WITH THE NEWS OF LAYOFFS AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES CLOSING DOWN IN NORTHWEST GEORGIA, AREA BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS HAVE THEIR ATTENTION TURNED TO A MAJOR AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURER MOVING INTO THE CHATTANOOGA AREA.  OFFICIALS WITH VOLKSWAGEN ARE CONSIDERING A NEW U.S. ASSEMBLY PLANT AND CHATTANOOGA IS ON THE SHORT LIST OF AREAS WHERE THE PLANT MAY BE BUILT.  A NUMBER OF INDUSTRY EXPERTS AGREE THAT CHATTANOOGA MAY OFFER THE BEST SITE FOR THE POTENTIAL PLANT.  WITH CHATTOOGA COUNTY BEING LOCATED ONLY 40 MILES SOUTH OF CHATTANOOGA AND UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT IS APPROACHING 15%, NEWS OF JOBS IN THE AREA COULD BE A WELCOME RELIEF. THE GERMAN AUTOMAKER IS EXPECTED TO MAKE A DECISION THIS SUMMER REGARDING THE PLANT CONSTRUCTION.