National Press Release

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC applauded the decision today by the Industrial Development Board to award a $1.1 million contract to Chattanooga based Advanced Power and Lighting. The company will provide the temporary power at Volkswagen's plant site. With this contract, more than $55 million has been awarded to local firms, including work sourced by both Volkswagen and state and local governments.

"We appreciate the IDB's work on this contract. Advanced Power and Lighting offered a competitive bid which met all our specifications. This is another milestone in this project as work continues to move forward at the site," said Frank Fischer, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations. "While only 10 percent of bids have been awarded for the project, we are pleased that Tennessee businesses are already benefiting."

The more than $55 million dollars in local contracts includes almost $10 million for Volkswagen contractors and subcontractors.

-- PAINT SHOP: Fifty percent of the contracts awarded by Walbridge have gone to local companies, comprising about 50 percent of the awardable content value to date. In addition, Volkswagen's commitment to achieve 10 percent participation by minority and women-owned businesses has been exceeded. Walbridge solicited quotations from 205 Tennessee subcontractors and suppliers and 53 responded with bids. Among those companies working with Walbridge are: Arcadis, Lawson Electric, Vulcan Materials, Sequatchie Concrete, Gerdau Ameristeel, Pointe General Contracting, Ram Tool, United RSC, Stowers Rents, Scenic City Pumping, WMS Trimble and FM Sylvan.

"We put a bidding process in place that made the most of the generous assistance we received from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Hamilton County, the City of Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, and Volkswagen," said Steve Helms, senior manager at Walbridge. "We understand that beyond the permanent jobs that will be created here once the assembly plant is up and running, construction jobs and activity over the next few years will be crucial to the continuing vitality of the Tennessee economy. We're committed to Tennessee and delighted to be able to do our part."

-- CHESTNUT TOWER: More than half of the subcontractors for Volkswagen's Chestnut Tower office space build-out were Tennessee-based. Of the $377,000 for the office build out, more than 90 percent went to local companies. Companies involved in the work included Alexander Tile, Apex Moving, Architectural Surfaces, Arnold Cutting Systems, Choo Choo Carpets, Creative Installation, Inc., Delta Drywall, Grant-Neil Electric, Inc., James Glass Co. Inc., Johnson Controls, Lawson Electric, Logan-Moore, LLC, Main Street Moving and Storage, Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Mountain City Service, Painter Ready, Paragon Property Development, South East Total Service, Technical Innovation and W&W Sprinkler, Inc.

-- ADDITIONAL SERVICES: Chattanooga-based Erlanger Health System provides onsite medical coverage during the plant's construction phase. This direct contract with Volkswagen includes heath care services throughout the initial 8 and 12-hour work shifts, as well as when the workplace ramps up to a 24/7 operation. Additionally, architectural firm SSOE, whose fourth largest office is in Nashville, Tenn., has contracted with a number of Chattanooga companies to support the professional services being provided including William Scottsman, Chattanooga Blue, Mountain City Electric, Walter Wood Supply Co. and Eagle Mechanical.

-- STATE RELATED WORK: State and city related work comprise more than $45 million of the local economic impact though contracts with companies in the Greater Chattanooga region and East Tennessee. Contractors include Bolles Leasing Company, Richard L. Brown Construction, BWSC, City Disposal Services LLC, East Tennessee Grading, Eastside Utility, EMJ Corporation, Environmental Materials LLC, L & S Woodgrinders, Mayse Construction, Power Equipment Co, Sharp Contracting, Stein Construction, Stowers Machinery Corp, Tennessee Dirtworks LLC, Thomason Construction, Vulcan Material, Walden Security and Wright Brothers.

About Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the world's third largest automaker and the largest carmaker in Europe. It houses the U.S. operations of a worldwide family of distinguished and exciting brands including Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Volkswagen, as well as VW Credit, Inc. Founded in 1955, the company's headquarters are in Herndon, Va.

Volkswagen Group of America brings to the U.S. vehicles that marry the science of engineering and the art of styling, with the goal of offering attractive, safe, and environmentally sound automobiles that are competitive and set world standards in their respective classes.

The company has approximately 2,500 employees in the United States and sells its vehicles through an 800-strong dealer network. With increasing popularity for its brands in the U.S., the company has set the goal of reaching one million car sales in the country by 2018.

    For more information, visit www.volkswagengroupamerica.com.


    Tennessee based companies contracted by Volkswagen and its contractors:

    Advanced Power and Lighting
    Alexander Tile
    Apex Moving
    Arcadis
    Architectural Surfaces
    Arnold Cutting Systems
    Chattanooga Blue
    Choo Choo Carpets
    Creative Installation, Inc.
    Delta Drywall
    Eagle Mechanical
    Erlanger Health System
    FM Sylvan
    Gerdau Ameristeel
    Grant-Neil Electric, Inc.
    James Glass Co. Inc.
    Johnson Controls
    Lawson Electric
    Logan-Moore, LLC
    Main Street Moving and Storage
    Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal
    Mountain City Electric
    Mountain City Service
    Painter Ready
    Paragon Property Development
    Pointe General Contracting
    Ram Tool
    Scenic City Pumping
    Sequatchie Concrete
    South East Total Service
    Stowers Rents
    Technical Innovation
    United RSC
    Walter Wood Supply Company
    William Scottsman
    WMS Trimble
    Vulcan Materials
    W&W Sprinkler, Inc.


    Tennessee based companies contracted with state and city:

    Barge, Waggoner, Sumner & Cannon
    Bolles Leasing Company
    Richard L. Brown Construction
    BWSC
    City Disposal Services LLC
    East Tennessee Grading
    Eastside Utility
    EMJ Corporation
    Environmental Materials LLC
    L & S Woodgrinders
    Mayse Construction
    Power Equipment Company
    Sharp Contracting
    Stein Construction
    Stowers Machinery Corporation
    Tennessee Dirtworks LLC
    Thomason Construction
    Vulcan Material
    Walden Security
    Wright Brothers

SOURCE Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.