Eight businesses in Newton County were honored for their contribution to the economic engine of the region. Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue designated April 12 – 16 as Manufacturing Appreciation Week. Newton County Government, the City of Covington, the Covington/Newton Chamber of Commerce and DeKalb Technical College partnered to honor manufacturing at a local luncheon on June 8.

The eight companies included: Nisshinbo Automotive, FiberVision, General Mills, Beaver Manufacturing, Clairon Metals, SKC, Tread Technologies and Pactiv. All of the companies were nominated in various size categories for state-wide recognition. Local leaders took the initiative to honor these companies on a regional level. Representatives from each of the companies were recognized and honored with a plaque at the luncheon.

Manufacturing in Georgia provides approximately 450,000 jobs, providing almost 10 percent of the state’s employment. The Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development uses this time of year to promote awareness of manufacturing in the state. Dr. Robin Hoffman, President of DeKalb Technical College said, "These companies are the economic life-blood of this region. They are deserving of our recognition and support."

DeKalb Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, promotes a student-centered environment for lifelong learning and development, encompassing academic and technical education for employment in a global community. The college has eight centers of learning in DeKalb, Newton, Rockdale and Morgan counties. Established in 1961, DeKalb Technical College currently has more than 4,000 students enrolled in diploma or degree programs and more than 9,000 in adult education classes. Academic and Technical programs at DeKalb Tech cover more than 100 different occupations. For more information visit their website at www.dekalbtech.edu.