From the Governor’s Office: Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Georgia has been named the “Top State for Business” by Area Development, a leading publication covering corporate site selection and relocation, for the sixth year in a row. The results are determined by the publication’s poll of site consultants.

“I am exceptionally proud that Georgia has once again been named the Top State for Business by Area Development,” said Governor Kemp. “This announcement serves as a powerful testament to what we all know to be true: Georgia is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Our efforts to cut red tape and ensure our business environment leads the nation continue to lure world-class companies to the Peach State from every corner of the map.

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The City of Commerce, in Jackson County, Georgia has been making headlines recently, and for all good reasons. The County is expected to see an influx of jobs thanks to SK Innovation, which intends to build a $1.67 billion factory to supply batteries for electric-powered vehicles. The Electric Vehicle (EV) market is booming, with some forecasts indicating that more than 7 to 8 million EVs could be on the road within five years.

The deal, originally announced in November 2018,  between SK Group and Georgia is the biggest since Kia Motors opened its doors in West Point about ten years ago. The impact will be felt in Jackson County and the entire state with an estimated 2,000 jobs injected into the market, with full jobs potential expected to be reached by 2025. (more…)

Businesses want to keep energy costs down and utilities want to see load grow. That’s the bottom line in economic development. But that’s not all there is to it. Communities and businesses have varying goals that require a careful match to find the right fit.

To help grow and improve their communities, public power utilities are playing a bigger role in economic development programs, and site selectors are welcoming their input.
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