A Forsyth County-based metal fabrication and welding contractor has leased 60,000 square feet of space at the former Dawsonville Family Fun Center. LCG Welding, a division of LCG Incorporated, General Contractors, LLC, headquartered in Cumming, signed a long-term lease April 1 with property owner Christ Fellowship Church in order to expand its welding division, according to the company's general manager. "We just got too big for our building in Forsyth," said Jay Greenwood, general manager with LCG. "We had to make changes and expand because the volume of our business requires it. And, our customers demanded it." In business 17 years, LCG Incorporated specializes in steel stair fabrication and designs and installs interior and exterior steel stairs, landings and railings primarily for apartment complexes throughout the United States, Greenwood said. The company's headquarters is located at 4625 Church Road, Cumming, off Settingdown Road. There will be approximately 20-25 employees working out of the Dawsonville location. An additional 25 work from the Forsyth office. "A few years ago, we purchased a welding company that was going out of business, so we could diversify and weather this economic storm," Greenwood added. "And, we were looking for a site to grow that side of the business. Dawson County treated us with open arms . . . they got everybody around the table to get the permits we needed to get up and running. Plus, the tax structure is much better." Dawson County Commission Chair Mike Berg agrees. "We are blessed with a professional government team in conjunction with EWSA (Etowah Water and Sewer Authority) that tries to make the business entry process seamless," he said. "Every time a company comes to Dawson County it brings job opportunities for our citizens and helps support a low property tax base. According to Greenwood, it took LCG's crews one month to gut the interior of the former Dawsonville Family Fun Center, which included removing a bowling alley, go-cart track and mini-golf course. "It was really something, but now we're down to the cement floors and are ready to bring in our cranes and equipment in to get to work," he said. The company also manufacturers metal security barricades and bollards. A bollard is a short vertical post which can serve for "anti-ram perimeter defense" and are also widely used for traffic direction and control. LCG, LLC, is owned by John Lester. Lester and Greenwood own homes in Dawson County. "We are extremely happy to have such a great facility in a small town that cares so much about its community," said Lester. "LCG Welding looks forward to be a blessing to the community of Dawsonville anyway we can." Greenwood said the company will be hiring in the near future. "We are really blessed," he said. "Things are still a little tough, but we have thrived through a really tough economy and we're really proud of that. We plan to begin hiring welders and installers, but we're just getting started. It will be a year or so before we have our feet under us. "We think the economy is starting to turn," Greenwood said.
LCG Welding moving to Dawson
