Economic Development Year End Report

Economic Development Year End Report

The Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council recently celebrated the community’s existing industries and recognized a number of great companies for the job they do and what they contribute to our economy. The long-term relationship this community enjoys with its existing industry is the cornerstone of our economic development strategy to diversify our economic base, create jobs and encourage new investment to Gainesville-Hall County.

In 2009, our targeted economic development efforts with new and existing industries resulted in 26 successful projects creating nearly 300 new jobs, retaining 850 existing jobs and investing $107 million in new capital investment.

Leading investments this past year included Wrigley Manufacturing, Cargill, Hollis Transport, Sherwin Williams and Technical Polymers, to name a few. Kubota Manufacturing acquired and developed a 480,000 square foot cross-docking operation to make their Ramsey Road location in Gainesville the largest campus outside Japan. And, ProCare RX is developing a new campus at Exit 20 on I-985. The year was not without its challenges and job losses, but these businesses, along with the healthcare industry and others, helped mitigate a situation that could have been much worse for Gainesville-Hall County.

Looking head in 2010, our community’s “pipeline of activity” is encouraging. Long-term relationships with our existing industry will continue to pay dividends. Existing industry expansions and new business recruitment are spurred by the region’s available skilled labor pool and strategic location at the heart of the Southeastern business region. In particular, Gainesville-Hall County’s appeal as both a manufacturing and a corporate headquarters location continues to attract domestic and international firms as a North American operations center.

In the coming year, the Greater Hall Chamber’s Economic Development Division will focus on job retention and growth with existing industries, small business development and new business recruitment. Long-term efforts will be successful if we remember the recipe that makes this community what it is today: The key ingredients start with leadership, include a community-wide commitment to a pro-business attitude, and a willingness to vision issues that impact our prosperity 10, 20 and 50 years in the future.

For more information on the Gainesville-Hall County Economic Development Council, contact Tim Evans, 770-532-6206. Email: tim@ghcc.com