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Georgia's Leading Workforce Training Program Lands the State in Third Overall

Georgia ranked third among the Top States for Doing Business. Its consistent, high-level performance is the result of a pro-business government and diverse economy, including aerospace, agribusiness, IT, advanced manufacturing, and logistics and distribution. The life sciences industry continues to show strong gains in the state, generating about $23 billion annually toward the GDP and employing more than 100,000 workers.

Area Development Magazine Special Presentation (Fall 2012)

Full Results: 2012 Top States for
Doing Business Survey »

OVERALL RANKINGS

2012

1. Texas
2. South Carolina
3. Georgia
4. Alabama
5. North Carolina
6. Louisiana
7. Tennessee
8. Indiana
9. Mississippi
10. Oklahoma

2011

1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Alabama
4. South Carolina
5. Indiana
6. Louisiana
7. North Carolina
8. Tennessee
9. Mississippi
10. California

2010

1. Tennessee
2. Texas
3. South Carolina
4. Alabama
5. Georgia
6. Indiana
7. Mississippi
8. North Carolina
9. Virginia
10. Oklahoma

CONSULTANTS COMMENTARY

Winning States Offer Low Taxes, Generous Incentives, and Fewer Regulations
Eric Stavriotis, Senior Vice President, Strategic Consulting, Jones Lang LaSalle

States With Deep Pools of Skilled Workers Come Out on Top
Scott Redabaugh, Managing Director, Jones Lang LaSalle

Survey of Location Consultants Fails to Capture Progress Made by Many States
Dan Levine, Pricipal, MetroCompare LLC

Low Costs, Favorable Business Climates, and Right-to-Work Environments Propel Top States
Kathy Mussio, Managing Partner, Atlas Insight

Global life-science players continue to invest in Georgia - for example, Baxter International recently broke ground on a new manufacturing facility east of Atlanta near Covington. This $1 billion facility will employ about 1,500 people and manufacture plasma-based therapies for chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

"Strategic economic growth in Georgia can be traced back to the state's vast range of competitive resources that keep Georgia top of mind for businesses here and around the world," says Chris Cummiskey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Not surprisingly, Georgia ranked first for its overall labor climate. Georgia's well-known Quick Start Employee Training program is a big reason the responding consultants ranked Georgia best in the country for its work force development programs. Quick Start provides customized work force programs that assess, select, and train workers for qualified companies investing in the state. These free services are powerful, cost-saving incentives for companies that are interested in building new operations or expanding. Incidentally, the new Baxter International campus will also be home to a biotech training center that will be owned by Georgia and operated by Georgia Quick Start, providing qualified workers for Baxter and other bioscience companies in the state.

Georgia also tied for third place for its speed of permitting. It is one of the few states whose environmental permitting program is consolidated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the issuance of federal permits, a one-stop process that provides faster turnaround than most states. This includes all permits issued by the Federal Clean Water, Clean Air, and Safe Drinking Water acts - reducing red tape and saving valuable time.

"From our talented work force to comprehensive incentives and other business assets, Georgia takes intentional steps to make certain businesses in our state can compete in the global marketplace," says Cummiskey. And Georgia ranks highly for accessing that marketplace - second among the Top States for Doing Business for its overall infrastructure and global access.