Preservation group commits to 2014 conference
Savannah will host one of the country’s premier preservation organizations once again when the National Trust for Historic Preservation comes to Savannah for its 2014 annual convention, its first visit since 1998.
“We identified this conference as a ‘blue chip opportunity’ for our city some time ago and worked closely with the Historic Savannah Foundation to get the deal done,” said Visit Savannah President Joseph Marinelli.
Historic Savannah Foundation president and CEO Daniel G. Carey said the national preservation conference is the country’s most important convening of preservationists.
“We are honored that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has selected Savannah for its 2014 meeting,” Carey said.
The group will be in town Nov. 6–17 with more than 1,500 people. The conference is expected to seal nearly 2,500 hotel nights and create more than $720,000 in visitor spending.
International Paper Savannah mill’s giving
In a summary of its corporate contributions to the community, International Paper’s Savannah mill reports its United Way campaign has contributed more than $150,000 for the last three years to local United Way agencies.
In addition, the mill awards $60,000 annually to nonprofit organizations through the IP Foundation and more than $75,000 in sponsorships and in-kind donations.
Plus, International Paper employees also donate their time to a variety of nonprofit organizations during the year through company initiatives and other volunteer organizations, the company said.
“The Savannah mill is glad to support our local community in ways that are meaningful and impactful,” said mill communications manager Karen Bogans.
Overall, the firm said, International Paper provides more than $10 million to support thousands of charitable organizations in the communities where its employees live and work.
LMI closes on firm’s purchase
LMI Aerospace Inc. (Nasdaq:LMIA), a leading supplier of structural assemblies, kits and components and provider of design engineering services to the aerospace and defense industries, has announced that it completed its acquisition of Valent Aerostructures LLC.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Valent is a leading provider of complex, structural components, major sub-assemblies and machined parts for OEM and Tier 1 airframe manufacturers in the aerospace and defense industries.
LMI paid $237 million for Valent’s stock and issued 784,000 shares of LMI common stock to former Valent shareholders. In connection with the closing, LMI completed its previously announced debt refinancing and entered into a $300 million credit arrangement.
LMI has 55 employees in Savannah and was named by the Savannah Morning News as the area’s 2012 Manufacturer of the Year.