For Georgia Power's Economic Development group, data has become the most powerful differentiator. Combining proprietary analytics with decades of on-the-ground experience, the team is helping companies locate and evaluate sites with greater precision than ever before, often reducing the traditional decision timeline.
The Evolution of Data-Driven Site Selection
Site Selection has long married hard data with deep local knowledge. But as competition for industrial investment intensifies, analytics now play a central role in evaluating risk, workforce alignment, and long-term sustainability. Georgia Power’s Economic Development group brings those elements together. Experts in GIS, economics, engineering, and demographics produce studies on labor availability, commuting patterns, site readiness, and utility infrastructure. These insights guide corporate location strategies.
“Our goal is to help companies make decisions based on verified data, not assumptions,” said Georgia Power Economic development Strategic Solutions Director Jennifer Zeller.
Proprietary Tools Built for Precision
Georgia Power’s in-house platforms give site selectors and consultants the tools they need to analyze locations from every angle. The Site Selector tool allows users to compare sites and buildings across Georgia using current, validated data. Every property is vetted before posting, ensuring accuracy in utility availability, zoning, and infrastructure access.
When we present a site to a company, that due diligence has already been done
Behind the interface, intelligence layers demographic data, workforce analytics, and utility mapping. This enables companies to assess how each location aligns with business goals and make faster, more confident decisions.
SAM™: A Smarter Approach to Site Identification
Rather than waiting for RFIs, Georgia Power uses its proprietary Site Assessment Matrix (SAM™) to proactively identify and rank potential industrial sites. SAM™ leverages GIS analysis, infra structure modeling, and field verification to evaluate access to power, gas, water, and sewer systems, proximity to transportation, workforce accessibility, environmental factors, and community engagement.
Each site is ranked on weighted criteria, creating a clear snapshot of development viability. SAM™ also incorporates local insight from Georgia Power’s regional managers, ensuring every assessment reflects real-world conditions. That hybrid 36 model allows Georgia Power to pinpoint high-potential proper ties before they appear on a client’s shortlist. “When we present a site to a company, that due diligence has already been done,” said Zeller.
Vetted Data for a Faster Path to Market
For companies making multimillion-dollar location decisions, speed to market is often as important as cost or workforce. Georgia Power’s approach streamlines every step of the process. Each site in its system has been reviewed for infrastructure, utility readiness, and development feasibility. That pre-vetting eliminates uncertainty and helps clients move from evaluation to construction more efficiently.
Our goal is to help companies make decisions based on verified data, not assumptions.
Driving Community Readiness Across Georgia
Georgia Power’s data-driven process also strengthens the ecosystem companies rely on. SAM™ assessments help local partners target investments that raise a site’s readiness level. By highlighting gaps — from water capacity to access roads — the Strategic Solutions team identifies potential enhancements that translate directly into reduced risk for corporate decision-makers.
Data Delivered with Expertise
The best decisions are made when data and experience align. Georgia Power’s economic development team brings together technology, talent, and trusted relationships so companies entering Georgia have the information needed to make decisions with confidence.
A Proven Partner in Economic Development
From major manufacturing projects to emerging technology hubs, Georgia Power’s analytics have informed some of the state’s most significant decisions. As Georgia continues to lead in business growth and infrastructure investment, its economic development team remains focused on using data to drive opportunity for companies and communities alike.
