MG International, an expanding business that has operated in Paulding County since 1996, won the 2012 Industry of the Year award at Paulding Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Industry Appreciation Breakfast Wednesday.

The company is an automotive supplier which employs 170 people, making stereo, heating and cooling consoles for Nissan and Toyota vehicles.

MG International is expanding, because it is manufacturing a product for a new automobile, company officials said.

The new expansion is a $9.5 million investment for the company and will create 30 new jobs over the next three years.

“We have been in Paulding County since 1996, when we opened our first North American business,” said Tiger Yamamoto, President of MG International. “We love this location.”

T&R Fixtures was awarded the Manufacturer of the Year award. The company makes retail fixturing and custom closets. They employ 50 people and have been in business in Paulding since 1999.

Armacell, which makes insulation products, was given the 2012 Safety award. It employs 27 and has operated in Paulding County since 1990.

Carl Campbell, regional project manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, was the keynote speaker at the breakfast.

Campbell said his department serves as the marketing arm for the government and state to bring in new business.

“Paulding County is poised well to continue to grow,” Campbell said. “With so many people leaving the county for work, we could help keep folks here at home.”

Campbell said Georgia has a very business-friendly climate and a business-friendly tax wage.

“We are in the middle of the road or better compared to states around us, and we’re a fast-growing state in the fastest-growing region in the U.S,” he said.

Campbell said the state has had about 300 active employer recruitment projects in 2012, which account for a little more than $2.5 billion and 14,000 new jobs.

“Historically, we have closed about 27 percent of projects we start,” Campbell said. “It’s been closer to 33 percent in the last couple of years. I feel like we’re in a good position to get out of the [economic] situation we’re in.”

Campbell said 64 percent of the 2011 economic investment totals were coming from existing industries and small businesses.

“We’re thankful for that,” Campbell told chamber members. “We’re not the team; we’re the helper. Y’all are the team.”