Jennifer Sturges, chamber executive director, had been working to increase chamber membership and was looking for new restaurants willing to come to Decatur County.
Now, calls are flooding the chamber.
Life turned upside down in this small community last week when Honda announced it would invest $550 million in an auto assembly plant.
Reporters from local, state and national media, including the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine, are writing about one of the biggest economic development news stories in the country.
Calls also are coming from representatives of businesses, hotels, restaurants and others looking for information about Decatur County.
“It will be a dramatic change for us, but we welcome it,” Freeman said.
“I couldn’t have bought this kind of publicity,” said Sturges, who is thrilled about the chance to talk about the strengths of the community.
“We’re not a hidden secret anymore,” she said.
Newest and biggest
When Honda opens and hires 2,000 workers, it will become the largest employer in the county.
GECOM, a subsidiary of Mitsui Kinzoku Co, could benefit from the Honda decision.
GECOM is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of door latches and handles, truck locks and other auto components, according to its Web site.
Vicki Kellerman, executive director of the Decatur County Economic Development Corp., said GECOM already is a Honda supplier.
Other area companies that supply Honda are Sintering Technologies in Greensburg and Batesville Tool and Die in Ripley County.
Mark Land, public relations director for Cummins Inc., Columbus’ largest employer, said it’s unlikely the company would be a Honda supplier.
Although businesses in and near Decatur County are concerned about the potential to lose employees to Honda, they hope the ripple effect from such a major investment will help everyone.
“I’m having people stop me on the streets and say how happy they are that Honda is coming,” Kellerman said.
Sturges said she plans to organize training and information sessions with chamber businesses to talk about what they can do to train and educate workers and recruit new ones if needed.
Top manufacturing jobs in Decatur County pay in the $14 to $15 per hour range, Kellerman said.
This could present a challenge to employers since Honda is expected to pay $20 per hour or more.
Decatur County unemployment in May was 4.2 percent, just below the state average of 4.8 percent.
Looking for jobs
Unemployment had been lower a few years ago when NTN closed in Greensburg and a large number of jobs were lost.
“There are people looking for jobs,” said Kellerman, who already is fielding inquiries about how to apply for Honda employment.
Freeman said a focus of economic development had been to have a diverse range of businesses and employers in Greensburg.
Having such a major employer as Honda will take some new ideas and create some challenges, Freeman added.
He described Decatur County’s economic state as “stable” before Honda’s announcement.
Kellerman described it as “moderately strong.”
Much will change in the county in the next few years, but business and economic development officials say they are ready to move ahead.
“We’ve got two years to prepare,” Sturges said.
Although businesses in and near Decatur County are concerned about the potential to lose employees to Honda, they hope the ripple effect from such a major investment will help everyone.
“I’m having people stop me on the streets and say how happy they are that Honda is coming,” Kellerman said.
Sturges said she plans to organize training and information sessions with chamber businesses to talk about what they can do to train and educate workers and recruit new ones if needed.
Top manufacturing jobs in Decatur County pay in the $14 to $15 per hour range, Kellerman said.
This could present a challenge to employers since Honda is expected to pay $20 per hour or more.
Decatur County unemployment in May was 4.2 percent, just below the state average of 4.8 percent.
