Carroll County, Georgia - Plans for Growth & Development

Transcription

1 Promoting Growth & Development for a Brighter Future Since 2001, Carroll Tomorrow has set the standard for unified community and economic development in Carroll County working hand in hand with government, business, community and education leaders to build a stronger economy, quality education and workforce development, and cooperative local leadership. Over the last ten years, Carroll Tomorrow has had a tremendous impact on this community, maintaining an impressive track record creating over 2,750 new and expanded jobs, $83 million in direct additional payroll, and $230 million in new capital investment by such companies as Southwire, Decostar, Printpack, Royal Metal, Janus International and Air Tran Airways. Carroll Tomorrow works closely with state economic developers to recruit new companies to the area, and expand existing businesses throughout the county. In each of these instances, Carroll Tomorrow was instrumental in assuring that these new developments successfully invested here without placing unnecessary burdens on the local economy. Utilizing comprehensive analytical technologies, Carroll Tomorrow projects how future growth and prospective business development can best fit into the local economic landscape. Economic Development Carroll County s economic health is also bolstered by the diversity of existing industries calling the county home, including six international firms. The diversified industrial base includes a wide variety of enterprises, such as Southwire s venture into alternative energy construction, Greenway Medical s advanced technologies for the medical industry, Bremen/Bowdon Investment s production of military uniforms, Printpack s plastic products, Janus International s industrial door products and a wide range of other goods and service producers. The county s top industrial employer is Southwire Company, the world s largest privately owned producer of wire and cable. Decostar, a leading auto component manufacturer for Mercedes Benz, Volkswagon and Nissan, as well as Sony Home Media, Maplehurst and Flowers Baking Companies, also call Carroll County home. Planning and financing community infrastructure upgrades to support residential and industrial growth is essential in Carroll County. One example is the Carroll County Water Authority s plan for a new reservoir system which will meet the community s water needs based on projected growth and population/housing trends through Carroll County is part of the largest local calling network in the world, which includes all of the Greater Atlanta metropolitan area. Stateof-the-art fiber networks are in place and are constantly being upgraded to meet modern-day needs in the new millennium. The county offers all of the long distance services that are available in metropolitan Atlanta and the community s internet providers offer the highest performing, lowest Carroll County s All-American diverse mix of industry makes a positive statement about the economic environment for business success. v 24 View this publication online: or

2 cost telephone-based dedicated internet access in the entire state. Carroll County has the benefit of recognized regional and national internet providers supplying highspeed internet access and e-commerce solutions. In addition, Carroll County service providers offer the most current wireless access capabilities as well as broadband access. Splendid transportation advantages make Carroll County a prime center of commerce in the Southeastern hub for distribution of fabrication. Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta is only 40 miles away. West Georgia Regional Airport provides exceptional corporate air services locally. This airport is located seven miles northeast of Carrollton near US 27 and only three miles from Interstate 20. The modern facility offers one 5,500 foot lighted, asphalt runway and airframe repair facilities, and FSS weather and flight instruction. The nearest commercial air service is conveniently available at Atlanta s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, 50 miles east of Carrollton. As the busiest airport in the U.S., Hartsfield offers commercial, international, national and regional flights around the clock. Statistically, it is generally less expensive to operate a business in Carroll County compared to other areas. Contributing to this claim are the availability of 100 percent Freeport exemption on inventory, competitive utility rates, affordable wage and tax rates, and the availability of local contractors and suppliers offering substantial savings on construction costs. Carroll County provides industrial support such as electric motor repair, tool and die, fabrication, casting, finishing, forming and machining. A UPS terminal is locally based, along with 16 trucking companies. There are four developed industrial parks in the county, each having paved access and full utilities available on site. The Temple Industrial Park, centrally located at the interchange of Interstate 20 and GA Hwy. 113, has been named one of only 15 Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) sites. The state designation alerts prospective industries that the 100 acre park has met due diligence for environmental clearance and infrastructure capabilities. A number of individual industrial sites are also available and depending on location, public acreage costs range from $5,000 to $70,000 per acre. v 25

3 Education & Workforce Development Founded in 1971, SMI is focused on providing innovative, technologcally superior solutions designed to meet the special needs of human service agencies across the nation. Providing Better Solutions That Make Life Easier Families and Children Are at the Center of What We Do Welcome to Carroll County! Carroll County s quality workforce and superior educational opportunities help attract new industry and grow existing businesses. West Georgia Technical College continues to grow with a current 8,000 students making WGTC the second largest technical college in the state. The University of West Georgia also continues to thrive with a record 11,000 students and the development of a new Athletic Complex including a 9,000 seat stadium, the Greek Village residential complex and plans for a future Health Wellness program. Georgia Institute of Technology maintains local offices providing business and engineering assistance, as well as governmental procurement/contracting services for local small business and industry. The Small Business Development Center, located at the University of West Georgia, provides a wealth of small business planning, financing and technical assistance services to those thinking of starting or expanding their small business. Carroll County s business and educational community partners work closely with the Carroll Chamber in a continued effort to enhance the quality of the local workforce. A Blue Ribbon Task Force of business and industry leaders and educators works closely to enable our residents to develop their talents becoming contributing members of the Carroll County workforce. The Georgia Department of Labor maintains a local field office in Carrollton, and several personnel assistance firms operate locally. Carroll County is a state certified WorkReady community working in tandem with state initiatives to develop a workforce specialized to the needs of local employers. The certified literacy program, LIFT, the Mentor Program, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce supported Drugs Don t Work, are examples of these initiatives. Collaborations between the University, the Technical College and local high schools offer post-secondary training and career planning as part of the curriculum. v 26 View this publication online: or

4 Join Us in Villa Rica... You ll be in good company! The Villa Rica Development Authority offers commercial property and offices for industrial and commercial applications. We have room to grow if your firm is interested in a prime location in the heart of the Southeast. Georgia also offers the advantages of being a right-to-work state, and free Quick-Start training for new or expanding industry. May we have the pleasure of your company? Room To Grow! For more information please contact us at Villa Rica Development Authority

5 Leadership & Government Relations Cooperation among Carroll Tomorrow, the Chamber of Commerce and local governments helps drive Carroll County s strategic planning. Carroll Tomorrow and the Chamber of Commerce work together to develop strong adult leaders through the Carroll Leadership Academy, and ongoing inclusion of Leadership alumni in local programming ensures that our community is prepared to handle new opportunities for growth. Carroll County is a remarkable place to live and work, featuring some of the area s best parks and playgrounds, an excellent regional library system and a thriving arts community. Carroll County also offers shopping at convenient national stores as well as unique locallyowned boutiques, a wide range of dining experiences and world-class health care options. Many initiatives supported by Carroll Tomorrow are greatly enhancing the quality of life of Carroll County. Comprehensive planning, promoting green growth initiatives, improving drinking water quality, sustainable agriculture and farmland preservation, are just a few areas Carroll Tomorrow has targeted. Carroll is the first county in Georgia to have a funded farmland and greenspace preservation program that protects the value of agricultural and open acreage. The county boasts over 35,000 acres of greenspace and passive recreation areas. Partnerships with affiliate groups including Keep Carroll Beautiful, educating the public and promoting recycling and environmental protection; the Fresh Foods Network, Hands on Carroll and the Carroll County Master Gardeners are a few examples of how Carroll County is protecting what makes us unique. Economic opportunity is around every corner in Carroll County, and Carroll Tomorrow is working to build a stronger, brighter future right here. Leaders are continuing their commitment to this public-private partnership by funding Carroll Tomorrow for the next five years. Responsible and sustainable growth doesn t happen by accident, states Carroll Tomorrow Chairman of the Board, Loy Howard, It requires good planning, strong leadership and adequate resources. Sony DADC A world-class supply chain, driven by an innovative culture, focused on continuous improvement in retail execution, that consistently exceeds our customer s expectations, while enabling our families success. v 28 View this publication online: or

6