Fiscal responsibility, infrastructure investment, and innovative workforce training are paying off.
Georgia Ranked No. 1 Business Climate
For the fourth year in a row, Site Selection magazine ranked the Peach State
the nation’s best state business climate.
The trade magazine, which focuses
on economic development news for CEOs, evaluates states’ business-friendliness
based on 10 key criteria: workforce skills, incentives, state and local taxes,
transportation infrastructure, land/building prices and supply, workforce
development, cost and reliability of utilities, higher education resources,
ease of permitting/regulatory procedures, and quality of life. As part of the
overall ranking, Georgia also came in at no. 3 on a survey from corporate site
selectors who evaluate each state based on their experience scouting facilities
and locations for companies.
Gov. Nathan Deal’s focus on
economic development, fiscal soundness, and infrastructure have all helped
maintain the state’s business-friendly environment. It’s paying off, too, in
more ways than just positive rankings. For example, in October, the Atlanta Business
Chronicle reported
that Florida is losing its film business to Georgia after eliminating a tax
incentive program.
Additionally, German
manufacturing company Blickle recently decided to establish its U.S.
headquarters in Newnan, Georgia, in large part because of the
implementation of a German-style apprenticeship program in the area. This
program, the Georgia Consortium for Advanced Technical Training, is the first
of its kind in the U.S. and will help businesses and employees by developing a
skilled workforce.