Mableton Mayor Michael Owens
The last two years have been a transformational period for the city of Mableton. As the city prepares to exit county governance and stand on its own, it’s time to turn our attention to the future and plot a course for Mableton’s long-term success. A big piece of that strategy is harnessing the technological and industrial leadership that has brought prosperity to communities across Georgia.
Throughout the Peach State, more companies are utilizing the latest digital tools to maximize their efficiency and expand their reach in the national and global marketplace. Our state’s role as an innovation leader, combined with our competitive business climate, top-notch workforce, and quality of life have transformed Georgia for the better and provided Mableton with a golden opportunity to be a source of job creation and economic growth.
One key to Mableton’s future success will be our ability to attract new industries that reflect our state’s dynamic and rapidly diversifying economy. With our proximity to major transportation corridors, access to skilled labor, and a commitment to smart economic development, Mableton is an ideal destination for the next wave of digital infrastructure investments. That means building on Georgia’s strategic data center development to lure companies from other data processing hubs like South Carolina and Virginia. This infrastructure is the backbone of our digital economy, and it’s powering the AI and cloud technology being leveraged by Georgia businesses of all sizes. While data centers are attractive investments in their own right, generating local tax revenue and creating jobs, it’s their ripple effect on other industries that makes them a potential gamechanger for communities like Mableton.
My enthusiasm for this economic opportunity is shaped by my hands-on experience in the tech and cybersecurity arena. After completing my tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, I dedicated my career to information technology and cybersecurity, where I saw, first-hand, the value high-quality data processing infrastructure brings to businesses in our state.
This experience has also shown me the need for a robust, home-grown workforce that possesses the skills and training to lead the STEM fields that our economy will rely on in the years ahead. Fortunately, our state boasts world-class universities, from Georgia Tech to Clark Atlanta, rural technical schools, and workforce training programs that are developing an in-state talent pipeline to match Georgians with the jobs of the future.
Local talent isn’t the only advantage our state enjoys. It may surprise folks that Georgia has built a strong energy position over the years—in fact we are among the top 10 nuclear producing states in the U.S. Our energy supply and resilient grid infrastructure mean we have additional capacity to welcome new residents and businesses to our borders. This goes for our other resources as well, such as land and water. While concerns have been raised around water demand from technologies such as AI, far more water is used to produce a hamburger than is used to power a ChatGPT query. We shouldn’t let this fearmongering cause us to abandon the brightest spots in our economy. Mableton is committed to balancing growth with sustainability. We will work with private sector partners and environmental leaders to ensure responsible resource management, making Mableton a model for smart, sustainable development.
While it is critical that we work with our private sector partners to make sure our resources are responsibly used and conserved, we should be taking advantage of the leg up we have on the competition when it comes to our first-rate energy, infrastructure, workforce, cost of living, and so much more. Policymakers at the local, state, and federal level also need to advance pro-growth policies that open the door for more commercial investment and ensure communities like ours can prosper.
The future is bright for Mableton, and I am confident that we can use Georgia’s strong economic position as a springboard for our city’s enduring growth and success.
Elected on April 18th, 2023, Mayor Michael Owens was sworn in as the 1st Mayor of the City of Mableton.
