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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Mr. Clean Car Wash Officially Opens 13 Locations in Atlanta

/PRNewswire/ -- The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) , through its subsidiary Agile Pursuits Franchising, Inc., established to oversee its franchising efforts, announced today it will officially open 13 Mr. Clean Car Wash and Oil Change multi-plex locations in Atlanta on July 1, 2009. Previously, these locations operated as Carnett's Car Washes.

The 13 Mr. Clean Car Wash locations in Atlanta are in Austell, Canton, Conyers, Cumming, Gainesville, Grayson, Jonesboro, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Marietta and Norcross, with multiple locations in some communities. Mr. Clean Car Wash Grand Opening events at each of the 13 locations are scheduled between July 8 and July 12. Events will include a visit from the real Mr. Clean and guests will be eligible to register for a chance to win a 2009 Ford Fusion throughout the month of July.

As previously reported, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Inc. announced the acquisition of Carnett's Car Wash company assets in February 2009. Carnett's is an Atlanta-based car wash chain with a national reputation for car wash excellence. This acquisition marries P&G, the world's largest brand builder, with the leadership, expertise, and capabilities of Carnett's. This recent conversion of Carnett's to Mr. Clean Car Wash brings the total number of car wash locations to 15, including two corporate-owned locations in Cincinnati, OH, as well as five currently in development across the country.

"Carnett's current customers will continue to receive the same great service they've grown accustomed to for the last 22 years, but now will be backed by the beloved Mr. Clean brand -- a household name with over 50 years of heritage and trust," said Bruce Arnett, Sr., CEO, Mr. Clean Car Wash. "A cornerstone of P&G's commitment to its customers is to continually meet their needs and improve their lives. We are honored to be a part of the P&G family of companies."

Bruce Arnett, Sr. and his son Bruce Arnett, Jr. launched the Carnett's Car Washes business in 1987. They will operate as CEO and COO respectively of Mr. Clean Car Wash, reporting to a board of executives and external franchising experts, including the Chairman of the franchising board Jim Amos, Chairman and CEO of Tasti D-Lite, former Chairman and CEO of Mail Boxes, Etc. (now the UPS Store), and past Chairman of the International Franchise Association (IFA).

Mr. Clean Car Wash offers a broad range of car wash and oil change services, as well as amenities including the Mr. Clean Signature Shine(R) interior and exterior wash package -- which includes proprietary signature ingredients such as Mr. Clean Surface Protectant, Mr. Clean Wheel Guard, and other exterior cleaning ingredients.

In addition, Mr. Clean's Express Detail services provide mini-details for busy consumers that like to keep their cars looking great -- like carpet shampoo or orbital-applied wax typically completed in about 30-minutes per service. While you wait, consumers can treat themselves to a variety of refreshments, catch up on current happenings on the flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, and take advantage of fun activities for the kids.

Lastly, following in P&G's commitment to responsibility, all Mr. Clean Car Wash locations will make the most of its natural resources by recycling and filtering the water used. Additionally, all waste water, soaps and chemicals are sent to waste water treatment facilities. This abides with the EPA's recommendation to discharge all wash water to a municipal sanitary sewer system for treatment.

"We're excited to have opened the Atlanta locations and are now franchising nationally," said Nathan Estruth, P&G VP and Board member overseeing the Mr. Clean Car Wash launch. "The combination of P&G's consumer knowledge and the Arnett's in-depth experience within the car wash industry provides a winning combination for future expansion."

As the Atlanta locations open, Mr. Clean Car Wash continues to accept franchise applications nationwide and has recently signed five new franchise agreements, including three in Atlanta, one in Charlotte, NC, and one in Columbus, OH.

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Vega Picks Tennessee Firm to Assist with Construction of Biomass Plant in Georgia

/PRNewswire/ -- Vega Promotional Systems, Inc. (Pink Sheets: VGPR) today announced it has chosen Chattanooga, TN based consulting firm, Tennessee Power Company, Inc. to assist the Company in building a biomass production facility in Georgia.

Vega recently announced its intention to build a biomass plant in Georgia to take advantage of the abundance of biomass materials in the State's Bioenergy Corridor. Georgia ranks third in the nation as a potential source of renewable energy. Approximately 50 million tons of Georgia's own timber ends up in the State's wood-products manufacturing plants every year and the industry returns nearly half of it in the form of primary mill wood debris.

Vega's Business Plan calls for manufacturing facilities to be constructed in various locations around the world. The Georgia plant would be the Company's first in the United States and would serve as a model facility for other plants in the U.S.

Biomass or biofuel is material derived from recently living organisms. This includes plants, animals and their bi-products. For example, manure, garden waste and crop residues are all sources of biomass. It is a renewable energy source based on the carbon cycle, unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal, and nuclear fuels. The use of biomass fuels can therefore contribute to waste management as well as fuel security and help to prevent global warming

The Company markets various products including energy efficient pellet fuel made from organic waste bi-products using unique and innovative ideas combined with proven technology. The Company's current expansion includes building manufacturing plants in various international locations that will produce biomass products and bio-diesel products for power generation units. It is estimated that in the next five years the biomass industry will become a $20 billion industry.

Certain statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements or statements which may be deemed or construed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "forecast," "project," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," and similar expressions and all statements, which are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance (finance or operating) or achievements to differ from future results, performance (financing and operating) or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

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Friday, June 26, 2009

Cherry Blossom Announces Grant and New Leadership and Executive Search

/PRNewswire/ -- Since its founding 27 years ago, the Macon Georgia's International Cherry Blossom Festival has been a tremendous boost to the Central Georgia economy. Its success this past spring once again demonstrated the strength and durability of this award-winning festival to draw thousands of visitors from across the southeast and the nation.

"Almost 99 percent of the events and activities held this year were sold out," Festival Chairman Steve Jukes said at a press conference today. "The number of sponsorships and grants was especially strong, enabling many of our events to be offered free of charge. The Festival Board is pleased to announce a $50,000 grant awarded by the Fickling Family Foundation. This grant is a match grant stemming from a fundraising campaign the board launched in June of 2008."

Jukes directly attributed much of the success of the annual festival to the business leaders, foundations and government officials who understand the significant role the Cherry Blossom Festival has in building community, increasing the city's national visibility, attracting tourists and generating business revenue.

"We express our appreciation to all of our partners for their generous support and cooperation that made the 2009 Festival a great and memorable event," he said. "This festival is the finest example of success through the cooperation of the many different public and private sectors of Central Georgia."

Indicative of the enduring support the Festival receives from the local community, Bill Fickling III, who is a past Board Chair and Festival Chair, announced that the Fickling Family Foundation has awarded a $50,000 matching grant to the Cherry Blossom Festival.

"We are indeed appreciative and fortunate to have this generous gift from this very civic-minded family," Jukes stated. "This gift from the Fickling Family Foundation is a matching grant based on the fundraising success of the Legacy Fund, which received generous support from past and present board members, trustees and friends to meet this match."

Plans are already underway for the 2010 Festival, which Jukes said he expects to be one of its best. The event is scheduled for March 19-28.

"Through ongoing sponsorships of corporations, businesses and foundations and cooperation from city and county boards, agencies and departments, we are going to once again present the best in talent, shows and activities," he promised. "We will infuse those 10 days in March with great family fun and tremendous excitement."

The 2010 festival leadership was elected at Thursday's Board of Directors meeting. Jukes will exchange his responsibilities as Festival Chairman for those as the Chair of the Board of Directors. Lee Robinson, who was the 2009 Board Chair, will serve as the 2010 Festival Chairman. Steve Farr and Thomas Wicker are moving to the Board of Directors and several new members have been added to the Board of Trustees including Renee Bumpus, Patricia Combes, Tiffany Farrow, Colonial Brian Grady, George Greer, Rhonda Levy, Allen London, David Rosenberg, David Thompson, Janie Hawk Wilhoit, and Garrett Williams.

Festival Chairman Lee Robinson also announced that the Board of Directors is seeking a new President and CEO for the Cherry Blossom Festival and Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful. The Board is seeking candidates who can take these two well-established organizations to an even higher level of success. It has a consulting service to assist with the search.

"We are looking for a dynamic and creative individual who can build on the festival's foundation of success while drawing broader support and higher attendance," said Robinson.

The Festival expects to fill the leadership post this summer. Information on the opportunity is available on the Cherry Blossom web site: www.cherryblossom.com.

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Immucor Responds To FDA Notice

/PRNewswire/ -- Immucor, Inc., (Nasdaq/NM: BLUD), a global leader in providing automated instrument-reagent systems to the blood transfusion industry, announced that yesterday the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), in an administrative action based on an early January 2009 inspection, issued a notice of intent to revoke the Company's biologics license with respect to its Reagent Red Blood Cells and Anti-E (Monoclonal) Blood Grouping Reagent product. The FDA has not ordered the recall of any of the Company's products.

"We take our regulatory responsibilities very seriously. We have been working diligently to improve our quality systems and processes, including the deficiencies identified by the FDA, with Our Quality Process Improvement Project. We are committed to completing this Project as quickly as possible," stated Dr. Gioacchino De Chirico, Immucor's President and Chief Executive Officer.

During its fiscal third quarter of 2009, the Company formalized efforts to improve its quality systems through the Quality Process Improvement Project. The Project expanded the role of consultants hired in April 2008. During fiscal 2009, the Company spent more than $2 million on the Project with the costs primarily consisting of consulting fees. As previously reported, during fiscal 2010, the Company expects to spend between $4.0 million and $4.5 million on the Project. The Company expects the Project to be completed during its third fiscal quarter of 2010.

"We have kept the FDA informed of the Project's objectives and progress by providing written updates to them on a monthly basis that detail our plans for corrective actions as well as the implementation of the correction action plans to prevent recurrence. The FDA has acknowledged that they are aware of our efforts to correct their identified deficiencies, but the letter indicates the FDA's action is based on their January 2009 inspection. The FDA has not performed an inspection since January 2009," stated Dr. De Chirico.

Per the FDA's letter, the Company has 10 working days to respond to the FDA's administrative action and 30 days to submit a remediation plan. The Company will use the extensive remediation work already underway and already documented in detail to the FDA to facilitate its response.

"We believe our Quality Process Improvement Project will result in Immucor having a world-class quality system. We are committed to achieving this end as quickly as possible," stated Dr. De Chirico.

Founded in 1982, Immucor manufactures and sells a complete line of reagents and systems used by hospitals, reference laboratories and donor centers to detect and identify certain properties of the cell and serum components of blood prior to transfusion. Immucor markets a complete family of automated instrumentation for all of our market segments.

Statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under federal securities laws, including, without limitation, all statements concerning Immucor's expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies for the future. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "plans," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "could", "should" and other words of similar meaning. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, and Immucor assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Immucor urges investors to consider the risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Dr. Thomas Kollars, Chief Scientific Advisor for MIT and his New Biopesticide ProVectorTM Bti Designed to Eradicate Mosquitoes Featured on CNN

Dr. Thomas Kollars, Chief Scientific Advisor for MIT and his New Biopesticide ProVectorTM Bti Designed to Eradicate Mosquitoes Featured on a CNN inside Africa Report Concerning Malaria


(BUSINESS WIRE)--CNN recently aired a feature story on Dr. Kollars new invention the ProVectorTM Bti a flower containing the biopesticide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) for use in killing mosquitoes especially those transmitting deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, rift valley fever, and others. (Copy and paste the following to your browser to see the CNN report) http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2009/06/09/inside.africa.06.06.bk.c.cnn

What makes ProVectorTM Bti unique is, it is the first commercially available device to imitate a flower to which adult mosquitoes will come to feed on digesting the biopesticide Bti contained inside. It was designed with the philosophy of keeping “Green” and made of virtually indestructible plastic which reduces waste and it only allows mosquitoes to feed on it, eliminating the spread of pesticides into the environment. Dr. Kollars’ believes his invention will help to reduce mosquito populations down in geographical locations to threshold levels where in nature these types of diseases will cycle out of the mosquito population.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information contained in this release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 the "Exchange Act"), which mean that they relate to events or transactions that have not yet occurred, our expectations or estimates for our future operations, our growth strategies or business plans or other facts that have not yet occurred. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "might," "may," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "likely," "intend," "believe," or "continue" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. For an explanation of some of the risks and uncertainties facing MIT HOLDING and its investors, please see our most recent prospectus on file with the Securities Exchange Commission. The risk factors contained therein should be considered by prospective investors for their potential impact on forward-looking statements included in this release. These important factors, among others that might not be listed, may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We caution investors that such discussions of important risks and uncertainties are not exclusive, and our business may be subject to other risks and uncertainties, which are not detailed there.

Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We make forward-looking statements as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements after the date hereof whether as a result of new information or events, changed circumstances, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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GM Retirees Call for Congressional Protection of Benefits

/PRNewswire/ -- Following denial by the federal bankruptcy court of the General Motors Retirees Association application for a benefits committee to protect GM salaried retirees, GMRA is now asking the U.S. Congress to act immediately in defense of the benefits these GM retirees earned through decades of labor and loyalty to GM.

"We at GMRA are deeply disappointed by the failure of the bankruptcy court to allow us to take reasonable steps under Section 1114 of the Bankruptcy Code to protect the health and security of all GM retirees," said John Christie, GMRA President. "The court, in our opinion, did not do what was necessary to permit all parties to be treated fairly."

"While the GMRA leadership will consider all the legal options available to us, we now look squarely to the Obama administration and to the U.S. Congress to make certain there is a fair process and outcome for all GM retirees," said Christie. "GM retirees always expected to sacrifice as part of GM's restructuring, but one group of retirees shouldn't bear the bulk of that burden. Surely our elected officials can intervene to protect the sick and elderly from poverty when these people worked hard and played by the rules."

The majority of all General Motors retirees have been represented by the United Auto Workers in negotiations with the GM leadership and bondholders on pension, healthcare, and other benefits.

However, over 122,000 salaried retirees and their surviving spouses were not part of the UAW agreement and have had no representation in discussions about the new GM. These non-union, salaried retirees were engineers, project managers, clerks, and other employees. Many earned annual salaries equal to or less than the wages earned by union employees.

For the non-UAW retirees, who live throughout the United States, the current GM proposal would reduce certain benefits by two-thirds, including the outright elimination of dental, vision, and long-term disability coverage. The retirees would see significant increases in premiums, co-payments and deductibles for health care.

The non-UAW retirees also would face an immediate reduction of life insurance benefits following the emergence of the new GM from bankruptcy. In some cases retirees would lose $70,000 or more in life insurance benefits.

"For people living on a fixed income, the benefit losses proposed by GM are breathtaking," said Karen DeOrnellas, Director of Communications for GMRA. "These retirees are old. Many are sick or disabled. In almost all cases they cannot make this money back or return to work."

GM retirees have written GMRA to say the latest proposals for benefit losses will make them choose between paying for prescription drugs and paying for food, electricity, and housing. Many will be unable to replace lost life insurance, jeopardizing the ability of their spouses to remain in their homes.

"We want a reorganized GM to succeed, but bankruptcy shouldn't push tens of thousands of retirees and their families into poverty or endanger their health when those people did nothing wrong," said DeOrnellas.

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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Less Than 1% of Stimulus Funds Allocated to Middle Class Firms

/PRNewswire/ -- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 98% of all U.S. firms have less than 100 employees. Approximately 25 million firms fall into that category. These firms employ over 55% of the private sector workforce and are responsible for over 95% of all new jobs created in America. (www.asbl.com)

The American Small Business League (ASBL) has found of the $2.7 trillion that has been allocated so far to stimulate the national economy, only $21 billion, or less than 1% of the funds have directly gone to small businesses. (http://tinyurl.com/mfzfp7)

The remainder of the funds that were allocated to businesses wound up in the hands of the top 1% of U.S. firms. President Obama has promised to create up to 4.1 million jobs. Census data indicates the top 1% of U.S. firms have not created one net new job since 1977.

There is evidence to suggest the economic stimulus plan is actually harming small businesses. The Wall Street bailout bills were touted as being essential to increasing access to capital for small businesses. Some of the firms that received billions in federal tax dollars are actually cutting access to capital for small businesses. A story in BusinessWeek reported that JPMorgan Chase, one of the largest recipients of the bailout funds, reduced the flow of credit lines for small businesses. (http://tinyurl.com/ou7j79)

Section 107 of the original Wall Street bailout bill gave the Treasury Secretary the power to waive any provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) he chooses. Paragraph 9 (b) of the bill specifically mentions the waiver of "any provision of the Federal Acquisition Regulations pertaining to minority contracting" and the waiver of provisions pertaining to "woman-owned businesses."

The Obama Administration is supporting a new bill in Congress that could dismantle existing federal economic stimulus programs for small businesses by changing the federal definition of a small business. The new definition will allow many of the nations wealthiest venture capitalists to take billions of dollars in federal contracts previously earmarked for small businesses.

In February of 2008 President Obama stated, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." To date, the President has refused to adopt any policy to honor that campaign promise. A series of federal investigations discovered that billions of dollars in federal small business contracts are being diverted to Fortune 1000 firms.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Aflac Lands on Black Enterprise Magazine's List of 40 Best Companies for Diversity

/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac today announced that the Georgia-based insurance provider has been named to Black Enterprise magazine's list of the Top 40 Best Companies for Diversity. It is the fifth consecutive year the company has been named to the prestigious list.

Aflac, with an employee base comprised of 40 percent minorities, and women accounting for more than half of the management team, will be listed in the magazine's July issue, appearing on newsstands on June 30. Nearly 70 percent of Aflac's overall workforce is women.

"Our commitment to diversity has created an environment where wide-ranging ideas have helped our company grow," Aflac chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "We embrace the good fortune of a diverse workforce and are proud of this recognition by Black Enterprise's magazine."

According to the magazine, Aflac demonstrates strength and outperformed peers in three of four key categories, including diversity on the Board of Directors, employee base, senior management and supplier diversity. The 40 best companies for diversity were determined through a survey of major corporations coupled with comprehensive outreach to CEOs and diversity executives working at the top 1,000 publicly traded companies and diversity executives at the 50 leading global companies with strong U.S. operations.

Aflac is one of only three Georgia companies to appear on the 2009 list.

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Historic Signing Finalizes Equivalency Agreement Between U.S. and Canada

/PRNewswire/ -- USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan, today in her keynote address at the Organic Trade Association (OTA)'s All Things Organic(TM) Conference and Trade Show, announced that an equivalency agreement has been reached between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). This historic equivalency agreement will allow the continued smooth flow of certified organic products between the two countries and support the continued growth of this rapidly expanding market in North America. It is the first such equivalency agreement worldwide for the organic industry.

The official signing will take place at Organic Trade Association (OTA)'s All Things Organic(TM) Conference and Trade Show at Lakeview Center, McCormick Place this afternoon during the State of the Organic Industry in North America session. The agreement, signed by the two government agencies, takes effect on June 30.

"This is the first step toward global harmonization of organic standards, and marks an historic moment for the organic community," Merrigan told a standing-room-only audience at All Things Organic(TM).

As a result of the historic equivalency agreement, certified organic products as of July 1 can continue to move freely across the U.S. and Canadian border provided they use the new Canada Organic Biologique label or the USDA Organic seal.

"Consumers will benefit from equivalency, as they have access to a more affordable range of organic products, increased product diversity, and a reliable supply chain. As a result, consumers will continue to have confidence in the organic integrity and government oversight of the products they buy," said Christine Bushway, OTA's Executive Director.

Under equivalency, producers certified to NOP regulations by a USDA accredited certifying agent do not have to double-certify to the Canadian organic standards in order to meet Canadian labeling requirements when exporting to the Canadian market. Similarly, Canadian producers certified to Canadian organic standards by a CFIA accredited certifying body will be deemed equivalent to the NOP to meet the labeling requirements of the U.S. market when selling to the U.S.

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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Seminar on Changes in Labor Law Friday at Clayton State

To learn more about the impact the new Lilly Ledbetter Fair Play Act and other employment law changes will have on Georgia businesses, register for the Clayton State University School of Business’ Labor and Employment Law Seminar and Certification on Friday, June 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the classroom of the School of Business Building on the Clayton State main campus in Morrow.

The seminar will be taught by Dr. Judith Ogden, Clayton State University associate professor of Accounting, and S.L. Macey, a former judge from Indianapolis, In., and a graduate of Indiana University Law School who is currently an arbitrator in Colorado with Judicial Arbiter Group. The cost of the seminar is $99 and includes free parking, continental breakfast and lunch. For more information, call Dr. Michael Tidwell at (678) 466-4546 or go to: http://business.clayton.edu/registration.htm to register.

Other recent changes to employment law that will be discussed include:

New ADA and EEOC Regulations
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
New Family and Medical Leave Act Regulations
Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008
Several Recent Supreme Court Decisions

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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New World Home Achieves Two Historic Green Milestones

/PRNewswire/ -- New World Home has been awarded LEED(R) for Homes Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for outstanding achievement in green homebuilding, representing the first factory-built home in the state of Georgia to earn this designation. In addition, the New World Home project is the first home of any type in Georgia to earn the prestigious Platinum rating without the need for any costly renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, wind turbines or geothermal systems.

The New World Home project, located in East Cobb County, also earned EarthCraft Gold certification as well as National Green Building Certification Gold, which is administered by the NAHB Research Center.

"This home brings green living to its highest level," says Mark Jupiter, co-founder and President of the Product Division for New World Home. "It also reflects our mission to provide traditional-style houses that incorporate a 'whole systems' design approach that results in a minimum 50 percent energy savings annually, reduces water consumption by thousands of gallons a year, provides a non-toxic indoor environment for the occupants and will save homeowners thousands of dollars a year in maintenance costs starting from day one."

Mr. Jupiter adds, "We believe people should be able to live in a home that meets or exceeds the highest green standards in the industry without requiring an array of solar panels on the roof or a wind turbine spinning in the backyard."

The company's trademarked New Old Green Modular(R) (NOGM(R)) design platform incorporates a holistic approach to historically inspired green building. The NOGM process results in homes built to exacting standards in less than 100 days, provides a healthier indoor environment and saves homeowners significant money with ongoing electricity, water, maintenance, heating and cooling expenses. The homes are constructed with lumber from sustainably harvested forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and include ultra efficient HVAC systems and low or no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, adhesives and finishes. Other base features of the NOGM homes include:

-- Spray foam insulated walls and rafters creating an air-tight thermal
envelope
-- Watersense fixtures, home-run plumbing and a tankless water heater
that reduces annual water usage by 40 percent
-- Low-E, argon-filled, dual pane, energy efficient windows that reduce
air leakage
-- Pre-cast, insulated, moisture resistant concrete foundation that
reduces the potential for mold and mildew growth
-- Advanced framing techniques that significantly reduce waste as well as
thermal bridging energy loss
-- Maintenance-free fiber cement exterior siding that will not rot or
warp and is flame and insect resistant
-- Non-Added Formaldehyde cabinets, floors and trim
-- ENERGY STAR(R) rated doors, windows, roof, ceiling fans and appliances
-- And much more ...


All New World Home NOGM designs are LEED(R) for Homes certifiable at a base level. "We want to help homeowners establish a lasting green legacy, a home that they can be proud of and one that will be around and safe for generations to come," says Tyler Schmetterer, the company's co-founder and Chief Operating Officer. "Our turnkey green housing solution is an effective and affordable way for our customers to attain this important life accomplishment."

"Home buyers are eager to embrace energy efficiency - and save money - particularly if they don't need to learn how to use new equipment or monitor expensive technology," says Michael Natbony, the company's Chief Executive Officer. New World Home's commitment to producing environmentally sensitive houses is reflected in the fundamentals of how they're built. "We're offering a sustainable - even transformative - way to design and mass produce the greenest homes on the market that is accessible to as many people as possible," Mr. Natbony said.

The Platinum home in East Cobb showcases one of New World Home's traditional and regionally-derived American designs. According to Mr. Schmetterer, the underlying essence of a New World Home is that it aligns perfectly with the surrounding design vernacular, while simultaneously representing one of the greenest residential structures available in the country today.

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NCR to Build Innovation Hub and Manufacturing Plant in Brazil, Boosting Jobs in the High Tech Segment

(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) announced today that it will create a new manufacturing and research and development center in Brazil to produce technologically advanced, high availability automated teller machines (ATMs) for Brazil, Latin America, and Caribbean markets. The innovation center and manufacturing facility will expand over time to include self-service technologies for a variety of industries.

The new innovation hub will initially create approximately 250 new jobs and enable NCR to deliver world-class solutions and strengthen its competitive position in Brazil, which is a key market in NCR’s growth strategy. Brazil is the third largest ATM market in the world. Retail Banking Research predicts that the Brazil ATM market will grow 16 percent by 2012.

“NCR has been doing business in Brazil for 73 years," said Bill Nuti, NCR’s chairman and chief executive officer. "Our strategic decision to develop an innovation and manufacturing hub for self-service technology in Brazil is yet another step in our commitment to this important market. This investment will move us further towards our goal of becoming Brazil's largest self-service solutions provider and the leader in ATM market share. With this new capability, we believe we will be better positioned to take market share by providing leading hardware, software and service solutions, tailored specifically to meet the needs of our customers and fulfilling our goals of growing our business, while lowering our operating costs. As we invest and create high tech jobs, we will continue to look at our options for further investment in this vital emerging market.”

NCR’s ATM production in the region is currently outsourced to a contract manufacturer. ATM manufacturing and product development will be moved to NCR’s new facility and production is anticipated to begin by December 2009.

NCR will initially invest over R$73 million in building its capabilities in Brazil. The company will manufacture NCR SelfServ, the industry’s newest range of ATMs that are proven to have the highest levels of performance and availability for consumers. In addition, NCR will look to design and engineer specific products to meet the needs of our customers in Brazil.

Financial institutions in Brazil have large ATM estates and require custom design ATMs to deliver their branded look and feel; others require features such as biometric identification and check printers, while all require some variation of high security features.

Earlier this month, NCR announced it will establish a new North American ATM manufacturing facility in Columbus, Ga., creating 870 new jobs that did not exist in NCR previously. All North American ATM manufacturing will take place from the Columbus facility, which will begin ATM production early in the fourth quarter 2009.

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Driver’s Alert Wins State of Georgia Contract

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Driver’s Alert™ (the “Company”), a pioneer in fleet safety and data risk reduction services, today announced that the Department of Administrative Services of the State of Georgia selected the Company to provide its “Report My Driving Solution” for the State’s 15,000 vehicles and 125,000 State employees.

Driver’s Alert’s Total Solution™ Program is an all-in-one, fully integrated system of vehicle observation and reporting, on-line driver safety training and driver risk assessment. The State, which is self-insured, implemented the program to help reduce the annual number of insurance claims and associated expense dollars.

Chris Risley, Director, Risk Management Services for the Department of Administrative Services, said: “We were concerned about the increasing number of vehicular accidents throughout our state agencies. An analysis of the accidents showed an alarming number of fender benders due to sloppy driving. Ultimately, these accidents are paid for by the taxpayers.”

Mr. Risley continued: “We selected Driver’s Alert to help us lower our costs by reducing our risks. They demonstrated the strengths of their program, which combine the identification of unsafe drivers with immediate and effective online corrective-driving safety training, as well as the ability to employ industry-leading metrics such as benchmarking and risk management assessments to measure the effectiveness of the program. After three months of working with Driver’s Alert and the implementation of other sweeping loss control measures, our vehicular accidents are down 21% from the comparable three month period in 2008 at a savings of approximately $130,000 in property damage claims to the State of Georgia taxpayers.”

Mr. Paul C. Milazzo, Co-Founder and Principal of Driver’s Alert, said: “We were pleased to be selected as the State of Georgia’s partner to help identify and correct unsafe driving behaviors. At the end of the day, your ability to truly reduce or eliminate at-fault crashes is what saves lives, property, time and money. We plan to work hard to continue to earn the State’s business and save the taxpayers of Georgia money.”

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Monday, June 15, 2009

Rinnai Corporation Invests $10 Million Capital in U.S. Growth

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rinnai Corporation, the world’s leader in gas appliance manufacturing, announced today that the company will make a $10 million capital investment into their North American subsidiary, Rinnai America Corporation (RAC). This investment represents Rinnai Japan’s ongoing commitment to the North American market and will help fund RAC’s continued dynamic growth. RAC, which has experienced double-digit growth in recent years, continues to be the market leader in tankless water heaters in North America and foresees abundant future growth opportunities.

Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga.

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Thursday, June 11, 2009

Delta: Global Recession, Rising Oil Prices Forcing Additional Changes to Business

/PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today issued the following memo to its more than 70,000 employees worldwide from CEO Richard Anderson and President Edward H. Bastian.

To: Delta Colleagues Worldwide

From: Richard Anderson and Ed Bastian

Subject: Global Recession and Rising Oil Prices Forcing Additional
Changes To Our Business


We are all seeing negative impacts from the global recession and rising oil prices not only in the news, but also in our communities and personal finances. Clearly, the airline industry is not immune. Industry passenger revenues have declined nearly 20 percent in the first four months of the year compared to the same period in 2008. That trend is expected to continue in the near term. On top of this, cost pressures from rising jet fuel prices - up more than 20 percent since the start of the year - coupled with softer travel demand due to the spread of the H1N1 virus, have created a difficult business environment.

These forces that are affecting the industry are creating significant headwinds for Delta. Declining revenues will overtake the more than $6 billion in total benefits we expected this year from lower year-over-year fuel prices, merger synergies and capacity reductions.

This morning, at an investor conference in New York, we will announce additional steps to align our capacity with market demand, preserve liquidity, and ensure Delta's long-term success. This plan includes reducing our system capacity by 10 percent compared to 2008. Capacity reductions will begin in September. In this environment, our merger makes more sense than ever and we will continue to accelerate our integration, as it gives us a competitive advantage and strengthens our financial foundation. We also will maintain tight controls on our costs and capital spending.

Customer demand for international travel has fallen significantly. Accordingly, we plan to reduce our international capacity by an additional 5 percent from what we announced in March, for a 15 percent total reduction in international capacity. This fall's capacity reductions will target routes that have experienced losses in the current economic climate and with higher fuel prices, including:

-- Suspending nonstop service from Atlanta to Seoul and Shanghai and
instead routing customers for these flights over Detroit or Tokyo, or
on nonstop SkyTeam partner flights.
-- Suspending nonstop flights from Cincinnati to Frankfurt and
London-Gatwick. Cincinnati customers will still be able to reach these
and many other international destinations via our other European
gateways.
-- Suspending nonstop service between New York-JFK and Edinburgh.
-- Reducing weekly frequencies connecting Atlanta and Detroit to Mexico
City and postponing some previously planned seasonal service between
non-hub cities and Mexican beach destinations due to the impact of the
H1N1 virus on customers' travel plans.


In keeping with our long-term business plan, we continue to grow the global footprint that is a cornerstone of our successful strategy. While we must reduce capacity this year, our international capacity this fall will still be more than 20 percent larger than it was before our global expansion began in 2005, and we are adding more than 20 new markets to our international network in 2009, including:

-- Los Angeles-Sydney
-- Salt Lake City-Tokyo
-- Detroit-Shanghai
-- New York-Prague
-- Pittsburgh-Paris
-- Atlanta-Johannesburg


By leveraging the unique strengths of our network, hub structure and alliances, we continue to provide the most travel options for our customers. Additional details of network changes are available on DeltaNet.

The additional capacity reductions mean we again must reassess staffing needs. While the challenges of the current environment preclude us from making guarantees, our goal remains to avoid any involuntary furloughs of frontline employees.

We will not allow the economy to negatively affect our merger integration - in fact, the current environment gives additional urgency to accelerate our efforts. You will see us move more quickly to rebrand and consolidate facilities, repaint aircraft and ramp-up our frontline training activities.

These are tough times and people often ask what they can do to contribute. Your most important contribution is to stay focused on doing your job well. We must all continue to deliver excellent customer service, run a strong operation and execute our Flight Plan. The entire industry is dealing with a difficult economy and rising fuel prices, but no one else has the opportunities and the people to match Delta in successfully navigating this crisis. Do what you do well, and we have no doubt that we will win.

Thank you for the incredible work you do for our customers every day. Together, we are building a stronger Delta.

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The Coca-Cola Company Creates New Structure to Integrate Three Key Functions; Promotes Five Executives

(BUSINESS WIRE)--In support of its ongoing productivity and transformation initiatives, The Coca-Cola Company today announced the formation of a new structure that will integrate three core functions: Global Business Services, Global Information Technology and Transformational Productivity. The newly formed organization, Global Business and Technology Services (GBTS), will enable the Company to deliver global business services such as compensation and benefits administration, accounting and financial reporting, and application development and support -- services that are highly dependent on technology and standardized processes – to its business units in a more effective and efficient way.

Effective July 1, Harry Anderson, currently vice president and controller, will lead this new organization and report to Alex Cummings, chief administrative officer, and Gary Fayard, chief financial officer.

Mr. Anderson joined the Company in 2001 and, prior to his most recent role, served as chief financial officer of Coca-Cola North America from 2004-2007. In 2003, he was named vice president and director of Supply Chain and Manufacturing Management. Before joining the Company, he served in roles of increasing responsibility at Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., where he was executive vice president of Finance and Operations for Turner Entertainment Group. Prior to his roles at Turner Broadcasting, Mr. Anderson worked in Audit and Accounting Services at Price Waterhouse. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Alabama.

The Company’s management will recommend at the July Board of Directors meeting that the Board elect Kathy Waller as controller, effective August 1. Ms. Waller is currently vice president and chief of internal audit. Ms. Waller is a Certified Public Accountant who joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1987 as a senior accountant in the Accounting Research Department. Three years later, she became principal accountant for the Northeast Europe/Africa Group and, in 1991, she became marketing controller for the McDonald’s Group. Ms. Waller was then named financial services manager for the Africa Group and The Minute Maid Company in 1996. She served as the director of Financial Reporting from 1998 to 2004 when she assumed her current position. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Waller worked for the firm now known as Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. She received her bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the University of Rochester in New York.

The Company’s management also will recommend at the July meeting that the Board of Directors appoint Connie McDaniel to the role of chief of internal audit, effective August 1. Ms. McDaniel, currently vice president and head of Global Finance Transformation, has played an instrumental role in leading the finance transformation over the last two years.

Previously, Ms. McDaniel served as controller, a role held from 1999 to 2007. Prior to that, she served in other critical leadership roles including division finance manager of Germany, division finance manager of the Southeast and West Asia Division, and director of Financial Reporting. Before joining the Company, Ms. McDaniel spent nine years at Ernst & Young. She has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Georgia State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Jeremy Faa, currently global director of Finance Transformation, will expand his responsibilities to include the overall strategic direction and implementation of the global finance transformation.

Prior to his leadership role in the Finance Transformation, Mr. Faa served as Group CFO and director of Business Strategy for the Pacific Group. He joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1997 and has since held a number of roles, including the Business Development manager and Operations director for Coca-Cola Indonesia and director of Business Planning and executive assistant to the Coca-Cola Asia Group President. Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Mr. Faa was a consultant at the L\E\K Partnership with assignments in Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand. Mr. Faa has degrees in law and commerce from Bond University in Australia.

Ann Taylor, currently vice president and chief financial officer, Transformational Productivity, will head up Global Business Services, effective July 1, reporting to Mr. Anderson. Since joining the Company in 1984, Ms. Taylor has held a variety of finance roles with increasing responsibilities, including director of Investor Relations from 2004 to 2008. Ms. Taylor served as chief financial officer for the Europe, Eurasia and Middle East group, and prior to that role, she was division finance manager for Great Britain and Ireland, division finance manager for Northwest Europe, and chief financial officer for Western Europe. Before joining the Company, she worked at what is now Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Ms. Taylor has a bachelor’s degree in math and economics from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in business from the University of Virginia.

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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

SP Newsprint Announces Market Related Downtime at Dublin, Georgia Mill

/PRNewswire/ -- SP Newsprint Co., LLC announced today that it will take market related downtime at its mill in Dublin, Georgia. The mill will be down from June 5, 2009 through June 21, 2009. This curtailment will result in approximately 25,000 metric tons of reduced production. SP Newsprint will maintain adequate inventories to ensure that its customers will not experience any service interruptions during the shut-down.

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UPS Bailout Opposed by FedEx Express

(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Parcel Service – the 100-year-old company that operated for decades as a parcel-delivery monopoly – is quietly seeking a Congressional bailout designed to limit competition for overnight deliveries, leaving Americans with less reliable next-day delivery network for critical goods like medicines and essential inventory, according to "BrownBailout.com” and a public-education campaign launched today by the creator of the overnight delivery, FedEx Express.

The focus of the campaign is the 230-word bailout to UPS written into the voluminous FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009 currently before Congress that would force FedEx Express – UPS’ primary competitor for next-day deliveries – to operate under a law not designed for airlines and express companies.

“In 1997 UPS experienced a system-wide strike that crippled business and commerce across America. Now it wants Congress to expose FedEx Express to that risk,” said Maury Lane, FedEx Express spokesperson. “America relies too much on the reliability and dependability of the FedEx Express overnight-delivery network, and we can’t allow this bailout to pass only because UPS wants to harm its main competitor.”

UPS and FedEx Express are fundamentally different companies. UPS – the largest political giver to Congress over the decades – is a trucking company, shipping 85 percent of its parcels on the ground. FedEx Express is an airline, flying 85 percent of its packages in the air.

“The operations of an overnight airline and that of a traditional trucking company are radically different. You can’t shoehorn an airline into trucking company’s rules and still expect critical packages to arrive within hours on the other side of the country,” Lane said. “UPS is making a problem where one doesn’t exist. This is a bailout, plain and simple, and the American people won’t stand for it.”

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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

GM Auto Dealerships Seek Special Committee From GM Bankruptcy Trustee

/PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of terminated and soon-to-be-terminated GM auto dealerships, former U.S. Attorney G. Douglas Jones dispatched a letter yesterday to General Motors bankruptcy trustee Diana G. Adams asking that a special committee be established to protect the interests of terminated GM auto dealerships who operate as separate operating entities and have provided hundreds of millions in tax revenues to state and local governments.

"The best way to at least create a seat at the table for the affected dealers and the claims they represent in the bankruptcy is the appointment of a Terminated Dealers Committee," wrote Jones. "The significant interest these dealers have in the orderly bankruptcy process and the interplay of the dealers' rights under both bankruptcy law and applicable state laws is vital. The appointment of such a committee is crucial in these opening days as important decisions concerning the future of General Motors are being reached."

GM announced last month that they intended to slash auto dealerships by 42 percent from 2008 to 2010 levels. Dealerships will be reduced by 2,641 locations, from 6,246 to 3,605.

The proposal came in reaction to auto dealerships being left out of the restructuring. "Unlike many of the major affected players, including the United States government, United Auto Workers, major suppliers, bond holders and multi-million dollar pension funds, these small town dealerships risk having no voice in the General Motors bankruptcy," Jones wrote.

Jones added, "It is important to note that these dealerships are wholly-owned and separate operating entities apart from General Motors. In fact, many of these dealerships are operating companies that have successfully been in existence and turning a profit for years. For example, our client, Abercrombie Chevrolet has been in existence for over 52 years and has been a family owned General Motors dealership operating in Hartselle, Alabama. The Abercrombie family, along with owners and families throughout this country, are being severely impacted by the General Motors bankruptcy."

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Baskin-Robbins Opens Albany, Augusta and Savannah, Georgia for Franchise Sales; Plans Nearly 30 New Stores

/PRNewswire/ -- Baskin-Robbins, America's favorite ice cream shop, is rapidly expanding its national footprint with today's announcement that Albany, Augusta and Savannah, Georgia are now open for franchise sales. Nearly 30 new stores are projected throughout the three cities and the surrounding communities.

Baskin-Robbins currently operates more than 6,000 stores in 35 countries and opened more than 600 stores globally in 2008. With a domestic footprint of nearly 2,700 locations, Baskin-Robbins is now seeking exceptional franchisee candidates in Georgia to be part of an unprecedented growth campaign designed to increase its U.S. presence over time. Built over the last 64 years, Baskin-Robbins currently enjoys 98 percent brand awareness across the country and was named for the second consecutive year the number one ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in Entrepreneur magazine's annual "Franchise 500" ranking.

To fuel this growth in and around Albany, Augusta and Savannah, Baskin-Robbins is actively seeking store developers who possess strong financial backgrounds, the desire to maximize their territory's sales and have a passion for the communities they will serve.

"As the Baskin-Robbins brand continues to develop in Georgia, we're excited to provide new store owners with the unique opportunity to capitalize on their territory's potential, serve as the face of the brand in the community, as well as set the direction of the market's growth," said Salman Siddiqui, vice president of global business development, Baskin-Robbins.

Baskin-Robbins enters 2009 with several new real estate concepts that provide interested area developers with a range of flexible real estate design options. Part ice cream indulgence, dessert-theater and test kitchen rolled into one, the revolutionary Cafe 31 model operates as a high-end dessert bar with unique ice cream and coffee products. Cafe 31 is currently being tested outside of Boston. The traditional concept is an updated, stand-alone store featuring all of Baskin-Robbins' standard equipment and offerings. Traditional stores can also support a drive-thru depending on the real estate selected. Lastly, the BR Express concept is a brand new soft serve-based kiosk design offering a convenient and simplified solution for malls, sports arenas, airports or other small co-branded real estate opportunities.

"By continuing our history of developing new product innovations and keeping our focus on customer service and business success for our franchisees, Baskin-Robbins is providing a completely new experience in 2009," said Siddiqui. "We share common objectives with our store developers, which focus on building and sustaining a profitable business and strong brand in this increasingly challenging economy."

Furthering its commitment to its franchisees, Baskin-Robbins also offers extensive training programs and comprehensive operating systems designed to help build business. A broad franchise support team is geared to simplify operations and includes development and construction experts, operational support professionals, training managers and field marketing managers. Baskin-Robbins also employs state-of-the-art technology and the latest point of sale terminals to help stores run more efficiently and cost effectively. Baskin-Robbins has proven to be a simple business to run with convenient hours of operation, minimal equipment, little waste and a majority of inventory that has a shelf life of one year with proper storage.

Over six decades ago, Baskin-Robbins was founded by ice cream enthusiasts Burton "Burt" Baskin and Irvine "Irv" Robbins who shared a dream to create an innovative ice cream store that would be a neighborhood gathering place for families. Today, over 300 million people visit Baskin-Robbins each year to sample the more than 1,000 flavors available in its ice cream library, as well as enjoy its full array of frozen treats including ice cream cakes, frozen beverages and sundaes.

"Baskin-Robbins will satisfy a growing demand in and around Albany, Augusta and Savannah for high-quality ice cream, specialty frozen desserts and beverages," said Siddiqui. "Over the past 64 years, Baskin-Robbins has become the brand of choice for consumers and has consistently delighted them with our irresistible flavors and treats. We look forward to being an important part of the community."

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Tuesday, June 2, 2009

NCR to Move Corporate Headquarters to Georgia

Fortune 500 company’s headquarters relocation, new ATM manufacturing facility will bring a total of 2,120 jobs to state

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today NCR will dramatically increase its presence in Georgia, relocating its corporate headquarters to Duluth moving 1,250 jobs to the state. The Fortune 500 company, the world’s leading provider of ATMs, self-checkout and other innovative assisted- and self-service solutions, will also establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Columbus that will employ an additional 870 people over the next five years.

“Today’s announcement is just the latest example of how strong the relationship is between this great multi-national company and our state,” said Governor Perdue. “Georgia is truly a one stop shop as a headquarters location for a worldwide leader such as NCR. We look forward to helping the company thrive thanks to our global business environment, outstanding education and workforce development initiatives and a quality of life that is second to none.”

NCR’s decision to locate its ATM production in Columbus follows its announcement in October 2008 that it will establish a global Center of Excellence in Peachtree City. The Center will see NCR co-locate several key components of its Worldwide Customer Service operations and create 916 jobs over 26 months. NCR's retail line of business is already based in Duluth. The company is creating or retaining a total number of 3,036 jobs in Georgia based on all three phases of the project.

NCR will take advantage of an aggressive leadership training program delivered by the University System of Georgia’s Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP). In addition, the company will partner with the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) and the Georgia Institute of Technology’s College of Computing, Health Systems Institute, Industrial and Systems Engineering School and College of Management to keep its management, products and services on the leading edge of innovation. Georgia Quick Start will also provide the company with a customized new program targeted at leadership and innovation training. The Columbus facility will produce advanced technology that enables consumers to use ATM kiosks for a growing range of financial transactions, such as no-envelope, intelligent deposit. The company will begin recruiting immediately and will transfer all ATM manufacturing for North America to the new facility by the end of 2009.

“The decision to consolidate functions in Georgia and build a technology focused corporate headquarters campus is right in line with our business strategy to drive growth, improve our innovation output, increase productivity and continually upgrade our focus on the customer,” said Bill Nuti, NCR’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We will decrease time-to-market for innovative solutions, improve our internal collaboration, deliver next generation employee education programs and lower our current operating costs. NCR is already benefiting from Georgia’s pro-business environment through our existing operations. For example, we have recently created NCR University, working in partnership with world-class academic institutions in Georgia.”

NCR’s total investment will be $30 million and annual payroll will exceed $150 million, enabling the company to take advantage of the Mega Job Tax Credit newly updated by the Georgia Legislature and signed into law by Governor Perdue.

NCR joins 13 other Fortune 500 companies and 29 other Fortune 1,000 companies located in Georgia, including the corporate headquarters for AGCO, AFLAC, The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, Merial, Mueller Water Products, Newell-Rubbermaid, Porsche and UPS. Among the attributes that help multinational companies thrive in the state are:

Global access

o Georgia is home to the world’s busiest airport and the world’s largest airline, serving 6 continents and 180 U.S. destinations with non-stop
service.
o Georgia has more than half a million foreign-born residents served by more than 100 consulates, international trade offices and bi-national
chambers of commerce as well as numerous cultural organizations.
o Georgia’s 10 international offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas connect companies to global business opportunities.

Talented workforce pool

o Georgia ranks 4th in the U.S. at attracting newcomers, with a net gain of about 315,000 new residents between 2005 and 2007.
o Georgia has a young population and strong in-migration. More than half the population is ages 20-54, and over 100,000 people move here each
year.
o The Atlanta region is 1st in the U.S. for growth in highly-educated people ages 25-34 — the most coveted demographic in the nation.

Top-ranked academic institutions

o The University System of Georgia is among the largest in the country, graduating around 44,000 students each year.
o College enrollment in metro Atlanta is growing faster than in any other top U.S. higher education center, and is outpacing the rate of population
growth in the metro region.
o The Atlanta region’s rate of growth in number of degrees awarded is 2nd-highest in the country.

Quality of life

o Georgia is the only state in the U.S. that guarantees state high school graduates who have a “B” average or better a free technical or university
education through the HOPE Scholarship program.
o Georgia’s cost of living is below the national average.
o Georgia’s mild climate leads not only to few workplace interruptions due to weather events, but the ability for citizens to take advantage of
outdoor activities year-round.

About NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation (NYSE: NCR) is a global technology company leading how the world connects, interacts and transacts with business. NCR’s assisted- and self-service solutions and comprehensive support services address the needs of retail, financial, travel, healthcare, hospitality, entertainment, gaming and public sector organizations in more than 100 countries.

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