Houston County | On the Right Track
Collaboration, Manufacturing, Jobs
Sustained Commitment: Angie Gheesling, executive director of the Houston County Development Authority. Photo credit: Matt Odom
If you’re looking for a place in Georgia powered by innovation, manufacturing and educational opportunities, you might want to check out the middle of the state. With a robust economy bolstered by a highly diversified and trained workforce, thousands of jobs at Robins Air Force Base alone and an unwavering commitment to its future, Houston County is undeniably a frontrunner.
Angie Gheesling, executive director of the Houston Development Authority, knows firsthand the tireless work and collaboration that is behind every accolade and distinction. Take for example Warner Robins being recognized by Global Location Strategies as the top metropolitan statistical area for food manufacturing in the nation.
“[This] reflects years of intentional collaboration across our economic development, workforce, education and industry partners,” Gheesling explains. “It represents a sustained commitment to building a talent pipeline, strengthening infrastructure and creating an environment where companies can grow for the long term.”
That partnership led to Jack Link’s $450 million production facility in Perry that opened in June 2025, generating at least 500 new jobs for the area, and nearby Frito-Lay, with its $200 million expansion in 2020 that added 120 jobs. For John Hermeier, Jack Link’s executive vice president of business development and international sales, the leadership behind Houston County’s success was a clear standout when choosing a location for the new facility.
New Industry: Joseph Richardson, executive director of the Middle Georgia Innovation Corridor. Photo credit: Matt Odom
“In the end, the deciding factor was Angie and the collaborative team. The state, the development authority, Georgia Power, the technical college and the city showed up as one united partner, one community working together,” Hermeier says.
Gheesling and other officials are constantly innovating, moving Houston County forward for its approximately 175,000 residents with the implementation of new solutions to further economic growth and promote sustainability.
Geared for Success
Houston County is home to one of the fastest-growing populations in the state with a growth of 27.3% since 2010. With the jobs available to meet increasing demand and the population of people aged 25 to 64 making up 51.6% of total residents, quality job training remains a top priority for county leaders.
Georgia has been ranked as the top state for business for 12 consecutive years by Area Development magazine, and Houston County is doing its part to contribute, by participating in the Georgia Certified Work Ready Communities initiative.
Growing Company: Frito-Lay added 120 jobs after its 2020 expansion. Photo credit: Contributed
Gheesling says through this resource, “Houston County partners with regional workforce organizations to identify and assess job seekers, including students, transitioning military service members and laid-off workers,” giving them unique opportunities and pathways in dominant fields like advanced manufacturing and skilled trades. The results have made a significant impact on its workforce. National Career Readiness Certificate attainment increased by 13% since its relaunch in 2023, and the “hundreds of newly earned credentials” are a testament to these coordinated efforts, she adds. “As a result, Houston County has now reached its Certified Work Ready benchmarks,” and just last month earned full designation.
“The final step is completing WorkKeys testing for a targeted group of high school juniors and seniors at the Houston County College and Career Academy,” she shares. Of the 1,300 students required to meet the county’s goal, 89% have already been identified through other county-participating initiatives and are prepared for assessment.
Central Georgia Technical College also connects skill-building with job opportunities; in 2025, the school’s Economic Development Division provided 282 companies with nearly 6.8 million hours of training.
Regional Initiatives, Local Wins
It is impossible to highlight Houston County without acknowledging the powerhouse that is Robins Air Force Base.
“Anyone who has lived here long enough has heard the phrase, ‘If Robins sneezes, the community catches a cold.’ There is truth in that,” Gheesling says, calling it the “economic engine of Houston County.”
Economic Engine: Robins Air Force Base. Photo credit: Contributed
Located in Warner Robins, Robins Air Force Base is massive in both physical size and impact as the state’s largest single-site industrial complex. It is also the largest employer in Houston County with 24,500 workers. “What is often overlooked is that Robins does not just create jobs,” says Gheesling. “It sets the bar for the type of work performed here.”
The Middle Georgia Innovation Corridor, for which Gheesling serves as liaison, is a regional initiative between 11 counties in the Middle Georgia area that connects industry, research institutions, educational providers, the workforce and local communities, all centered around the strategic presence of Robins.
Joseph Richardson is the corridor’s executive director and likens it to a “magnet,” pulling into this “hub of innovation … new industry, new businesses, new workers and families.” Houston County is vital to getting all of these to stick, he says.
“[Robins] employs people from the entire 11-county region that we represent, but it’s a Houston County resource that reaches beyond [those] counties into the surrounding counties as well,” Richardson remarks.
Fresh Talent: Project Synergy interns with Joseph Richardson, executive director of the Middle Georgia Innovation Corridor, far left. Photo credit: Contributed
Project Synergy at The R. Wayne Lowe Synergy Innovation Complex launched in 2021 as a collaborative effort between regional partners and Robins. It provides nearly 43,000 square feet for classrooms, training spaces, software development environments and a 9,000-square-foot secure lab space. It was designed as a direct pathway for careers in software engineering, with dual enrollment classes offered through the Houston County School District and Middle Georgia State University, as well as paid college internships.
“The impact to Houston County has been tremendous with the extension of our STEM intern pipeline [for] recently graduated high school students,” says Michael Doubleday, 402nd software engineering group director, Air Force Sustainment Center and software directorate at Robins Air Force Base. “While we recruit from approximately nine neighboring counties, the majority of our summer intern cohort for this class comes from Houston County. The rising freshman cohort is typically 25 interns, and our pipeline extends up to rising [high school] seniors, giving RAFB close to 100 summer interns. This pipeline helps keep fresh talent [of] mostly local computer science [and] engineering students interested in our mission.”
Another distinguishable feature of Project Synergy is its dedication to what Richardson says is the “whole person,” including soft skills that complement academic degrees and prepare students for security clearance – a crucial determination from the U.S. government to access classified information in specialized roles.
“The ultimate measure of success is career placement – and [this] program delivers,” Richardson says. “In 2025, 85% of its students who completed four-year internships were offered full-time positions, often with organizations like Robins Air Force Base or its contractors.”
Standard of Excellence: Rendering of the Houston County STEM Career Academy, which will welcome its first students in August 2027. Photo credit: Contributed
Preparing the Next Generation
The Houston STEM and Career Academy, a groundbreaking regional innovation hub made possible by the collaborative work and support between state and local entities, will welcome its first students in August 2027. These key partnerships help the Houston County School District, which is spearheading this effort, solidify its nationally recognized standard of excellence, says Superintendent Richard Rogers.
Job Commitment: Houston County Superintendent Richard Rogers visits students in September 2025, a few months after starting the job. Photo credit: Contributed
The Houston County School District is funding $37.35 million for the $50 million academy with support from the state and county, at $7.65 million and $5 million respectively. With pathways to careers in fields such as engineering, cybersecurity and healthcare, participating students can continue classes at their high school while attending the academy for part of the day.
The academy, located in Warner Robins, is the latest resource contributing to the school district’s success. Last year, Houston County School District, which Rogers lauds for its passionate educators, exceeded the state’s graduation rate by 6.1%, graduating 93.3% of its students – a 2.1% increase from 2024.
“It begins with commitment,” Rogers says. “For example, we have a Lindsey Student Support Center [where] we’re able to provide [a food pantry] to our families and the use of technology and register kids for schools if they can’t make it to our central registration.”
These resources add up to make a difference, and people are noticing, notes Dan Perdue, chair of the Houston Board of Commissioners.
Community Progress: Dan Perdue, chair of the Houston County Board of Commissioners. Photo credit: Contributed
“I am a product of Houston County schools, as is my wife, and my children also attend our local public schools,” he says. “I deeply value our education system and have collaborated with the school system to promote community progress.”
In addition to his support for the STEM and Career Academy, Perdue has also assisted with the $17 million Tommy Stalnaker Aquatic Center that opened in Warner Robins in March. Meanwhile, the Houston County Board of Commissioners has committed $20 million from its 2024 SPLOST to go along with land and $17 million from the School Board’s SPLOST for the proposed development of the $37 million Houston County Cultural Center. The school board has hired an architect to design the plans for the center, which will have more than 3,000 seats for performances.
Recreation Facility: The $17 million Tommy Stalnaker Aquatic Center, top, which opened in Warner Robins in March, features a 50-meter competition pool, bottom. Photo credit: Contributed
Fuel for the Future
Until that center is built, probably the county’s steadiest magnet for visitors is the Museum of Aviation, which Perdue calls a true gem for history preservation and inspiring and educating future generations who will lead aviation.
Making a Difference: The Lindsey Student Support Center has both a food pantry and a donation center. Photo credit: Contributed
As the second-largest aviation museum in the country, the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins is helping light the way for STEM students in the region. Dan Rhoades, president and CEO of the museum’s foundation, recognizes the importance of engaging future leaders with advanced technology.
Additions like the GEAR (Georgia Engineering, AI and Robotics) Lab and the Robins Spark Hub will strengthen the museum’s commitment to its role in education, innovation and regional economic and community vitality, says Rhoades.
With construction beginning in October 2025, the GEAR Lab is on track for its late spring 2026 opening. “This purpose-built advanced technology classroom is designed for real-world learning and is equipped with more than 30 high-performance computer workstations, dedicated server infrastructure and an instructional environment tailored for artificial intelligence, robotics, engineering and software development,” Rhoades said in an email.
On the same 3,390-square-foot layout is the Robins Spark Hub, where visitors can learn from and interact with new technologies. These additions, Rhoades says, are “further positioning the Museum of Aviation as both an educational anchor and a point of connection for Robins AFB and the broader community and region.”
Engaging Future Leaders: Dan Rhoades, president and CEO of the Museum of Aviation Foundation. Photo credit: Matt Odom
Learning at the Robins Spark Hub will infuse innovation with interactive technology. This includes things like the use of laptops and three-dimensional printing that support hands-on design, prototyping and applied learning.
Rhoades is proud of the collaborative efforts, like partnering colleges and universities statewide, making such educational experiences possible, which he says are “attracting students, families and visitors to Houston County for advanced technology education.”
Healthcare Within Reach
Collaborative efforts are also boosting medical care and jobs in the region. When Houston Healthcare joined forces with Emory Healthcare in 2025, the academic health system giant promised to deliver exceptional services closer to home for Houston County residents. With the opening of the new heart, vascular and transplant clinic at the Roy H. “Sonny” Watson Health Pavilion in Warner Robins this past September, Emory is making good on that promise, offering a range of innovative care and services that were not readily accessible for local patients. The clinic gives patients access to kidney and liver transplant services and ongoing critical support. Specialists see patients both before and after their transplant, providing them with continuous care close to where they live, without the added stress of travel.
Exceptional Services: Emory Healthcare joined forces with Houston Healthcare in 2025, opening a new heart, vascular and transplant clinic at the Roy H. “Sonny” Watson Health Pavilion in Warner Robins. Photo credit: Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce
Advances like these not only make communities healthier, but they also help build a stronger workforce, attracting and maintaining qualified workers. In February, Emory Healthcare’s minimum wage rose to $19 an hour, affecting more than 2,000 employed by the healthcare system in Houston County.
At the Heart of It
Revitalizing Downtown: Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda W. Patrick. Photo credit: Matt Odom
You can’t talk about Houston County without mentioning the county seat of Perry, best known as the home of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, which hosts the annual 11-day Georgia National Fair every October. And while the fair is a big tourism draw, Holly Wharton, Perry’s economic development director, says the everyday amenities offered in the city recognized as the crossroads of Georgia are a reflection of everything that makes it special.
“Downtown Perry is a walkable historic district filled with locally owned businesses, community events and public spaces that make it easy to stay connected,” says Wharton. “Residents can pursue meaningful careers while enjoying short commutes, safe neighborhoods and an active community calendar.”
Staying Connected: Holly Wharton, Perry’s economic development director. Photo credit: Contributed
Warner Robins, meanwhile, is working on a plan to revitalize a district of its downtown called Commercial Circle through an initiative called Operation Reawaken. The first step is to demolish blighted properties to clear the path for future development. The improvements include adding homes, businesses and green space and making the area more pedestrian friendly.
“Through Operation Reawaken, we are breathing new life into Commercial Circle and shaping a modern, innovative downtown and city center where business thrives,” says Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda W. Patrick. “This is our moment to … build a destination worthy of our community’s promise.”
With plenty of business and growth in Perry and Warner Robins and many educational and workforce opportunities surrounding Robins Air Force Base, it is hard to miss the benefits of living in Houston County, which continues to innovate and improve – helping both its residents and businesses thrive.
Flourishing Farm: Samantha Lineberger, owner of Arena Acres. Photo credit: Matt Odom
Local Flavor
Blooming into Business
More than 75 years ago, 2229 Kings Chapel Road in Perry was home to the cows and horses who grazed along the farm owned by Samantha Lineberger’s great-grandfather, Lynn Pitzer. Today, flowers and vegetables line those same fields that have been transformed into Arena Acres, a garden haven bringing a highly sought farm-to-table experience right to the heart of Houston County.
“For a lot of families, access to truly fresh, locally grown flowers and vegetables isn’t always as easy as it should be,” says Lineberger. “Many grocery store products have traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles before they reach the shelf.”
Lineberger is always eager to share her knowledge with others, teaching them about how their food and plants are harvested. When she noticed more farmland being converted into neighborhoods in Houston County, Lineberger realized her longtime dream of being a farmer was not only in reach, it was in need.
“With each generation getting further and further away from the farm – or even a backyard garden – it was very important to make sure people in Houston County had a place to come and learn where their food and flowers come from,” she reflects.
Now, they can do just that with Arena Acres, which officially opened in 2023, specializing in fresh cut flowers and homegrown vegetables year-round and pumpkins in the fall. Lineberger and her husband, Luke, are the fourth-generation owners and manage the farm full-time.
Each season brings its own colorful display of beauty with the many flowers available for picking. From ranunculus and delphinium in the spring to sunflowers and celosia in the summer and fall, a bouquet can’t get any fresher than a hand-picked one from Arena Acres.
“We also grow a large pumpkin patch in the fall with over 17 different varieties,” Lineberger shares. “We have the traditional, big and small, tall and large and any color you can think of.” Their selection of fresh vegetables includes tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, okra and a medley of squash and peppers.
The farm retains its original roots; Lineberger’s parents continue to run cattle on the other part of the land. For Lineberger, Arena Acres offers the best of both worlds – the opportunity to serve her community as a direct, farm-to-table resource and to keep the family farm flourishing.
“Hearing customers talk about how our tomatoes taste like the ones their grandparents grew, or how our flowers brightened a difficult week, reminds us why we do this,” she says. “Parents have shared that their children are trying new vegetables because they picked them fresh themselves.”
The response is a dream fulfilled. “We’re not just selling produce or bouquets, we’re building trust, relationships and a healthier local food culture.” 
