The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 18

18 TWI TfNWESSMN, Miy.OtfeW 31. 1980 Businessman Orders First Local Datsun (Continued from Page 17) like I will be buying also from ray American neighbors." He said he has three larger trucks now, but that the business can use a small one by the time Datsuns start rolling off the line in 1983. He added that he will accept the first one Dixie Datsun receives from the plant, if he can't get the first one off the assembly line. Ken Parker, sales manager at Dixie Datsun, said he is forwarding McComb's request to the right people at Nissan Motor manufacturer of Datsuns, in an effort to get McComb the very first one. Smyrna's Main Plus i I 1 15 Million Economy Boost Seen Via Plant (Continued from Page 17) Employ 2,200 and pay them an average of $20,000 a year each for an annual payroll of more than $40 million.

Pay 1,000 (at peak) construction workers more than $11 million a year, starting early in 1981, with production scheduled to start in July of 1983. Create 1,500 non-manufacturing jobs in the 10 to 12 counties within a 40-to 50-mile radius of Smyrna in Rutherford County. Generate retail sales of $60 million a year. Create $4.7 million a year in property and sales tax spread over 13 to 15 counnties. Create $10 million a year in direct and indirect state tax revenues.

Increase personal income, in addition to payroll, by $37 million from creation of activities that will include new and existing businesses that support the new manufacturing. "The construction phase of the project will provide an immediate boost to the construction-related businesses in the area," Harris said. "Local purchases of building supplies and materials will also generate new sales tax revenues. Residential construction in the plant area will increase, aiding both employment and sales of building materials, while Nissan's direct purchases of goods and services in the plant area will generate new sales tax COTHAM SAID the project will act as an economic magnet for the area, causing other industries to locate in the surrounding area, creating additional jobs and payrolls and tax benefits, -i "The plant will greatly aid the stabilization of the area for years to come," he added. Sources close to Nissan said the company likes to operate in close proximity to suppliers; and Ford Motor Nashville glass plant, largest under one roof in the world, is likely to be the glass supplier for the Smyrna plant.

In a September interview Joseph Kordick, general manager of Ford Glass Pivisipn, said: "You can bet who will be going after the glass business of Nissan's, new plant, whether it's in Each year about this time, many customers are approached by individuals who offer services to inspect, adjust or modify their ga heating systems. Though there are many "excellent and highly qualified heatingair conditioning contractors who may call on you for these purposes, some people who engage in this practice are less reputable and misrepresent the facts only to sell unneeded modifications or repairs. These services can result in little if any savings, even creating safety hazards. That's why we ask our customers to do four things when they are confronted with such a situation: First, know who you are dealing with. Second, call us.

We'll verify whether your equipment is safe and we can give you information about devices which may or may not cut energy consumption. Third, get a written cost estimate before any work is done, arid fourth, don't be frightened into taking immediate action or hastily signing a contact without full Information. If you have doubts, don't, sign anything and call Nashville Gas Company's Service, Department at 255-3515. We'll arrange a safety inspection at no extra charge to you. Geographic Location Brings Datsun to State Al iiiMlvlIlc vraa A Company -vtsnni i v' Wja IV WQI VO IVU UUUC1 bmyrna or Georgia.

1 I I I II I II 1 hrifl II I la, i I II II I i Hi LMjJ tm rki ill in -A Robert W. McComb "I thought it would be nice' corporate headquarters of Nissan Motor Manufacturing U.S.A., in the Nashville area as soon as possible. Those headquarters are now temporarily based in Dearborn, but Runyon says he hopes to move them here no later than February. Construction is scheduled to begin Jan, 1, 1981, with the plant becoming operational in August 1983. Runyon said he would not resist attempts by the United Auto Workers to unionize the new plant.

The decision whether to join the union will be left entirely to the workers, he said, and should they opt to unionize, it would likely mean more money in their pockets. Following the Dearborn press conference, Runyon, Ishihara, their wives, M. Zaitsu, a Nissan director, and other company officials flew to Nashville, where they were greeted at the airport by a beaming Gov. Lamar Alexander, who made no attempt to hide his glee that Tennessee had been selected as the plant's location. IN MURFREESBORO yesterday, the room fell silent when the phone call from Runyon came through to Smyrna Mayor Sam Ridley.

"We look forward to about 20 years of working with you," Ru nyon told Ridley by phone just min utes before beginning the press conference in Dearborn. "Well I hope that I'm in office for 20 years and that I can work with you during that time," Ridley replied. Ridley then hung up and more than 15 Rutherford County offi cials assembled at County Attor ney William Sellers' office broke into applause and cheers at the news that Nissan definitely is lo cating in Smyrna. "I DIDN'T BELIEVE for one moment that they were even considering Georgia," said Ridley. The convincing factor in favor of Rutherford County was the productivity of its workers, Ridley said.

"The people have shown they can produce about 115 of capacity here," he explained. Several persons said they were convinced long ago that Nissan would not locate anywhere other than Smyrna. "After the first two weeks of negotiations, I realized that these people were serious about locating here," said Ben Hall McFarlin, county executive. McFarlin said the plant will broaden the county's property tax base, and that this will help keep tax rates down. "It will also provide jobs for about 800 Rutherford countians," said McFarlin.

BOB BATEY, county economic development director, said the plant's location will attract related auto industries to the county. "I'm sure a company like a brake shoe manufacturer will want to locate near the Datsun Batey said. "Nissan will have a substantial impact on this county. It will also mean better jobs for people other than those who work with Nissan." Randall Matlock, county budget director and a member of the county's negotiating team, said there were times during the nego tiation process when he was unsure Nissan would accept the induce ments. "I think it really came down to a matter of them understanding our tax structure and what their pay ments in lieu of taxes would be for the revenue bonds," Matlock said, adding that details on the bond payments were not finalized until the last week of negotiations.

"I FEEL WE collectively put together a very competitive package for both the citizens of the county and Nissan, Matlock said. State Rep. John Bragg said the of Nissan money will aid future state budgets. "I have to be lieve that this is possibly the most significant factor to fund future budgets in Tennessee," Bragg said Mt, i J- a 1 I rrri 11 fl 1 El i 1 I ii ii if i if i i ffiai i i i i (Continued from Page 17) transportation study on Monday, but the geographic location favored Nashville," Runyon told a group of reporters in Dearborn, in officially announcing the plant's location in Middle Tennessee. "Nashville is the best location for us.

The choice was so close, quite frankly, that I wish we could have built two plants." Ironically, the financing package which Rutherford County officials so laboriously worked out to lure Nissan to Middle Tennessee may not even be used, Runyon added. The financial package, which calls for Rutherford County to issue $450 million in industrial revenue bonds, is only one of the ways under consideration to get the money necessary to build the plant, Runyon said. "IT'S POSSIBLE that Nissan Motors in Japan could choose a different way to finance the plant," he added. However, he said no final decision has been made on financing, and Rutherford County officials, elated to learn that the 3-mil-lion-square-foot facility is coming to Smyrna, were undisturbed by the possibility that their intense financial negotiations may come to nought. Runyon, and Takashi Ishihara, president of Nissan Motor Co.

Ltd. of Tokyo, gave their most detailed description of the plant yesterday. While it has been known for some time that the plant will employee 2,200 workers, at an annual payroll of $40 million, the executives offered this additional information: About 40 of the parts to be used in the trucks will be purchased from American companies. The remaining 60 primarily drive trains will be shipped to Smyrna from Japan, via the West Coast. Local suppliers may include Nashville's Ford Glass plant, which Runyon singled out by name.

The number of Japanese workers at the plant will be minimal, meaning most of the jobs will go to Tennesseans. During construction and the opening phases of the plant, between 35 and 50 Japanese engineers, designers and foremen will move to Middle Tennessee for a period of three to five years. Another 100 Japanese technicians and foremen will come to Smyrna for about three months to train Tennessee workers once the plant is opened. However, virtually all of these Nissan employees will return to Japan once the plant is opera-; ting smoothly. As much plant equipment as possible will be purchased in the United States.

Runyon said he also hopes to purchase American steel for the truck bodies, which will be stamped at the Smyrna plant and then assembled there. It is highly likely the plant will be expanded in the future. Runyon was vague about the timing or cost of expansion, saying he is concentrating now only on getting the ini- tial plant in operation. However, he did say enough land has been purchased for expansion, and that the plant is designed so it can easily be expanded. financial agreement with Rutherford County specifies that the $450 million will be used for the "first phase" of plant construction.

This implies that other phases are planned. Additionally, the plant will provide all of the Datsun trucks sold in this country. During the 1980 model year, some 113,000 Datsun trucks were sold in Ameri- ca, and since this is 7,000 less than the estimated output of the new plant, it is difficult to estimate when expansion would be necessary. The plant will be perhaps the most technologically advanced auto assembly plant in the country. About 90 of the welding, for instance, will be done by automated "robots" rather than assembly line workers.

Runyon hopes to relocate the 1" HARDING MALL NASHVILLE, TH. TWO RIVERS MALL CLARKSVILLE. TN. "REFORM Vl IEIGH MALL COLUMBUS, MISS. HICKORY HOLLOW MALL NASHVILLE, TN.

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