by Ty Tagami | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA — It was another boom year for Georgia, as businesses continued flocking to the state, burnishing its record as the No. 1 place to do business.
A record-breaking $26.3 billion flowed into the Peach State for the fiscal year that ended June 30, as companies expanded or established new locations. That is according to the office of Gov. Brian Kemp, which said the growth will translate to 23,300 new private-sector jobs over the next few years.
Area Development magazine has consistently ranked Georgia as the top state for business.
Kemp credited the state Department of Economic Development with fostering an attractive business environment. The state has supplied over $18 million to help rural communities prepare new industrial sites through its Rural Site Development Initiative, Kemp’s office said. There are now more than 70 certified sites.
Kemp said the effort “will pay off for generations.”
Company expansions at existing locations were the major driver, with 77% of the growth occurring outside metro Atlanta. But the 10-county Atlanta region remains a business hub, hosting major companies such as Duracell and Mercedes-Benz.
International investment was a major reason for the continued growth, with more than 6,500 jobs coming from expansions or new locations at companies from countries such as the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Canada.
State lawmakers pledged to continue collaborating with the Kemp administration, crediting the state’s ports, railways, energy systems and other infrastructure — and higher education.
“We continue to invest in workforce programs to ensure a steady talent pipeline with our existing industry partners,” Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said. “These investments and initiatives will ensure we have a workforce that is growing and able to meet skillsets for jobs of today and tomorrow.”
