Chambers County lands Kia suppliers

“To have some spinoffs coming, we're very appreciative of it”

The Alabama cities of Valley and Lanett have lost 1,000 textile jobs over the last year.

But the Chambers County communities, located about 45 minutes north of Columbus, have suddenly made up that lost work force in a big way.

Three Kia Motors auto parts suppliers have committed to the area's Cusseta Industrial Park off Interstate 85. Combined, they represent nearly 800 jobs for the county that, at 6.3 percent, has one of the highest unemployment rates in Alabama.

'It's, in a single word -- hope,' Valley Mayor Arnold Leak said Tuesday, referring to the three parts plants that look to be up and running by late this year or early 2009. Read more