Let's Talk About Georgia
Georgia is on my mind. From the Road Atlanta race track, to the Creative Coast, the Savannah port, to the busiest airport in the world (89 million people going through ATL every year!), and the growing and diverse city of Atlanta, there is a lot to talk about. Plus easy logistics access to suppliers in Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina.
Add the Georgia Institute of Technology (GeorgiaTech), Emory University, and the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) plus the headquarters for Coca-Cola, Delta, UPS, Home Depot, Exide, Genuine Parts, and Gulfstream – there are some bright people running around the State.
The Georgia Senate recently passed a resolution in support of Carbon Motors when we took the E7 to the State Capitol. I had the opportunity to address the Senate on the Senate floor alongside Lt. Governor Casey Cagle and Senator Eric Johnson. Additionally, State Attorney General Thurbert Baker also stopped by to a (favorable) review of The Machine. The police escort for the Carbon E7 to the Georgia State Patrol headquarters was a nice touch to top off the day!
As the State of Georgia looks to add jobs during this volatile time in the economy, perhaps 10,000 new ones that have been sitting on their doorstep (literally) might finally be reaching a point where the thought of losing it to any of the 4 other US States under consideration is becoming too painful not to actually finally act – especially as the entire country watches and 840,000 women and men in uniform wait. Only one of our investors could put the situation in a way only someone in Georgia would say it, “Sometimes the biggest fish is right under the dock!”.
But we are in serious times and we have a serious product to deliver. And we cannot wait any longer, our first responders cannot wait any longer, and our country cannot wait any longer. I look forward to taking our recommendation to the Board of Directors soon as we receive the final proposals from Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.
P.S. We have continually received a lot of ‘feedback’ on why, since we are temporarily have our headquarters in Atlanta, are we assessing opportunities outside of the State of Georgia. It’s a complicated answer but you can let the Governor know your thoughts by clicking here:
Georgia Governor
Tagged: police, police car, georgia, atlanta, american jobs, carbon motors, e7, carbon e7, law enforcement, homeland security, william santana li
Comments
I am a pastor in North Central Indiana. I know how tough the decision will be for your company to choose the right place to build the carbon E7 vehicle. I can tell you one thing for sure, the people of Indiana take a lot of pride in their work. I grew up in Connersville, my father worked in the Ford plant there that became Visteon that eventually closed down. Honda picked Greensburg, Indiana for a reason. They know a good work force when they find one. I know you will be happy if you would locate there. Indiana has a great governor that is very proactive in bringing industry to our state, and it has a long history of quality people, strong values and moderate living conditions. Blessings to you in your upcoming decision. Charles B. Cole
Connersville is a combination of so many things. It has a small town atmosphere to raise a family and feel safe, but it also has so many resources that a large company would consider an asset. We have an airport to facilitate necessary corporate travel, or shipments of product. We have an experienced and talented workforce that is ready and willing to work. Our town, even though it is not large, was once a thriving area for manufacturing and our people are hard working, knowledgable people who have worked in the manufacturing industry for generations, and would love the opportunity to show our hospitality and work ethic to the folks at Carbon Motors.
I would just like to add my thoughts about the proposed site in Pooler, Ga. This is the perfect spot to grow. The area has perfect proxy to highways I-16 and I-95. The weather is always great. The people are the best and most welcoming in the world. The area is growing considerably everyday. The jobs would be a welcomed site to recent lay-off’s with JCB and other major players. Highly skilled recruits would be found with ease. The community would support carbon Motors to the fullest as we are very loyal community to all businesses large and small.
BRASELTON, GA is the perfect site for Carbon Motors. Braselton is located off one of the busiest interstates in the country and is nearly halfway between Atlanta, GA and Greenville, SC. The Braselton area has over 1 million in population within 30 miles from the town. The quality of workforce in this area is second to none. Many other top companies have chosen this area to do business such as Home Depot, Whole Foods, Haverty's, Mayfield, Tractor Supply, Petco, and Progressive Lighting just to name a few. So, if you are looking for an excellent location, quality workforce, and a pro-business environment, the Braselton area is second to none.
If Carbon Motors is bold company with 10,000 new sustainable American jobs which will be created driving a $3 billion positive economic impact over ten years, Connersville, Indiana is the town for you! WE are a hardworking and loyal group of people. Our schools are improving, offering the best education in this region of Indiana. Our high school offers 30+ hours in dual-credit coursework in general studies for students FREE. In this age of growing college debt for many students in postsecondary schools, we are the best deal of any of the five locations you are considering. As I'm the principal of the high school, call me, and I'll be happy to tell you more about it. Hope you make Connersville your choice as it is the BEST choice.
PORT... PORT... PORT... Savannah/Pooler GA is an excellent site for production of this excellent vehicle. Imagine the shipping opportunities available at this location.
There's no need for a police car like the Carbon E7 in Georgia. 20 MPH over the posted limit is the norm on the expressways around Atlanta. You have to be retarded to get a speeding ticket down here.
Connersville Indiana is the perfect place to raise a family. I have had the pleasure of living here all of my life. My children have had a wonderful education and have stayed in our community to work and raise thier children. Our community is a very loyal one.
The following is a copy of the letter I just sent to Governor Perdue. Wishing you guys best of luck in Georgia! : Governor Perdue, I'm sure you are already aware of the Atlanta-based Carbon Motors Corporation and their goal of building a plant to manufacture purpose-built police cars. I have no doubt that you are also aware that two sites in Georgia are being considered on the "short-list" for locations of that manufacturing plant. I am writing to express to you my sincere belief in what Carbon Motors is trying to accomplish, and to convey to you the sense of urgency I feel in making sure that Georgia becomes the permanent home of Carbon Motors. To lose over 1,000 jobs to a neighboring state would be a blow to our state, especially in this time of economic recession, and with this particular opportunity so plainly within our grasp it would be a decidedly prominent flub if we were to fail to capitalize on it. I hope, therefore, that as Governor you are actively doing everything in your power to make Georgia the obvious choice for the Carbon Motors plant. I'm told the representatives of the other states being considered (North and South Carolina, Indiana, Michigan) are all actively campaigning for the privilege of being the home of Carbon Motors, and I implore you to do the same with as much energy and dedication as you have shown to similar economic development opportunities for Georgia in the past. Considering the current state of the auto industry, Carbon Motors may turn out soon to be the only viable American auto manufacturer. Let's make sure they still call Georgia home. Sincerely, Charlie Maffitt Athens, GA
What a bunch of BS. These people are out to get $$ and that is all. It would take billions to create one of these cars. No one could afford it. I smell a rat.
Braselton,Ga is were Carbon Motors needs to be. You will have excellent support from the community and a ready work force. You have Makita just down the road from Braselton in Buford. Makita power tools are used in auto plants all over the world including Rolls Royce and Ferrari. Makita can meet all your power tool needs and give Carbon Motors excellent service a large plant needs. Makitas largest factory service center is in Buford also.
Braseslton,GA is the place to be - Unmatched support - Proximity to suppliers,an excellent highway system, a solid work force, a great place to live, a state government that is commitment to business... Others talk about it, Georgia is already delivering it to so many great companies making it the hub for successful businesses.
After reading the comments of Connersville residents, which I am one, giving great reasons for locating in Connersville, they didn't mention our rail service line. CSX R/R is a way to move cars and has a direct line to the Visteon plant. As a former employee of Visteon and currently laid-off I would really welcome Carbon Motors.
Thank you for considering Braselton, Georgia as a possible place for Carbon Motors new headquarters. As a resident of North Georgia, I would be thrilled to have a new company that would create jobs and enrich the area. While the city is a short drive away, Braselton has a lot to offer as well. With Road Atlanta just down the road, testing could be a cinch. Entertaining partners would be even easier at the lovely Chateau Elan resort, and if even more entertainment is needed, the city is just a short drive away. There are many hard-working people here who are passionate about environmentally conscious businesses as well as automobiles. I have sent my note to Governor Perdue and I hope that Carbon Motors will be able to grow in Braselton. Thanks again for considering our great state.
TOO BAD THIS CAR DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A POLICE CAR AND WILL PROBABLY COST TOO MUCH FOR ANY DEPARTMENT TO BUY IT. AS A MEMBER OF THE REVIEW PANEL FOR A LARGE DEPARTMENT I CAN TELL YOU ONE ITEM THAT IS MISSING A ROOF RACK THE ROOF RACK IS HIGH VISIBILITY IT ALOOWS HIGH VISIBILITY FOR OFFICERS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALLOWS IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION FROM THE PUBLIC IT IS LIKE AN OFFICER ON A HORSE. YOUR WASTING YOUR MONEY AND TIME
LAND AVAILABLE WITH GREAT LOCATION- Gaston County, NC - 1000 acres 20 minutes to center of downtown Charlotte NC - International Airport 20minutes - Great trained labor pool - Mount Holly Freightliner Plant 3 miles - Interstate I-85, I-77, I-40, I-485 access - NASCAR - Great Test track location - near by residential Golf Course Community(5 miles)on Lake Norman - No Broker envolved - As land owner/investor will sale, lease, or Joint Venture. Phone 336-314-1494
As the Chairman and CEO of Carbon Motors, I am very pleased and appreciative of all the comments made thus far. We are as excited as you are regarding the opportunity! To the posting from WH - the only rats involved are the criminals we intend to put in the back seat of the E7. It won't take billions to create and we will be announcing the highly competitive pricing of the vehicles within 12 months - it does us no good to develop a world-class product that no one could afford. If all we were doing is going to get $$ money as you say, I don't think we would have dedicated over 1/2 decade of our lives to get us to the point. To the positing from Bob - have you seen the vehicle up close and sat in it? If not, I am personally inviting you to do so and meet us on one of our Pure Justice Tour stops this year. There are over 3,000 law enforcement professionals across all 50 US States at the local, state, and federal level that respectfully disagree with your assessment. By the way, the car sits several inches taller than a normal vehicles and accomplishes the task you seek to be addressed. Happy to receive constructive feedback always - and let's see how you can be part of the solution as it will take your help and the support of the country to get this over the finish line. I think you would agree we have a moral obligation to get our first responders the appropriate equipment to secure our homeland - no different than our soldiers out in a theater of war. They have earned and deserve only the best - nothing less.
Carbon Motors will be welcomed in Connersville, Indiana. You know our many amenitites. No town is perfect, but we have a good community; a workforce which desires to prove we can manufacture your creative car for a changing world. We are encourgaged that you have Connersville as one of your top 5 choices to locate your plant. Come, let us join together. Come and we will build it!
Carbon Motors should choose Braselton for their assembly location b/c many ex-GM and Ford workers with many years of assembly, engineering and production skills are waiting for another automotive company to use their skills.
I have been a residence of Connersville, Indiana for 37 years. I have been in the Fire and EMS service for almost 20 years and have seen the changes in the economy and in our community. I would ask the Officials of Carbon Motors to take a close look at the wonderful oppurinity to locate a plant here. With our railroad, airport, and interstate access, I believe Connersville can help Carbon Motors become a leader in the industry. Connersville has the dedication required to accomplish the task ahead !!
STATUS IN GEORGIA AS OF 28 Mar 2009: The team in Savannah really rolled out the red carpet for Carbon Motors. They gave us a tremendous new perspective on the opportunity for the site in Pooler. Additionally, we were hosted at the convention center to showcase the Carbon E7 to local law enforcement, community leaders and the local press. Savannah has certainly established an extremely professional and personable economic development process - as they carefully intertwined community leaders, state legislators, and the Carbon team. Then they topped it off with nice large bottles of honey they shipped us - I guess there is a new meaning to deal sweetener! The team in Braselton has begun to engage a commercial real estate development firm alongside some top-notch architects to begin to conceptualize and envision what form the Carbon Campus could take at a very special property - as part of a much larger master plan. Having the chance to bring the Carbon E7 to Chateau Elan was a wonderful setting - taking a 'hot lap in slow motion' in the Chateau Elan shuttle-bus on the adjacent Road Atlanta racetrack was a whole other experience! And to top it off, they sent us some Carbon Motors branded wine from Braselton....(I’m starting to catch a trend here). Thanks to the leadership of Senator Eric Johnson and Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, we were able to make a stop at the Georgia Capitol where the Georgia State Senate passed a resolution in support of Carbon Motors’ efforts. I was subsequently given a chance to address the senate on the senate floor. We have met a great deal of the legislators as well as Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and State Attorney General Thurbert Baker, all of which, have given us a comprehensive view on what life could be like for Carbon Motors in Georgia. Additionally, U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss and U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson invited us back to Washington DC to showcase the Carbon E7 with U.S. Senate which was indeed an honor. We look forward to the proposal from Georgia with great interest.
It was certainly our pleasure to create a custom private label for our wine to present to Carbon Motors. We want Carbon Motors to know that we would be pleased to have them as our neighbor and that it really is "Better In Braselton". I have enjoyed getting to know the knowledgeable team at Carbon Motors over the last couple of years and understand their dedication to a quality product for law enforcement. In regards to the area and counties surrounding Braselton, I invite you to read an article that was published in the AJC that speaks of the educational system in Gwinnett County, our adjacent neighbor and my county of residence. It states that Gwinnett County is one of 5 counties in the nation nominated for the Broad Prize, the nations top prize for urban schools. The focus on education in this area is obvious which speaks of the tenacity and hard work of our workforce. Carbon Motors would be very welcome in Georgia and Braselton is ready to offer it's support. I've already made my opinion known to Governor Perdue. All the best, Renee Knott Dacula, GA
Dear Mr. Li, My hope and desire is that the city of Braselton, GA is where Carbon Motors will make its home. The proximity of Road Atlanta for testing, I-85 for easy interstate access to distribution routes, and the beautiful countryside in North Georgia make the Hall and Jackson County areas a great location for a new manufacturing facility. Then again, I have selfish interests as well. If your company selects Georgia, I will be one of the first people in Braselton to come knocking on your door! I would love nothing more than to be a part of an exciting new company that is FINALLY putting future technology into a viable automotive package with a purpose! And with all that Ford family experience ingrained in your management team, I would fit right in! The most fun I've had in my career was during my time with Ford was gutting and re-building the old Cleveland Engine Plant #1 to build the 3.0 and 3.5 Duratec engines! Please, please, please select Georgia!!! http://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsoltis
Dear Mr. Li, After your visit here in Connersville there is no dout you must have been impressed with the welcome you received, and the show of support from the community. I know I was. You said your vehicle is a representation of the future of law enforcement vehicles. With that being said, when you visited the students of Maplewood elementary from what I heard you were overwhelmed and impressed with what you saw. You said to them ,"I'll be back in a year to check on you". Well that is our example of the future of Connersville, Indiana. You told them to make early career choices and start working towards that choice. How great would it be if your company would locate here and would be on the list of choice's they had to choose from. In closing, it's not very often that we as human beings are in a position to make a choice that will affect so many lives and impact their future. I'm sure you will make wise choice. Thank you for your time, and I wish you all the best in the future. Sheriff Billy Wayson, Fayette County, Indiana
I think Braselton is a perfect fit for Carbon Motors. Besides the obvious benefit of proximity to the I-85 interstate, it is a very viable location due to the fact that you can be in a number of states in a short period of time. Also, with Road Atlanta, Elan Motor Sports and the other numerous automobile based support industries here, it is a no brainer! Braselton is growing by leaps and bounds and is the type of town that I am sure Carbon Motors would be proud to call home!
Mr. Li, congratulations on your growing endeavor. I certainly hope you select Braselton, and I feel it's the perfect choice. Not only will you be 60 minutes or so from Ga. Tech and SCAD, but you'll also only be about 120 miles or so from all of the automotive suppliers in Rome and also Greenville, for BMW, in the other direction (as well as the ICAR on the South end of Greenville). Also, Savannah is one of the nation's premier ports,so logistics will be a snap. All these factors -- combined with a ready-to-go workforce -- will contribute just what you'll need for a JIT operation to make your manufacturing facility as efficient as possible! Good luck in your future!
Braselton , Ga. would be a perfect fit for you as a car manufacturer! The list of positives is long, as evidenced in previous posts; I can think of no downsides to this location. The people of this area are very friendly, and would welcome such an addition to the community with open arms and true Southern Hospitality!
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