fyi – GA’s Energy Cities at Work

• A City’s Craft – More Innovation – Georgia cities are innovating with microtransit in Norcross, solar recycling in Cartersville, historic revival in Hogansville, and a new hotel boosting Bainbridge’s economy.
• A Case Study in Job Creation & Innovation – In the City of LaFayette in 2021, GE Appliances, a Haier company, announced an investment of $118 million at its Roper Corporation plant creating 600 new jobs..
• Housing Availability & Affordability – Across the country, housing is on everyone’s mind. GA’s Energy Cities are tackling housing challenges with innovative solutions, from workforce housing grants to prefab construction.

Welcome to Georgia

Forty years ago, in 1984, the cities that owned and operated electric systems launched an initiative to welcome industry to Georgia. In these four decades, first under the MEAG Power flag and then with the ECG staff, the cities have worked to invite the site industry to our state. The foresight of this initiative helped craft a national reputation for Georgia as a welcoming place for expanding businesses. 

A City’s Craft – More Innovation
Our Georgia Energy Cities embrace innovation to enhance mobility, sustainability, and economic growth. From cutting-edge transit solutions to solar recycling and revitalized historic spaces, these forward-thinking projects are shaping vibrant, resilient communities.

• Norcross: A microtransit pilot program offers residents an affordable, on-demand shared-ride service in partnership with Gwinnett County and the Gateway85 CID.
• Hogansville: The historic Royal Theater, once the largest between Atlanta and Columbus, has been restored with a $3.7M investment, bringing films, music, and live entertainment back to the community.
• Cartersville: Solar manufacturer Qcells is launching the nation’s first fully integrated solar supply chain, partnering with Solarcycle to recycle decommissioned panels and reduce landfill waste.
• Bainbridge: A new $26.5M Element by Marriott Hotel will boost tourism, increase tax revenue, and support the local economy in Georgia’s Bass Capitol.

A Case Study in Job Creation and Innovation
In the City of LaFayette in 2021, GE Appliances, a Haier company, announced an investment of $118 million at its Roper Corporation plant, creating 600 new jobs. This operation has created jobs in LaFayette since 1973, and the 2021 investment enabled an infusion of new manufacturing capacity, including advanced manufacturing technology. 

Baby boomers remember the highly successful harvest gold and avocado green GE appliance product line that commanded the market in the 70s. New generations demand the sleek stainless steel Monogram line, GE’s luxury brand. Today, Roper Corporation’s production contributes more than $2.4B to Georgia’s gross domestic product.

Housing Availability & Affordability
Across the country, housing is on everyone’s mind. Solutions vary from tiny homes, accessory dwelling units in the back of existing homes, luxury home builders cutting overall square footage, workforce and market-rate housing, and multi-family developments.

Between 1995 and 2006 nearly 1.1 million new homes were built in Georgia. Between 2012 and 2023, only 625,000 were built. 
^{Georgia Public Policy Foundation April 17, 2024}

Where are ECG Cities finding solutions to housing challenges?

• Sylvester: The City of Sylvester was awarded a $1.3M+ grant for infrastructure improvements to support the Quail Pines Subdivision, which will feature 20-64 new homes. This initiative, a partnership between the city and local developer Quail Pines of Sylvester, LLC, contributes to a total infrastructure investment of over $1.8M to enhance local housing option.
  
• Fairburn: Resia, a new manufacturing industry, is bringing a unique approach to affordable housing with its 252,000 square-foot facility. By producing prefabricated housing components with pre-installed mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems off-site, Resia significantly reduces construction timelines, providing a faster and more affordable housing solution. The company currently has 1,365 apartment units under development in Georgia, bringing more affordable and sustainable options to the state.
  
• Lawrenceville/Gwinnett County: To address the growing need for affordable housing, Gwinnett County is focusing on first-time homebuyers with developments like Forkview. This project will offer 21 starter homes, set to be completed by 2024, as part of a broader effort to add 1,100 affordable housing units to the area. These homes will help ease the housing crunch for those entering the market for the first time.
  
• Cartersville: Downtown Cartersville is seeing the rise of City Overlook, a townhome development offering 18 units, each featuring 2,450 square feet of living space. This new residential project is part of the city’s efforts to provide more housing options in its growing downtown area, blending modern living with the charm of the city’s heart.
  
• Calhoun: Positioned between Atlanta and Chattanooga, the City of Calhoun is gaining attention for its market-rate Salacoa community. This waterpark-style development features a 13-acre greenspace, lake, walking trails, and resort-style amenities, making it an attractive option for families seeking affordable homes with access to high-end amenities.

Innovation Spark! Two of the more recent Rural Zone designees are the cities of Ellaville and Blakely. ECG’s Technical Solutions team assisted with the development of a downtown market assessment, relevant maps and associated GIS data. Ellaville was further assisted in research, analytics and the final document. 

Both cities sparked local-focused champions and revitalized the Downtown Development Authorities. To date, almost half of the 56 Rural Zone designees are Georgia Energy Cities, a city with either electric or natural gas systems or both. The Department of Community Affairs initiated Rural Zones to provide private sector incentives for development to grow jobs. 

For our past publications, explore more here.