Georgia’s business climate has been named No. 1 in the nation by Site Selection Magazine for the seventh year in a row. The internationally circulated business publication covers corporate real estate and economic development.
Georgia is the only state to receive the distinction seven consecutive times in the history of Site Selection’s rankings. Governor Kemp made the historic announcement today at the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta, Georgia.
Although the state slipped in the executive survey rankings, Georgia still came out ahead with a total of 98 points, two points higher than the next closest contender, North Carolina.
“From day one of my administration, we have been laser-focused on creating opportunities for hardworking Georgians in every corner of the state,” said Gov. Kemp. “Our efforts to cut burdensome regulations, continue developing a world-class workforce, and market all regions of the Peach State through the formation of a Rural Strike Team have not gone unnoticed, and this announcement affirms that.”
Site Selection releases its Top State Business Climate rankings each November. The rankings are 50 percent based on objective criteria and 50 percent on the input received from a survey of independent site location experts who are asked to rank and explain their choice.
“Our readers are keenly interested in our annual state business climate ranking because they seek locations with the greatest prospects for success,” said editor-in-chief of Site Selection Mark Arend.
Georgia has long received recognition from leading companies and site consultants for its attractive business climate. The state’s workforce training program, Georgia Quick Start, is the top-ranked program in the United States.
Logistics hubs like the Port of Savannah and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport connect businesses to their consumers far and wide, and the state’s pro-business policies make Georgia a competitive option for companies looking to locate or expand, according to the governor’s office.
In Fiscal Year 2019 alone, the Georgia Department of Economic Development supported the creation of nearly 29,000 new jobs through the location of 332 projects, 74 percent of which were located outside of metro Atlanta.
State director of economic development Pat Wilson said, “We are thrilled that Georgia’s business climate has once again been named No. 1 by Site Selection,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “”Our world-class team at the Georgia Department of Economic Development is proud to work with our economic development partners throughout the state to make record-breaking achievements like this possible.”
Site Selection Magazine joins Area Development Magazine in naming Georgia the top state for business for 2019 – the seventh and sixth straight year, respectively, that both publications have awarded Georgia the ranking.
