OPINION:
Georgia has been recognized as the No. 1 state in the country to do business for nine consecutive years. That’s no accident.
This distinction is the result of proven conservative policies; a pro-business partnership approach; and our decision to trust hardworking Georgians during the pandemic. It is also a result of the resilience of job creators, our nation-leading workforce development programs, and investments in our international relationships.
That’s why when companies like Kia, Hyundai Motor Group, SK Group, and others are looking to expand their operations, Georgia is the natural choice. Since 2020, $17.5 billion in investments by Korean firms are creating 23,000 jobs across the Peach State.
These record-breaking projects do not happen overnight. Georgia’s Department of Economic Development renowned for its responsiveness and assistance with businesses of all sizes spent years laying the groundwork and building the partnerships needed to foster a successful relationship with our friends in Korea.
These efforts have yielded incredible success, including the establishment of Kia Georgia in West Point. Since its 2006 announcement, this factory and its suppliers have created over 14,000 direct jobs while setting the standard for giving back to the community.
Since I first took office in 2019, the connection between Georgia and Korea has only grown, with even more explosive investments. I made the first economic development mission of my administration to Korea that same year and celebrated the groundbreaking of SK Battery America’s (SKBA) facility in Jackson County. SKBA continues to expand, now employing over 2,600 Georgians with an expectation to surpass 3,000 by year’s end.
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On top of that incredible growth, last year, I announced the largest economic development project in state history: Hyundai’s investment of $5.54 billion to build its first factory dedicated to all electric vehicle production near Savannah. This site alone will create approximately 8,100 jobs, and suppliers in the surrounding area have already announced commitments to create thousands more.
In January, I announced Qcells, a worldwide leader in solar panel production that opened in Georgia in 2019, is doubling its current footprint. Already the largest solar panel manufacturing facility in the Western Hemisphere, it will employ over 4,000 Georgians across northeast Georgia. This project has been years in the making and is a direct result of state and local efforts.
Each of these job creators recognized the distinct advantages of doing business in the Peach State: world-class infrastructure, including the world’s most-utilized airport in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, two deepwater ports in Savannah and Brunswick, and highways connecting all major centers of commerce; the best workforce training program in the nation, Quick Start; and a friendly business environment where we work with companies, not against them.
These factors have reinforced our economic connections with our partners in Korea and throughout the world. They have kept our state on the cutting-edge of developing industries, as the electric-mobility revolution develops strong roots in every corner of the Peach State.
While some in Washington, D.C., try to claim credit for the investments being made here, which in reality were worked on before they took office, they also try to skirt blame for the damage caused by their policies.
While some politicians have put policy ahead of people, Georgia’s commitment to bringing opportunity to all our citizens, regardless of their zip code, has led to a partnership with Korean job creators that is bringing generational investment to hardworking Georgians.
I will continue to work with state and local leaders to ensure that Georgia remains the business-friendly environment companies can rely on.
• Brian Kemp is 83rd Governor of Georgia. Under his leadership, Georgia has broken economic records with jobs and investment coming to every corner of the state in communities large and small. Governor Kemp, First Lady Marty Kemp, and their three daughters live on their family farm in Athens and are committed to building a safer, stronger Georgia for all who call the Peach State “home.”
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