As a result of a record-breaking 419 expansion or relocation projects throughout Georgia, the state’s Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce Division (GDEcD) helped create a total of 27,373 new jobs in Georgia in fiscal year 2018 and generated $5.56 billion in total investments in the state, according to an announcement Thursday by Gov. Nathan Deal.
“Industry leaders and companies from around the world continue to choose Georgia thanks to the world-class, business-friendly environment we have built over the last eight years,” said Deal. “Georgia’s unparalleled resources, including our highly skilled workforce and our physical and digital infrastructure, continue to attract international companies that are planning to expand or relocate. These numbers reflect Georgia’s appeal to global job creators and translate to real economic growth in our communities and new job opportunities for families across the state. Nearly 80 percent of these projects brought investments to communities outside of the metro Atlanta area, demonstrating the depth of talent, investment and connectivity available in every corner of the state.”
Shortly after the Governor’s announcement, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga) applauded the accomplishments. Isakson, a member of both the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has been actively engaged in trade issues that have been at the forefront of negotiations between the United States and a number of countries.
“Overseas and foreign investments in our state have played a key role in creating quality growth and quality jobs for hardworking Georgians, and that’s precisely why I’m committed to ensuring a level playing field on trade and to working against tariffs and trade barriers that could hurt our state’s positive momentum,” said Isakson.
“From advocating for more competitive trade policies to supporting our ports, and from education and workforce training to lowering taxes and cutting regulations, the federal government’s policy moves should be a catalyst rather than a barrier to these investments that make a big difference to our economy and Georgians’ pocketbooks,” Isakson continued.
GDEcD’s Global Commerce Division is responsible for helping companies from around the world locate or expand in Georgia. The division partners with state agencies and local communities throughout the state to facilitate job growth and investment.
“With the support of the General Assembly and local officials, Georgia has established a worldwide reputation as a reliable and innovative place for businesses of all sizes to plan for future growth,” said Gov. Deal. “I commend Commissioner Pat Wilson for his leadership, as well as the dedicated GDEcD team that works to keep Georgia on the minds of business executives around the world. As we head
further into this century of promise and work to maintain Georgia’s position of leadership on the international stage, we are creating opportunities today and for generations to come. While we have cemented our reputation as the No. 1 state in which to do business, we are also making Georgia the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
Highlights for FY 18:
* 419 projects generated $5.56 billion in investments and created 27,373 jobs.
* Nearly 80 percent of projects were located outside of metro Atlanta counties, resulting in the creation of 14,447 jobs and $4.6 billion in investments.
* Businesses already located in Georgia created 13,864 jobs and generated $2.84 billion in investments.
* Companies new to the state created 13,499 jobs and generated $2.72 billion in investments.
* There was job growth of 153 percent in the software and technology sectors, and 83 percent for data centers.
* 89 international projects (Foreign Direct Investment) created more than 6,800 jobs and generated more than $1.9 billion in investments.
* European companies included 49 locations, created 3,831 jobs and generated $837 million in investments. Companies from the United Kingdom, France and Germany led European companies in job creation.
* Companies based in Asian countries included 24 locations, created 1,822 jobs and generated $489 million in investments. Korean and Japanese companies provided the largest investments among Asian companies.
* GDEcD’s Entrepreneur and Small Business team served 586 businesses, 60 percent of which are startup companies.
