Zorn

THOMASVILLE — A New York industry that will provide hundreds of jobs and a multi-million investment in the community has committed to moving corporate offices to the Caterpillar building in Thomasville, according to the Thomasville Payroll Development Authority.

Project Ridder, the code name for the company, has made a verbal commitment to occupy the building vacated when Caterpillar entered a global downsizing in 2016. The Thomasville facility closed in 2017.

The 50-year-old New York industry will have jobs available in the second quarter of 2019, Thomasville PDA Executive Director Shelley Zorn said.

In 2017, the City of Thomasville paid $3.4 million for the 168,000-square-foot structure, which is owned by the Thomasville Payroll Development Authority (PDA).

Zorn said an “official announcement” will be made later. It is hoped Gov. Nathan Deal will come to Thomasville to make the announcement, Zorn told PDA members at a Monday morning meeting.

The new industry will make a $15 million investment in the west bypass building. Moving the industry from Long Island, New York, to Thomasville will be carried out over a three-year period.

The industry, which will provide about 230 jobs, makes magazines for firearms manufactured by Kimber, Sig, Smith & Wesson and Colt.

“Their customers are the ‘Who’s Who’ of the gun industry,” Zorn said. “They also do also medical tooling. They’re diversified.”

Zorn is in constant contact with Caterpillar human resources officials about jobs for workers displaced when the company closed the Thomasville facility. She receives resumes daily from displaced former Caterpillar employees.

The entire family of the woman who owns the New York company will move to Thomasville. Family members include the owner’s husband and the couple’s children and grandchildren.

Family members have visited Thomasville three times. 

“They’re great folks and excited about coming here,” said Zorn, who has visited the New York company.

Thomasville has been competing with Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the industry.

Zorn said the family wants to move to the South to escape cold New York winters.

The company will make a $15 million investment in the Caterpillar building. Drop ceilings will be removed, painting will be done, and offices will be updated.

The Joint Development Authority provided $100,000 to repair a crack in a building wall.

PDA has negotiated a long-term lease on the Caterpillar building and a property tax abatement during the lease.

“It’s a great boost for our community,” Zorn said after the Monday PDA meeting. “It will bring quality jobs, highly-skilled jobs. The best thing you can do for someone is provide them a job to support their family.” 

Senior reporter Patti job can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820