On Friday (12/5/2014) Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland and M-TEK officials announced the company will build its North American headquarter operations in this city's Gateway district. The announcement represents the creation of 250 jobs and an estimated investment of $13.4 million.

"We are happy to have this opportunity to announce this milestone event in M-TEK's history," said President and CEO Masaki Sugisawa. "We are pleased to call Rutherford County home to our North American Headquarters."

Construction of the 63,800-square foot, two-level building, will be located on 10 acres on the northwest side of Gateway Boulevard and Garrison Drive. It is expected to be completed in August, 2016. The headquarter facility will support operations in Mexico, Michigan, Ohio, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as Manchester, Smyrna and Chattanooga, Tenn.

"We want to congratulate M-TEK on the decision to expand its presence in Tennessee with the new Murfreesboro headquarters location, and we thank the company for the new jobs created in our state," Gov. Bill Haslam said. "Today's announcement is another signal of Tennessee's momentum in the automotive industry, and we are grateful to the company for bringing us one step closer to our goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs."

"It's an exciting day for the City of Murfreesboro," Mayor Shane McFarland said. "We welcome M-TEK to our community and look forward to a successful, long-lasting partnership."

M-TEK manufacturers a wide range of automotive parts for several North American assembly plants that include door trip panels, rear shelf, trunk trim, dash insulators and plastic injection trim. To meet the growing global market demands, M-TEK also provides export sales to Mexico and Asia.

"Tennessee is at the epicenter of the new Southern Automotive Corridor, and I am pleased companies like M-TEK understand the distinct competitive advantage that locating a headquarters here offers," Hagerty said. "Our stable fiscal environment, pro-business philosophy, ideal location and quality workforce are proving time and again to be the smartest choice for successful business operations of companies around the world."

"M-TEK is a welcome addition to our well-established family of top companies," said Rutherford County Mayor Ernest Burgess. "We are thrilled the company has chosen our community to do business and provide jobs."

"Destination Rutherford is committed to creating high-quality jobs for our community," said Destination Rutherford Chairman Bill Jones. "M-TEK's decision to locate their North American headquarters here is additional testament to our thriving business community."

M-TEK is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kasai Kogyo Co. Ltd., a Japanese automotive parts manufacturer of 68 years, with facilities located throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Kasai is known worldwide for its innovative technology and high-quality products.

The Rutherford County Chamber's partnership with the State of Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development, the Department of Labor and the Tennessee Valley Authority is paramount in recruiting new jobs to Rutherford County.

Since its inception in 2002, Destination Rutherford has been the leader in economic development in Rutherford County, and continues to focus on increased tourism and new business attraction, retention and expansion, and developing critical workforce development programs.