent of the future jobs to be created in the future.

“We want to keep these students in the state,” he added.

With a new $1.6 billion bond approved for future projects and new models being developed, however, he said he remains optimistic and looks forward to reviewing the progress that the company makes at a similar event next year.

To see, the chamber’s new website, click here.

by 김언정기자 | Mar 02, 2014    

Atlanta Chosun 조선일보 http://atlantachosun.org/news_online/144731

한미동남부상공회의소 이취임식 기아자동차 공장서 성료

 기후 관계로 3번이나 연기됐던 한미동남부상공회의소 연례만찬 및 회장 이취임식이 지난달 27일 웨스트포인트 소재 기아자동차 조지아 공장 트레이닝 센터에서 개최됐다.

이날 행사에는 조지아주 및 앨라배마 정부 관계자들을 비롯해 현대 및 기아차 협력업체 관계자, 내외 초청인사 등  150명의 인사들이 참석했다. 한인사회에서는 박찬의 대한항공지점장, 김화생 메트로시티은행 부행장, 김백규 한인회 건립위원장 등이 참석했으며 주류사회 정치인들로는 카심 리드 애틀랜타시장, 존 이브스 풀턴카운티 의장, 샬럿 내시 귀넷카운티 의장, 페드로 마린 주하원의원, 브라이언 캠프 조지아주 국무장관 등이 축사를 보내주었다. 

기조연설에 나선 랜디 잭슨 기아자동차 수석 부사장은 “지난 2009년 공장을 가동한 이래 4년만에 100만대 생산을돌파했다. 이는 미국 자동차 산업에서 새로운 지표를 세우게 된 업적이며 동시에 한국과 미국 양국의 문화적 협력이 이룩해낸 커다란 성과라고 생각한다”면서 “성공은 성공을 가져온다. 불모지나 다름없던 이 지역에 기아차가 입성해 고용을 창출하고 주민들에게 행복한 웃음을 안겨주었다. 파생 사업들이 다이내믹하게 발전해 가는 모습을 보며 이것이야말로 기아가 만들어낸 최고의 기적이라고 생각한다”고 말했다.

기아자동차의 기적은 한미 경제교류에 기여하고 있는 한미동남부상의의 궤적과 함께 하고 있다.

유복렬 부총영사는 축사를 통해 “지난 1991년부터 한국과 미동남부 지역의 경제관계를 촉진시키기 위해 한미동남부상공회의소가 펼쳐온 헌신적인 노력에 깊은 감사를 전한다”면서 "계속진출하는 한국업체들로 인해 한미 양국의 경제관계가 향후 수년동안 지속적인 성장을 이어 나갈 것이라 확신한다”고 말했다.

앤디김 신임회장은 취임사에서 “미국의 전설적인 풋볼 감독인 빈스 롬바디가 "모든 문제는 여러 사람이 함께 일을 하면 해결된다'고 말했듯이 향후 각 분야별, 각 지역별, 각 개인적 성향 등을 인정하면서 모자이크처럼 각자의 개성을 살려주고 화합, 균형, 결속을 통해 하나의 경제단체로서의온전한 그림을 완성하고자 한다”고 전했다.

한편 한미동남부상공회의소는 올해 골프대회, 한미동남부 경제포럼, 미동남부 경제사절단파견, 연례만찬 등 주요행사를 개최하게 되며 특히 한미동남부 경제포럼은 한미 FTA를 통한 성공 사례를 토대로 워크샵 형태로 진행될 예정이다. 해당 포럼에는 한국의 경제단체 및 지자체가 대거 참석할 예정이다.