< Previous66 MAY 2025 SITE SELECTION A new index informs this year’s best in class in regional economic development. I n the site selection game, the only thing better than detailed data is more data. The more perspectives built into the matrix, the better the view. That’s what you’ll find in this year’s new and improved Mac Conway Awards for Economic Development Excellence. Named for Site Selection Founder McKinley “Mac” Conway, the awards this year were determined by a robust index that is balanced one- third each across Conway Data/Site Selection corporate facility project, investment and jobs numbers across the country (cumulative and per capita) last year; the nationwide 2025 Milken Institute Best Performing Cities Index; and the nationwide 2025 Most Dynamic Cities report from Heartland Forward. Common threads? As Heartland Forward’s Ross DeVol and Minoli Ratnatunga observed in their own report, many of the top-performing regions are home to top-performing research universities, from the University of Texas in Austin to Auburn University in Auburn- Opelika, Alabama. Some regions benefited from a strong year of corporate project activity or economic fundamentals like high-tech industry growth, wage growth and area GDP that the Milken study tracks. A number of regions are examining how to enlarge their collaboration range to encompass neighboring jurisdictions. Here are the names of the chief regional economic development groups in alphabetical order by region, with data on each recipient’s recent projects, programs and initiatives. by ADAM BRUNS adam.bruns@siteselection.com TOP GROUPS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUBURN-OPELIKA, AL CITY OF AUBURN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Phillip Dunlap Economic Development Director www.auburnalabama.org/ economic-development/ CITY OF OPELIKA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT John Sweatman Director www.opelika-al.gov/916/ Economic-Development Significant Projects Miele Manufacturing; GE Aviation; Niagara Bottling; Hanwha Corp.; Pharmavite Programs & Initiatives As a promotional video for Opelika puts it, this region’s railroad and mill town legacy laid the groundwork, but it’s the people who have built it from there, bolstered by institutions such as Auburn University and prominent health care companies. “There is no doubt that what we have accomplished in our community would not be possible without having a complete team effort with support from all of our stakeholders,” says City of Opelika Economic Development Director John Sweatman. “With the continued reinvestments from our existing industries and more recent new project announcements like Niagara Bottling and Miele Manufacturing, our community has seen more than $2.6 billion in capital investments and the creation of over 5,700 new good-paying jobs in recent years. Opelika continues to be a great place to live, work and play.” Overall, the region was No. 10 among small metros on the Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities scorecard. AUSTIN-ROUND ROCK-SAN MARCOS, TX OPPORTUNITY AUSTIN Ed Latson CEO opportunityaustin.com Significant Projects Infineon Technologies; Abbyy USA Software House; Advanced Micro Devices; US Farathane; Saronic Technologies Programs & Initiatives Opportunity Austin and fellow Mac Conway Award winner greater:SATX in San Antonio are taking steps toward aligning the power of their respective regions into a dynamic megaregion stretching from central Texas to Mexico that is projected to be home to 8 million people by 2050. “This economic corridor is becoming one of the most powerful innovation economies in the country,” says Opportunity Austin CEO Ed Latson. “By aligning around workforce, infrastructure, and shared policy priorities, Austin and San Antonio are intentionally addressing our mutual challenges while celebrating our wins.” Meanwhile, the region’s cultural exports continue as an Austin delegation heads to the inaugural SXSW London festival in June. SXSW has now been in Austin for nearly 40 years and expanded to Sydney, Australia, in 2023. Image by Richard Nenoff SITE SELECTION MAY 2025 67 BOWLING GREEN, KY BOWLING GREEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Ron Bunch President/CEO www.southcentralky.com Significant Projects Tyson Foods; Clark Group; Southern Coil Solutions; Shinsung ST KY Programs & Initiatives As described in Alexis Elmore’s March 2025 write-up of Bowling Green’s No. 1 finish among Tier-3 metros (population under 200,000) in Site Selection’s annual Top Metros rankings, commitments of $20 million each from the city and from Warren County to build out the 4,000-acre Kentucky Transpark have paid off and then some, with project after project finding the business park and its surrounding community to their liking. The area in 2024 welcomed $65 million in new attraction projects and $261 million in expansion projects, resulting in a combined 642 jobs added in the region. The chamber encompasses 10 counties throughout the south-central Kentucky region and last year launched the South Central Kentucky Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (SCK AMA) to meet a projected need for 9,300 additional workers over the next 10 years in a sector that employs 19% of the region’s workforce. CHARLOTTE-CONCORD- GASTONIA, NC-SC CHARLOTTE REGIONAL BUSINESS ALLIANCE Robert McCutcheon President & CEO charlotteregion.com Significant Projects Odyssey Logistics; Detrapel; Groninger USA; RXO; Digital Realty Trust Programs & Initiatives “The Charlotte Region’s secret sauce lies in the power of its partnerships,” says a statement sent by the Alliance, whose partners include the city and 14 counties in two states. “Every one of the projects is the story of collaboration and collective success.” 2024 stood out for a surge in advanced manufacturing, including such subsectors as plastics & polymers; metals & fabrication; telecom; energy storage; and packaging. “These projects are a testament to the region’s workforce, infrastructure and business- friendly environment, which continue to attract high-impact investments from around the globe,” the Alliance stated. COLLEGE STATION-BRYAN, TX CITY OF COLLEGE STATION ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Michael Ostrowski Chief Development Officer grow.cstx.gov CITY OF BRYAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Kevin Russell Managing Director – Economic Development building.bryantx.gov Significant Projects Substrate; Elliott Electric Supply; First National Bank of Central Texas; HTI; Fera Diagnostics and Biologicals Programs & Initiatives The region is ranked No. 21 nationally in the Heartland Institute’s Most Dynamic Metropolitans rankings, while the U-Haul Growth Index ranked College Station the No. 6 U.S. Growth City of 2024. Between Texas A&M and Blinn College, the region has more than 80,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled each year, with 18,000 graduating each year from A&M. Located in northeast Bryan, Texas Triangle Park, at more than 1,000 acres, is designated as Foreign Trade Zone No. 84. Bryan also is home to Texas A&M’s RELLIS Campus, a “collaborative ecosystem built to foster advanced research, technology development, testing and evaluation, higher education, and hands-on career training.” College Station’s newest business park is a 252-acre development named Midtown. CHARLESTON-NORTH CHARLESTON, SC CHARLESTON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE David Ginn President & CEO www.crda.org Significant Projects Boeing; Ingevity; Low Tide Brewing; Allegiance Flag Supply; Google Programs & Initiatives The CRDA recently launched NavigateCHS, an “ecomap” of the Charleston entrepreneurial ecosystem. One Region, a Joint Venture Partnership of the Berkeley- Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG), Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, and the CRDA, is focused on implementing a roadmap focused around eight regional dynamics: affordability, economic momentum, equity, global fluency, the digital divide, transportation & transit, innovation & entrepreneurship and quality of place. Meanwhile, redevelopment of the former Charleston Naval Complex into a 50-acre mixed-use development named Battery Park continues. DALLAS-FORT WORTH-ARLINGTON, TX DALLAS REGIONAL CHAMBER Dale Petroskey President & CEO dallaschamber.org FORT WORTH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP Robert Allen President & CEO fortworthedp.com Significant Projects Bell Textron; Chick-Fil-A; Embraer; Foot Locker; GEICO; RJW Logistics Programs & Initiatives “To see the Fort Worth EDP recognized as one of the top economic development organizations in the country, less than two years after its creation, is a testament to all involved in its creation and to the team who work tirelessly every day to position Fort Worth as the most vibrant and sustainable city in the United States,” says Robert Allen, president and CEO of Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership. In addition to corporate end-user projects, the Fort Worth area will see a new $800 million University of Texas at Arlington West Campus that will serve more than 10,000 students by 2028 and the $630 million Fort Worth Stockyards Phase II redevelopment. The Dallas Regional Chamber’s 2024 Impact Report notes Dallas, with 80, leads the DFW region in headquarters locations since 2010 — the region overall has attracted an astounding 284. The region welcomed 32 HQs in 2024 alone. Among the Chamber’s hot resources is a health care & IT talent pipeline portal found at talentpipeline.dallaschamber.org.68 MAY 2025 SITE SELECTION DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL, NC & RALEIGH-CARY, NC RESEARCH TRIANGLE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP Ryan Combs Executive Director researchtriangle.org Significant Projects Novo Nordisk; Science Corp.; Weatherby Locums; Ionna; Johnson & Johnson Programs & Initiatives The 14-county Research Triangle is home to more than 2 million residents, the nation’s fourth-highest concentration of PhDs, more than 113,000 degrees conferred annually and yet a median home price of $174,830. Raleigh was No. 1 in the Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities ranking, while Durham- Chapel Hill was No. 16. Among the three of them, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Novo Nordisk and Johnson & Johnson in 2024 announced $7.3 billion in expansion investments. In other project news, Harnett County Government is collaborating with the I-95/I-40 Crossroads of America Economic Development Alliance to develop the 60-acre Harnett 95 Industrial Center in Dunn. HOUSTON-PASADENA-THE WOODLANDS, TX GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP Steve Kean President & CEO houston.org Significant Projects Chevron; EdgeCloudLink; TMEIC Corp. Americas; Jupiter Power; Provalus Programs & Initiatives By the end of 2024, the Partnership was able to report that the region created 60,000 jobs in the 12 months ending in October 2024. Passenger traffic through the Houston Airport System and container traffic through Port Houston were both on their way to new records. And it was all accomplished even as the region bore the brunt of the May 2024 derecho and Hurricane Beryl last July. The Partnership’s forecast calls for metro Houston to create 71,200 jobs in 2025, led by health care, construction, and professional and technical services. Over the past two decades, Houston’s GDP has grown 70% after adjusting for inflation. If you’re looking for guidance on how state policies will impact the regional economy, one of the most incisive tools offered by the Partnership is its regular update on activity in the Texas Legislature from Taylor Landin. HUNTSVILLE, AL HUNTSVILLE-MADISON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Lucia Cape Senior Vice President, Economic Development & Workforce asmartplace.com Significant Projects SpaceFactory; Titomic; Total Quality Logistics; Jiangsu Runergy New Energy; GE Aviation Systems Programs & Initiatives “The past year has brought exciting opportunities in all of our targeted industries,” says Lucia Cape, senior vice president of economic development & workforce for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, representing an area that ranked No. 4 in the nation among Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities. “We are especially excited about growth in our life sciences sector with the announcement of Glaukos Corporation’s investment in Cummings Research Park. We have also seen a lot of activity associated with our music initiatives, including being named by Fast Company as the most innovative in economic development for building the Orion Amphitheater, creating the South Star Music Festival, and establishing the Huntsville Music Office, just to name a few. And we announced new jobs in aerospace and manufacturing from existing and new companies, keeping our economy diverse and thriving.” GREENVILLE-ANDERSON- GREER, SC & SPARTANBURG, SC UPSTATE SC ALLIANCE John Lummus President & CEO www.upstatescalliance.com Significant Projects Samaritan Biologics; GE Vernova; Enersys; AFL Telecommunications; Smurfit Kappa North America Programs & Initiatives “This is the top of the top of site selection publications, and it means a lot to us to receive this,” says Upstate SC Alliance President and CEO John Lummus of the Mac Conway Award. Earlier this spring, he told visiting Site Selection Assistant Editor Alexis Elmore that a lot of building has occurred in Spartanburg County along I-85 and other corridors, an area also served by OneSpartanburg. “The State of South Carolina is in the process of passing some funding legislation for industrial site readiness and that is going to help our counties,” he said. The Alliance has also been involved with REVVED, a consortium of universities, technical colleges and industries collaborating on curriculum and training around manufacturers making the EV transition. The Alliance supports the Skill Up platform, which connects individuals with short-term training programs in their communities, and Move Up, a talent attraction and support program designed around the needs of the 79 people moving to the region every day. DENVER-AURORA- CENTENNIAL, CO METRO DENVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Raymond H. Gonzales President www.metrodenver.org Significant Projects Macs Adventure Ltd.; bet365 Group Ltd.; PDB Sports; Peak Energy; Xcel Energy Programs & Initiatives The nation’s first regional economic development entity brings together more than 70 cities, counties and economic development agencies in the nine- county Metro Denver and Northern Colorado area around six key focus areas, including mobility, tax reform and increasing international flights. The Metro Denver EDC and its Colorado Space Coalition were instrumental in convincing Safran Electronics & Defense to announce in December it would build a 20-job manufacturing facility in Parker to make electric propulsion thrusters for the satellite marketplace. Last spring at the 39th annual Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, the EDC and Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC announced “a landmark collaboration aimed at driving regional economic development along the eastern Front Range,” emphasizing the two metro areas’ strengths in financial services, IT software, aerospace, cybersecurity and defense. SITE SELECTION MAY 2025 69 INDIANAPOLIS-CARMEL-GREENWOOD, IN INDY CHAMBER // INDY PARTNERSHIP Matt Mindrum President & CEO Paula VanDeVanter Director of Business Development indychamber.com Significant Projects Freshrealm; LCP Transportation; Lucas Oil Products; Anthem; Alfa Laval Programs & Initiatives The nine-county Indy region for two years straight has been ranked No. 1 in Site Selection’s annual Global Groundwork Index, which incorporates both corporate facility investment and infrastructure investment project data. That makes sense for a region whose 135-year-old chamber is led by a vision that features investing in tomorrow, meeting businesses where they are and thinking like entrepreneurs (the city hosts the 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in June). Among other programs across the chamber’s Develop Indy, Accelerate Indy and Indy Partnership activities, President and CEO Matt Mindrum is among the leaders of a new statewide coalition to develop a stronger youth apprenticeship system. LAFAYETTE-WEST LAFAYETTE, IN GREATER LAFAYETTE COMMERCE Paul Moses Vice President, Economic & Workforce Development www.greaterlafayettecommerce.com Significant Projects SK Hynix; General Electric; Bioglycols; Subaru; Caterpillar Programs & Initiatives Perhaps there’s no better example of healthy town-gown relations than Greater Lafayette’s relationship with Purdue University, home to the 400-acre, $1 billion-plus Discovery Park District that is in turn home to the Purdue Innovates Accelerator and its inaugural cohort of startups this spring. Among the Chamber’s initiatives is a sister city student exchange program with Ota City, Japan, hometown of Subaru, which first landed operations in Greater Lafayette in 1989. Talent initiatives include a program to connect military veterans to the community and the TalentTrack workforce development program created in collaboration with the State of Indiana, Purdue Polytechnic, Vincennes University, Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue Research Foundation and the Region4 Workforce Board. Announcing the launch of an executive search for a new CEO, the organization noted that the Greater Lafayette region “stands at a critical juncture in its economic growth, fueled by Purdue University’s national leadership in semiconductor innovation, the rise of the I-65 ‘Hard Tech Corridor’ and a diverse mix of small, medium and innovation-driven enterprises.” NASHVILLE-DAVIDSON-MURFREESBORO- FRANKLIN, TN NASHVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Stephanie Coleman President & CEO Jeff Hite Chief Economic Development Officer Lori Odom Senior Vice President of Economic Development www.nashvillechamber.com Significant Projects Holley Performance Products; Adient U.S.; Harrow; Oshkosh; United Record Pressing Programs & Initiatives Among this 178-year-old chamber’s signature programs is Partnership 2030, the 10-county region’s public-private initiative supported by over 250 organizations that is dedicated to Middle Tennessee’s long-term economic prosperity by “creating jobs through relocating and expanding businesses, building a talented and creative workforce, and promoting a high quality of life for all.” The metro’s newest major projects include the Nashville Yards redevelopment, which will include an event venue named The Pinnacle, a convention center, over 3 million sq. ft. of Class A+ office and Class A+ creative office space, and more than 2,000 residential units. A recent report from the Center for Applied Business Research (CABR) at Austin Peay State University found that 144 million visitors to Middle Tennessee in 2023 drove a record-breaking $30.6 billion in direct visitor spending and $3.2 billion in state and local tax revenues. KANSAS CITY, MO-KS KANSAS CITY AREA DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL Tim Cowden President & CEO thinkkc.com Significant Projects Healthcare IT Leaders; JE Dunn; Populous; McKesson; Google Programs & Initiatives At press time the KCADC announced the attraction of a massive 2,000-job, $175 million strategic fintech hub in Overland Park, Kansas, from Fiserv, marking the region’s largest office project ever recruited from outside this 18-county, bi-state market of 2.5 million people. “The KC region is winning and our global brand is rising,” says KCADC President and CEO Tim Cowden, noting recent project successes involving billions of dollars. “This unparalleled corporate attraction success is paired with the recent opening of a gleaming new $1.5 billion KCI. Our region will welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors next summer as Kansas City hosts the world during World Cup ’26.” Among the Council’s programs is TeamKC, network of 1,000+ recruiters, HR executives and community partners helping businesses attract and retain talent. Currently the Council is part of a coalition working to ensure the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and MLB’s Kansas City Royals remain in the region. Australia’s Ceres Tag is among the most recent firms to land in the KC Animal Health Corridor, which includes more than 300 companies.70 MAY 2025 SITE SELECTION SAN ANTONIO-NEW BRAUNFELS, TX GREATER:SATX REGIONAL ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP Jenna Saucedo-Herrera CEO Sarah Carabias Rush Chief Economic Development Officer greatersatx.com Significant Projects Guidehouse; Toyota; American Sole; Global Gates Network; Eiken Chemical Programs & Initiatives “The San Antonio-Austin megaregion is becoming the most dynamic economic corridor in the nation, with San Antonio ranking as the third-fastest-growing major job market in 2024, followed closely by Austin at number five,” says Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, CEO of greater:SATX, of a region that’s seen more than $6.5 billion in new investment creating more than 16,700 new jobs since 2021. “The fusion of San Antonio’s cybersecurity expertise, life sciences prowess and accelerating economic momentum with Austin’s world-class tech and innovation ecosystem is generating a business climate that’s both agile and resilient. For companies looking to scale, innovate, and tap into a skilled workforce, the San Antonio-Austin megaregion offers an unmatched value proposition that simply can’t be ignored.” The value proposition goes for talent too: Private-sector wages in San Antonio are rising faster than nearly every major metro and now exceed earnings in Pittsburgh, Las Vegas and Miami. “When paired with a relatively lower cost of living and doing business, a remarkable sense of place truly unique to this region, and a fantastic quality of life, we have set up a tremendous environment companies are increasingly intrigued by,” says greater:SATX Chief Economic Development Officer Sarah Carabias Rush. “Our proactive business development strategy has been delivering impactful results, with more than 60 business development leads-to-project conversions, and a tripling of the level of RFI opportunities over the prior year.” WILMINGTON, NC WILMINGTON BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT R. Scott Satterfield CEO wilmingtonbusinessdevelopment.com Significant Projects Frontier Scientific Solutions; Asheville Kombucha Mamas; Dark Horse Stages; SANY America; Protocase Manufacturing USA Programs & Initiatives As reported by the American Journal of Transportation (AJOT), the Port of Wilmington and the surrounding area now have nearly 1.5 million sq. ft. of refrigerated warehousing, including two projects from Cold Summit Development and RL Cold that together represent $250 million in investment. “Over the past eight years, North Carolina Ports has complemented this industry investment within the region by increasing its reefer plug count at the Port of Wilmington from 230 to 1,500,’ AJOT reports, with plans to increase that number to 2,100 plugs as demand dictates. The cold chain capacity increase will serve not only the state’s ag and grocery industries, but the 1,000 or so life sciences firms in fellow Mac Conway Award region the Research Triangle. The North Carolina SelectSite Readiness Program welcomed Holly Shelter Business Park into the fold. New nonstop flights were introduced to such cities as Chicago, Boston, Denver and Nashville. PHOENIX-MESA-CHANDLER, AZ GREATER PHOENIX ECONOMIC COUNCIL Chris Camacho President & CEO gpec.org Significant Projects TSMC; Intel; MiiCare; Nucleus RadioPharma; KoMiCo Programs & Initiatives There are plenty of reasons why GPEC was named the No.1 regional economic development organization in the country in a 2023 survey of site selectors by Development Counsellors International (DCI). One is workforce development. In addition to solutions for the booming semiconductor sector, GPEC is among those behind the just-opened battery-focused Future48 Workforce Accelerator in Pinal County, Arizona. GPEC is also behind the Medical Device Manufacturing Multiplier Consortium (MDM2). “Billions of dollars of investment into Greater Phoenix’s health care and semiconductor industries have positioned the region to become a leader in medtech innovation,” said GPEC President & CEO Chris Camacho on the eve of an April SEMI-MDM2 conference. GPEC also partnered with Tesoro.vc, the City of Phoenix and StartupAZ to launch a new startup accelerator. Greater Phoenix has attracted more than $1 billion in venture capital investment in each of the last seven years. At its 35th anniversary event in October, GPEC celebrated the fact it has helped more than 1,000 businesses expand into Greater Phoenix, resulting in over 190,000 jobs and $69.4 billion in capital investment. SALT LAKE CITY-MURRAY, UT SALT LAKE CITY DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Lorena Riffo-Jenson Director www.slc.gov/ed SALT LAKE COUNTY OFFICE OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Dina Blaes Regional Development Director www.saltlakecounty.gov/ regional-development Significant Projects Terra CO2 Technologies; Strider Technologies; MasterControl; Specialized Bicycle Components; Edwards Life Sciences Programs & Initiatives Salt Lake City ranked No. 3 in the Milken Institute Best Performing Cities report, scoring the highest in the categories of 5-year wage growth and 5-year high-tech GDP. “Our work focuses all on the person, the human who is part of our community and is passionate about living and working in Salt Lake City,” says Lorena Riffo-Jenson, “the local businesses and companies who are expanding and opening their doors here because Salt Lakers wants to be part of their growth … all the parts need to be working together side by side to make it happen.” Among the city’s initiatives is the Tech Lake City brand. “Salt Lake City has a tremendous opportunity to become a world-class hub for health care innovation and tech,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall last spring. Among programs from the county is a construction and building trades pre-apprenticeship program in partnership with Utah Women in Trades.GEORGIA Moves Into A ‘New Phase’ Misti Martin: ‘We’ll accomplish our goals by doing what we’ve always done.’ S ite Selection’s annual Site Selectors Survey, released in January, identifi ed Georgia as having the nation’s top business climate. What accounts for Georgia’s continuing strength as a location for business investment? MistiMartin: ree reasons that stand out when we speak with businesses are workforce, connectivity and a business-friendly environment. Georgia’s leadership has consistently invested in education and workforce development initiatives. With a strong pipeline of talent supported by our industry- aligned technical college system, top-tier research universities and training programs such as Georgia Quick Start, companies have access to a highly skilled workforce. Logistics infrastructure is an area where Georgia has devoted years of strategic investment. Last year, Georgia approved a transformative $. billion in funding for regional airports, state highways and other transportation projects. e investment more than doubled state funding for local roads, and half a billion dollars were allocated to supporting more effi cient freight-carrying infrastructure. is year, the state’s amended budget added $ million in additional dollars to these plans. e importance of Georgia’s stable, pro-business environment can’t be overstated when it comes to driving investment. Companies recognize that the state’s leadership is committed to fostering growth through stability, a low cost of doing business and reliable, aff ordable energy. Over the past few years, Georgia has received generational investments from companies such as Hyundai, Rivian and Hanwha Qcells. Do you sense that the era of such blockbuster investments may be waning, and if so, how would that aff ect the state’s business attraction strategy? by GARY DAUGHTERS gary.daughters@siteselection.com Misti Martin, Deputy Director of Global Commerce, GDEcD Photo courtesy of GDEcD Scan this code to access bonus Georgia Intelligence Report content. (continued on p. ) SITE SELECTION MAY 2025 71 GEORGIA INTELLIGENCE REPORT74 MAY 2025 SITE SELECTION GEORGIA INTELLIGENCE REPORT O f all the reasons cited by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for why the Peach State needed to pass tort reform, getting out of hell was not one of them — but it could have been. Just a few months after the American Tort Reform Foundation named Georgia the No.4 “Judicial Hellhole” in the nation, Kemp signed into law sweeping legislation that overhauls the state’s court system to “balance the scales so that both the plaintiff and the defense have a fair playing fi eld in the courtroom,” the governor said. In an email exchange with Site Selection, Kemp wrote that “the legislative package delivering tort reform was born out of nearly two years of conversations with small business owners, stakeholder groups and hardworking Georgians who have felt the pain of rising liability insurance costs due to Georgia’s litigation climate.” At the time the governor requested the review, Georgia was ranked the No. 1 Judicial Hellhole in America — an ignominious distinction the Peach State bore in 2022 and 2023. Wayne Satterfi eld, a partner and attorney with Hall Booth Smith in Atlanta, told Site Selection that Georgia’s legal environment had driven many companies, including insurers, out of the state because they could no longer aff ord to do business in Georgia. “The biggest issues in Georgia were negligent security liability, the collateral source rule and the seat belt rule,” says Satterfi eld. “Property owners were being held liable for the conduct of third-party criminal acts, driving insurers out of the state. With collateral source, an injured plaintiff could put forward medical bills as evidence of damages regardless of whether an insurance company or another party had already paid those bills. That allowed for infl ated judgments. And under the seat belt rule, we could not tell a jury that the plaintiff was not wearing a seat belt at the time of an accident.” Kemp said the time was long overdue for Georgia to reform its tort law. “My common-sense tort reform package rewrites certain procedural and substantive rules to balance the scales” and create a level playing fi eld, he said. “The main provisions of the bill address negligent security claims and how a jury assesses damages in a personal injury case.” The biggest change, he said, is that the law “narrows negligent security claims to instances within the business owner’s control. ” Additional provisions in the bill permit defendants to request trial bifurcation, “end the practice of attorneys collecting compensation on the same case twice, prevent judge shopping and ensure transparency in third-party litigation funding,” the governor noted. “These much-needed reforms strike the right BUSINESS ADVOCATES PRAISE KEMP’S TORT REFORM LAW by RON STARNER ron.starner@siteselection.comNext >