State Sen. P.K. Martin (R.-Lawrenceville) points to rankings that show Georgia is one of the top states for job growth in technology, and he wants a study committee to find ways the state can ensure that growth continues and spreads. For now, the growth and the industry as a whole are centered around Midtown Atlanta and Georgia Tech.
The study committee, which met for the first time Wednesday in Carrollton, wants to find ways the state can help Atlanta’s growth remains steady and other parts of the state can get a share of the industry. Specifically, the committee is to study Information Technology Corridors, but Martin said it can be tough to define exactly what those corridors are.
Some states have them, but have done little to promote technology within them. Other states have areas where technology is booming organically, and the state simply supports that growth. Martin wants to see exactly what Georgia can do to incentivize technology job growth across the state.
“This is not just a committee to validate my ideas,” he said. “It truly is a fact-finding mission.”
He pointed to areas such as Augusta, which has a cyber security center, and Savannah, with its growing port, as places where a few incentives might go a long way. He admitted that it is possible, maybe even likely, that whatever comes out of the committee will cover the entire state rather than a few narrowly defined geographic areas.
Wednesday’s committee meeting was largely organizational and to establish a starting point for its research. “We took a look at what is in place now,” Martin said. “We looked at where we are on IT jobs.”
The committee is scheduled to complete its report by Dec. 1, and Martin said he would like to have some sort of legislation to introduce for the 2018 session if the report makes it apparent that the state can do something to help. He knows that whatever is introduced must provide help across the state, not just to Atlanta.
“I think whatever we do is likely to help other areas of the state even more,” he said.
