On Thursday, Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that Duckshin Housing, a construction materials manufacturer, would be opening its first U.S. facility in Athens-Clarke County, which will invest more than $15 million and create 100 new jobs.
“Since 2019, we have announced more than 3,400 new jobs and $903 million in investments in Athens-Clarke County, thanks to the dedication of our local partners and hardworking economic developers,” said Kemp. “We’re proud to welcome Duckshin Housing as the latest job creator in this growing list as we continue to bring opportunity to all parts of the state.”
Duckshin Housing was established in 1980 and is headquartered in Seoul, Korea. The company creates architectural deck plates and frames.
“Construction companies of all sizes need new types of well-designed and efficiently made deck-plates for workers to safely work from,” said Myung Hwan Kim, Chairman of Duckshin Housing. “By coming to Athens, we can be closer to growing and new construction projects in Georgia and all states of the U.S. We are excited to join the Athens-Clarke community and look forward to this new opportunity.”
According to a press release from Kemp’s office, “Duckshin’s new facility will be located on Olympic Drive at the Athena Industrial Park in Athens, and construction is expected to begin later this year. When open, Duckshin will be hiring for welder, machine operator, forklift driver, and other operations positions. Job postings will be made to the company’s website when available, and Duckshin plans to work with local employment services as well.”
Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Commissioner Pat Wilson also responded to the announcement, saying, “Locating construction material companies like Duckshin in the state not only creates jobs for our communities but can reduce construction costs for future facilities.”
“Advanced manufacturing is one of Georgia’s leading industries, which announced more than 7,700 new jobs through economic development projects across the state in the last six months of 2022. The new facility in Athens-Clarke County will be able to support continued growth in this industry,” Wilson added.