It’s almost a cliché at this point, Georgia is a really good place to do business. Certainly at least as determined by business trade organizations that track such things. On Thursday, Governor Brian Kemp announced that Site Selection had chosen Georgia for the top spot in the annual Prosperity Cup rankings for successful investment recruitment. Criteria for the award are a combination of general business-climate attractiveness, workforce readiness and the totals for new and expanded facilities across the state. As reported recently in James, the electric vehicle industry alone has tallied well into the billions, making Georgia’s leading ranking for expanded facilities little surprise.
“I always proudly tell companies across the country and the world how great Georgia is for operating and growing a business,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “This award from Site Selection just adds to a decade of evidence that the way we do business in the Peach State is working. When job creators choose us, they not only get access to the global market through logistics assets like Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and some of the fastest-growing ports in the nation, they also get a host of incredible partners at the state and local levels.”
One of those electric vehicle facilities is the largest single project in state history, the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America project in Bryan County. Totaling more than $7.5 billion and 8,500 new jobs, that project was just one of 318 new and expanded facilities that fit the criteria for the ranking last year. Over in Decatur County, Anovion Technologies announced plans for an $800 million facility to produce 40,000 metric tonnes of graphite per year. As the statement from Anovion at the time gets to, the rush of investment feeds on itself as other companies are able to benefit from their neighbors. “Not only does existing infrastructure make Southwest Georgia an attractive location for Anovion’s new facility, but the proximity to other battery and EV manufacturing plants will allow us to further reduce our carbon footprint,” said Eric Stopka, CEO of Anovion.
More than 10 Hyundai and other automotive suppliers have located adjacent to the Metaplant since that announcement. Though smaller in scope, these satellite or affiliated businesses total more than 4,000 jobs and more than $1.2 billion in investment. In communities like Bryan County with a total population of 44,000, these businesses can make life-changing differences for their region.
“The Prosperity Cup recognizes state-level economic development competitiveness,” says Site Selection’s Mark Arend. “Georgia’s consistent delivery of the location attributes required by capital investors demonstrates to our readers that it competes to win.”
“Taking the top spot in the 2024 Prosperity Cup reaffirms that the Georgia Way works. Decades of partnerships and laying the groundwork for intentional economic development from the community level to the state level, combined with our consistent pro-business policies, have led to these positive results. Thanks to our Georgia leaders throughout the state for supporting these efforts that make a difference for Georgia families,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson.
