Economic Development Around the State
Tourism Up: The state’s tourism industry generated $58.9 billion in business sales in 2015, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics. The record-breaking growth represents a 3 percent increase over 2014 and is 29 percent greater than the pre-recession levels of 2008.
Duluth Clothing: Online apparel company thredUP is establishing a distribution and warehouse operation in Gwinnett County. The company will bring more than 300 new jobs to the area.
High Tech: Santa Rosa, Calif.-based Key-sight Technologies will create 200 software engineering jobs when it opens a $13.9-million operation in Atlanta.
Dublin Packaging: Polymer Logistics is opening a $4-million logistics and distribution center in Laurens County. The packaging company, which offers eco-friendly containers to retailers like Walmart and Kroger, will create 110 new jobs.
Colquitt Healthcare: Miller County Hospital is expanding its nursing home facility, adding 50 beds in two new wings and 100 employees. The $4-million project gets underway this summer.
On the Money: Dollar General is building an $85-million, 1-million-square-foot distribution center in Butts and Spalding counties. The center will serve more than 1,000 stores in the Southeast and create 500 jobs.
Baldwin Jobs: Sparta Industries is opening a new manufacturing facility in Milledgeville. The HVAC duct liner insulation manufacturer will create more than 1,000 jobs at the $22.5-million facility over the next five years.
