Alabama credits 3,600 jobs to Kia's Georia plant

The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama is benefiting from Kia's assembly plant on the Georgia state line.

The Alabama Development Office released a statement Thursday saying Kia is responsible for more than 3,600 new jobs at automotive supplier plants located in Alabama.

Those workers are employed at 34 different plants in Alabama, including 12 new suppliers that came after Kia announced the decision for its first U.S. assembly plant in March 2006.

Of those 34 plants, 25 supply both Alabama's Hyundai plant and the Kia plant.

Gov. Bob Riley said the $704 million that's been invested in Alabama's economy is concrete evidence of the plant's benefits.

ADO director Neal Wade said 20 to 25 percent of Kia's work force is expected to come from Alabama.

The Kia plant in Georgia began production this month.

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November 06, 2009 08:06 AM EST

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