AMERICUS — Southeast Railcar and Locomotive Services Inc. will locate its new facility in Sumter County, according to David Garriga, executive director of the Americus-Sumter County Payroll Development Authority (PDA). The new company will repair and certify railcars of all types for the rail industry nationwide. Garriga said that the location of this business could not have come at a better time.

“I am very pleased that the PDA could help make the location of this new business possible,” Garriga said.

“This company could have located in any community that contained adequate rail infrastructure, but Sumter County was picked because the community was aggressive in providing incentive programs and technical training.”

The new facility, located on the Heart of Georgia (HOG) Railroad, offers a full array of car repair and maintenance services. By locating on the HOG Railroad, the new facility can receive direct interchange from either NS or CSX, saving car owners multiple moves to reach car repair services.

Brad Lafevers, HOG chairman and CEO, said he and Duane Broxterman, president, are grateful to have Frank Wilkerson, vice president and general manager, and Mike Carnes, vice president and chief mechanical officer on the management team.

Broxterman said, “Our business has come to Sumter County at a good time for both the community and company; it will bring jobs opportunities and provide a much needed service to the rail car owners.”

Wilkerson has joined Southeast Railcar as vice president and general manager. He brings 27 years of car repair and service knowledge to the company. He spent the last five years as the general manager of Fitzgerald Railcar Co.

"I am excited about the opportunity to build a state of the art repair facility, and feel that the location on the Heart of Georgia Railroad will allow our company to provide outstanding service to car owners operating fleets in the southeast," said Wilkerson.

Wally Summers, vice president/Economic Development Service, South Georgia Technical College (SGTC), said that Southeast Railcar and Locomotive Services will partner with SGTC to create new training opportunities for the college while preparing students with required skills to enter into the railcar repair industry.

Southeast Railcar and Locomotive Services will partner with the college and contribute labor and materials to build an on-campus railcar lab with a section of track and retired railcars to utilize in hands-on training. SGTC will be able to utilize existing college facilities and course work in conjunction with the new field lab to offer new training opportunities.

This partnership will enhance both opportunities afforded by the college and for Southeast Railcar and Locomotive Services to maintain on ongoing pipeline of qualified employment candidates to fuel company growth.