ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2007-2008
Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council
Economic development in Gainesville-Hall County reports positive results
Gainesville-Hall County, GA – 07/31/08: The Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council (EDC) and the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce report that recent economic development commitments for 2007-2008 included 41 new and expanded industries creating nearly 1,500 new jobs and investing $333 million in new capital investment projects.
Capital investment for new and expanded firms has steadily grown over a five year period. The EDC’s fiscal year 2008, ending on June 30, 2008, included project investments from 16 firms totaling $187 million, the best single year investment recorded in the history of the Economic Development Council.
Investments included Wrigley, ElringKlinger (Sevex), Stork, TRW, Fieldale Farms, and Atex. Prospects for the EDC’s new fiscal year 2008-2009 remain upbeat and began with an announcement that ZF Industries will construct a new automatic transmission plant in Gainesville that will employ 150 and include $41 million in capital improvements. Construction will begin in the first quarter of 2009 in Gainesville Industrial Park West.
Among the 41 firms that contributed new capital investments and job creation in 2007-2008 were 25 existing industry expansions and 16 firms new to the Gainesville-Hall County MSA.
To date, the outlook for recruitment and existing industry activity remains positive for Gainesville-Hall County. The EDC is currently managing between 40 and 50 active retail, commercial and industrial development projects. The City of Gainesville and Hall County have worked closely with the EDC to partner with private developer Pattillo Construction on a new 170-acre business park in Gainesville to accommodate new and expanding businesses.
“Supporting our existing businesses and industry remains a cornerstone of our efforts to retain and grow jobs and investment in our community. We can reach out to the global business community better by first taking stock of the successful business community within Gainesville-Hall County,” said Tim Evans, Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce. “Public-private partnerships between the business community, the Chamber and local governments provide tremendous leverage to our community’s economic development efforts and allow our efforts to be more effective.”
2007-2008 Key Goal and Objective Accomplishments
Conducted more than 100 existing industry calls
Orchestrated prospective company visits each week.
Development of the new Gainesville Business Park
Expanded the life sciences initiative prescribed in VISION 2030
Hired a professional manager to carry out the Retail Development Initiative
Coordinated the Human Resource Council and Industry Roundtable programs
Encouraged and promoted Urban Redevelopment Activities – TAD
Implemented a Project Control Tracking System
Expanded Drugs Don’t Work program to reduce employer insurance premiums
Coordinated Regional Commercial Broker gatherings
Hosted Economic Development Tours for Statewide Economic Developers
Coordinated programs of the Small Business Council and earned the Small Business &
Entrepreneur Friendly designation by the Georgia Department of Economic Development
Continued Statewide Developer and Commercial Broker Programs
Enhanced partnerships with developers to encourage new industrial, office and
retail parks/developments
Continued support for the VISION 2030 objectives
For more on the Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council, contact Tim Evans, 770-532-6206. Email: tim@ghcc.com
_____________________________________________________________________________
About the Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council
Gainesville – Hall County, Georgia is a vibrant and growing, solid and diversified community with an unparalleled quality of life and a sound economic future for business and industry. In 2008, Gainesville-Hall County was named the 4th fastest growing Metropolitan Area (MSA) in the US. Gainesville-Hall County was recently named to Forbes list of “Best Places for Business and Careers.”
The Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council is a public-private partnership between the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, the City of Gainesville, Hall County, the City of Oakwood and the City of Flowery Branch. The community is home to 47 Fortune 500 firms, more than 300 manufacturing and processing industries, and 35 international companies representing 15 foreign countries. Gainesville-Hall County’s business community supports the community’s economic development effort through investments in the HALLMark Initiative of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce.
An increasingly affluent business hub, Gainesville-Hall County is widely recognized as the trade, medical, educational, industrial, retail, cultural, and recreational center of Northeast Georgia.