T

he old mantra for corporate decision makers was once "Why Georgia?" The new question site seekers must ask themselves is "Why anywhere else?"
      Georgia, still one of the fastest-growing states in the country, offers a location that is not only warm, inviting and generally a nice place to be, but it also provides a place most suitable for desired bottom-line results.
      For example, labor costs in the Southeast are still among the lowest in the nation, with Georgia's average annual wage weighing in at a mere $35,734. And, according to RS Means, the cost of construction in Georgia is 10 percent less than the national average.
      Georgia also offers commercial and industrial users an extra cost incentive. For electric utility loads of 900 kW or more, businesses can choose their electric power supplier. This competitive atmosphere has helped keep the cost of electricity down in the state since 1973. For industrial users, the cost of electricity is $12.55 per 1 million BTUs and $19.60 per million BTUs for commercial users.

     If that isn't enough, then consider the recent Georgia General Assembly session. Georgia's governing bodies passed a bill that will offer Georgia-based companies a $1 billion tax break over the next 10 years. The new law changes the state's corporate tax formula from 50 percent sales, 25 percent payroll and 25 percent property to 80 percent sales and 10 percent each for payroll and property.
      As part of Gov. Sonny Perdue's Entrepreneur and Small Business Growth Initiative, two other bills were passed offering tax incentives to encourage growth. One bill creates a designation for counties in less developed areas to offer business tax credits to help attract and retain new business.
      Massive tort reform also made its way through the state Senate and House and onto the governor's desk. The new law eliminates joint and several liability in cases involving multiple defendants, strengthens expert witness provisions, limits liability for emergency rooms and personnel, addresses venue reforms where there are two or more defendants, creates offers of settlement, and places a limit on non-economic damage awards in medical malpractice cases, among other provisions. These reforms will not only improve the quality of health-care services, but they will lower the cost of health-care liability insurance.

     While Georgia's business environment continues to evolve, there's one thing that remains the same - the state's unbeatable location. Georgia is the heart of the rapidly growing Southeast region, and with its numerous interstates, rail lines, deepwater ports, and the nation's busiest airport, businesses can be anywhere they need to be within a matter of hours. Within a two-hour flight, 80 percent of the U.S. population can be reached, and 82 percent of the U.S. industrial market and 79 percent of the largest consumer markets can be accessed in two or less days by truck.
      Georgia also has the Southeast's most extensive rail system, with 5,000 miles of main and branch-line track. CSX and Norfolk Southern Corp. operate approximately 140 daily trains in and out of Atlanta and from points throughout the eastern United States. Piggyback and container train services are available between the Savannah Container port and Atlanta. Norfolk Southern Corp. and CSX Transportation provide intermodal rail service throughout the state.
      Additionally, Georgia leads the South Atlantic area in cargo handled for foreign commerce with more than 90 steamship lines serving the state. Inland barge terminals in Bainbridge and Columbus offer low-cost alternatives to and from the Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern markets. The Georgia Ports Authority also has an international presence, with offices in Atlanta, Savannah, and Brunswick, Ga.; Chicago; New York; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Oslo, Norway; Athens, Greece; and Tokyo, Japan.

     And last, but certainly not least, are Georgia's workforce training capabilities. Businesses operating in Georgia can receive customized training to fulfill whatever needs they may have through the nationally acclaimed - and free of cost - Quick Start Program. The state's 34 technical colleges work with industry to deliver customized training to workers. Since 1967, Quick Start has provided customized training for 39,000 Georgia workers and more than 3,400 companies.
      Georgia's universities and colleges pursue partnership between member colleges and private industry. The Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP) allows Georgia's public university system to meet a company's specific needs for knowledge workers. Other partnerships include the GEDC Mission, FaciliTech and the Georgia Center for Advanced Communications Technology.

     The reasons for locating to Georgia could go on and on, but the reasons for not locating here are a little more difficult to find. If you are interested in learning more, please visit Georgia Electric Membership Corporation's Economic Development team at www.ga-sites.com or call (800) 339-7185, ext. 7600.