Economic Development: February 2013
Smart Grid: South Kor-ean company Vitzro Group has selected Alpharetta for the U.S. headquarters of its subsidiary IUS Technolo-gies. The $10-million investment will create 150 new jobs. The 20,000-square-foot manufacturing and engineering center will create smart sensors and smart grid products for the utilities industry.
Driving On: Porsche North America has broken ground on its 26.4-acre headquarters complex at Aerotropolis Atlanta near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The facility will employ 400 and create 100 new jobs.
Conyers Mixed-Use: 4A International LLC has announced plans to build a mixed-use complex in Conyers with 1,400 residential units and more than 500,000 square feet of retail and office space. Phase 1 of the $300 million-$400 million project could be complete by 2015.
Biomaterials: Purac is investing $20 million into a biomaterials manufacturing plant in Tucker. The Netherlands-based company will create up to 50 jobs at the new 60,000-square-foot facility, which will open in early 2014.
Clear Advantage: AGC Glass Company North America is opening a 225,000-square-foot regional fabrication center in Lithia Springs in Douglas County. The company will manufacture and process glass products for commercial buildings at the plant, which could employ up to 150 over the next few years.
Plumping Up: Dawson-ville-based Gold Creek Foods is expanding its Gainesville chicken processing plant, adding 200 jobs.
Savannah Jobs: Inter-national food manufacturer Kerry Ingredients & Flav-ours is hiring more than 90 new employees in Savan-nah, where its manufacturing facility produces tea, nutritional beverages and broth. The company is partnering with Georgia Quick Start and the Savannah Technical Col-lege to train the new hires.
Carroll Expansion: Decostar Industries is expanding its Carrollton auto part manufacturing facility. The $26-million expansion will add at least 120 new jobs.
Biotech Growth: Kennesaw-based MiMedx Group is expanding its manufacturing capacity, adding more than 100 jobs. The biotech company develops and manufactures regenerative biomaterials and bioimplants for use in areas such as wound care and burn healing.
Power Plant: Dublin-based Green Power Solutions is constructing a power plant in Laurens County, employing 35 and supporting an additional 200 jobs in the forest industry. The biomass-fueled plant, which should come online in 2015, represents an initial capital investment of $95 million and is the result of a collaboration between Beasley Forestry Products and Land Care Services.
Atlanta Bio: CryoLife is expanding in Midtown Atlanta with 10,000 square feet near Georgia Tech and could employ up to 25 employees at its new location. The Kennesaw-based biotech company acquired Minneapolis-based Hemosphere Inc. in May, and plans to manufacture its HeRO graft for end-stage kidney disease patients at the Midtown facility, along with its starch-based blood-clotting product.
