A pair of announcements from near opposite ends of the state continue the good news of economic development in Georgia. On Tuesday, in far southwest Georgia Clay County, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle joined members from the Georgia House of Representatives and Clay County officials to announce an $89 million investment by the Silicon Ranch Corporation, Shell’s solar subsidiary. And on Wednesday, up in Hall County, Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Fox Factory Holding Corp., will be creating 800 jobs and investing up to $50 million in new facilities.
The solar project in Clay County is part of a partnership between Silicon Ranch and Green Power EMC, the renewable energy arm of the 38 Georgia Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs). The facilities are slated to come online before 2022 and will generate more than 100 megawatts of power – enough power to serve more than 19,000 homes for the next 30 years.
Cagle praised the investment as both a benefit for development in rural Georgia and its role in expanding renewable energy in Georgia. “Growing diverse industry hubs across our rural communities will ensure our state continues to be the nation’s number one place to do business – and the impact of this major investment will be felt across Clay County and Southwest Georgia for years to come. Silicon Ranch is truly a leader in solar innovation – and I commend them for investing in Georgia and developing strong partnerships with our electric cooperatives to bring cutting-edge renewable infrastructure to our state,” said Cagle.
Representative Gerald Green (R-151 Cuthbert) highlighted the benefits for the economy in rural Georgia. “This significant capital investment will provide new tax revenues for the county government and the school system, and provide a real stimulus to the local economy in Clay County which, like many rural counties in Georgia, has not benefited from the growth and prosperity enjoyed by Metro Atlanta and other urban areas,” said Greene.
The announcement by Fox in Hall County is a relocation of its corporate headquarters to Georgia. The 23-acre site will help to expand the company’s manufacturing platform and provide long-term capacity for growth. Fox is moving its corporate headquarters from Scotts Valley, California to its existing offices in Georgia by the end of the year.
“Georgia provides the business environment and skilled workforce for innovative companies like Fox Factory Holding Corp. to enjoy long-term success and compete worldwide,” said Deal. “By relocating its headquarters to Georgia and expanding its facilities in Hall County, the company will continue to enjoy the benefits of the No. 1 state for business, including our expansive logistics infrastructure and a low-tax climate conducive to manufacturing.”
“We are pleased to announce our new state-of-the-art campus in Hall County, Georgia,” said Larry L. Enterline, CEO of Fox Factory Holding Corp. “This new site will allow us to add an additional world-class manufacturing operation for our Powered Vehicles Group that we intend to be ISO9001 and IATF 16949 certified, and will increase our ability to better serve our OEM customers and on-road aftermarket business.”
