New Window Manufacturing Plant to Be Built in Toombs Co., Ga.

A West Virginia-based window company announced Wednesday it plans to open a 100,000-square-foot facility in Toombs County this fall.

The facility could provide about 85 new jobs in the area and as many as 150 jobs in the next couple of years, according to a company news release.

This is Simonton Windows' eighth manufacturing facility in the country. The company manufactures vinyl replacement windows.

"We looked at geographic location, access to the interstate and the ability to use an available, quality work force," said Jody Garrett, Simonton's vice president of manufacturing. "We found that Toombs County met all three criteria for us."

Bill Mitchell, executive director of Toombs County Development Authority, said the building is located 13 miles off Interstate 16.

Much like other rural regions in the Southeast, Mitchell said Toombs County has suffered heavy job loss in the textile and apparel industry.

"We have a work force that is accustomed to production manufacturing," said Mitchell. "We are extremely excited a company like this is moving to our area. They are a good corporate citizen and a quality company."

Garrett said opening a facility in Georgia is key to providing quicker, better service in the Southeast, particularly North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.

"The Southeast is practically favorable for this plant because we manufacture a window that is specially designed to encounter hurricanes," said Garrett.

Mitchell said the company also will recruit new hires from the technical college in the county as well as Quick Start, the state's technical and adult education program.

"We interviewed existing employers in the area and they had nothing but high praise for the work force in their dedication and work ethic," Garrett said.