Economic Development: March 2016
Tourism Impact: The numbers are in, and the tourism sector is a major economic driver for the state, creating a $57.1 billion impact. More than 10 percent of the state’s workforce is employed within the sector.
Dublin Fiberglass: After first announcing its Georgia location in 2014, Valmiera Glass Group is expanding in Dublin three years ahead of schedule. The Latvian-based fiberglass manufacturer will invest $90 million through 2022 and create 425 jobs, making it the largest private employer in Laurens County.
Gwinnett Healthcare: Just a year after announcing a new IT center that opens this spring in Midtown Atlanta, Kaiser Permanente is opening a $51-million, 185,000-square-foot Member Service Contact Center in Duluth this fall, creating more than 600 jobs.
Payment Processing: Global payment processing company Merchant e-Solutions is relocating its corporate headquarters from Silicon Valley to Atlanta’s Buckhead area. The $5-million investment will create more than 140 new jobs.
Hart Automotive: German automotive products manufacturer LINDE + WIEMANN is investing $35 million into a 60,000-square-foot assembly facility in Hart County that will supply BMW in South Carolina and Daimler in Alabama. The initial phase of the project will employ 200 and represents a $5 million investment.
