Economic Development

Tops Again: For the 13th year in a row, Georgia has been ranked the No. 1 state for business by Area Development magazine. Each year, corporate site selection consultants rank all 50 states using 20 factors, and Georgia came out on top because of its site readiness and a strong skilled workforce, among many other reasons.

Rome Tires: Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli is expanding its Floyd County facility. The $1.2 billion expansion will increase its manufacturing capacity while also offering five times more positions than it currently employs. The first phase will add latest-generation robotics equipment, followed by the addition of a traditional manufacturing process so that it is fully operational by 2033. Pirelli opened its Rome facility in 2002.

Statesboro Small Business: In Bulloch County, aerospace and defense manufacturer ShaloTek is expanding thanks to a federal Small Business Administration grant. The expansion will add 15,000 square feet and 15 jobs. The company was one of only seven selected nationwide in the SBA’s first ever Critical Suppliers Prize Competition.

Valdosta Expansion: Homegrown electrical contractor Ace Electric opened its new corporate headquarters this fall. The $20 million investment consolidates administrative operations and supports the company’s growth. Founded in 1975 in Lowndes County, Ace Electric has more than 1,500 employees across 10 locations in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio.

New Park, Music Venue: Port Wentworth’s new recreation and entertainment hub, the 150-acre Anchor Park, is now open to the public. The project includes the 5,200-seat VyStar Pavilion – Port Wentworth’s first major concert venue – and a new training facility for the local Ghost Pirates ice hockey team. The $76 million investment will also include a 250-seat restaurant and public recreation fields and courts for sporting events.

Pendergrass Manufacturing: Toyota Industries Electric Systems North America (TIESNA Georgia) recently celebrated the grand opening of its new manufacturing facility in Jackson County. A subsidiary of Japan’s Toyota Industries Group, TIESNA Georgia’s $69 million investment is set to employ 250 people and makes DC-to-DC converters that adapt EV battery power so it can operate an automobile’s interior lights and devices.