South Atlanta News

Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia announced on October 3rd that the state has achieved a remarkable milestone by being named the No. 1 state for business for an unprecedented ten years in a row. This recognition comes from the 2023 rankings by Area Development magazine, which evaluates states based on various factors related to business-friendly environments and economic strength.

Governor Kemp highlighted the state's consistent performance in scoring high in 14 categories, ultimately securing the top position. He attributed this achievement to strategic investments, a robust workforce development program, and a business-friendly environment. According to Governor Kemp, this accomplishment represents a decade-long legacy of economic strength and growth for Georgia.

"For 10 straight years, the people who help businesses choose where to make long-term investments have repeatedly said Georgia is the best state in the nation for opportunity," said Governor Kemp in a press release. He further praised the hard work of individuals across the state, stating, "Thanks to their efforts, we've brought record-breaking jobs and investments to all four corners of the state, especially to rural Georgia."

Area Development Staff Editor Steve Kaelble also commented on Georgia's consistent top ranking, stating, "As you look through the individual lists of what makes a state a great place to do business, you will find Georgia uniformly at or near the top of most of them... The state has carefully assembled most of the building blocks that location decision-makers are looking for, and that work translates into success on this ranking."

Area Development magazine, established in 1965, is a prominent executive magazine that covers corporate site selection and relocation. It provides insights to senior executives and has a digital platform with over 175,000 unique users quarterly.

This recent recognition follows other notable achievements for Georgia. In September 2023, the state announced a record-breaking year in the tourism industry, with 167.7 million domestic and international visitors, resulting in $39.8 billion in spending and a total economic impact of $73 billion.

Additionally, in August 2023, Governor Kemp revealed that Georgia had achieved a record-breaking streak in economic development for the third consecutive year. The state attracted over $24 billion in investments, leading to the creation of 38,400 new jobs across 426 projects.

To address the remarkable job growth in the state, Governor Kemp is hosting the inaugural Governor's Workforce Development Summit on October 5th. Georgia has witnessed the addition of nearly 96,000 jobs since the previous year, bringing the total number of jobs in the state to 4.93 million, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

Georgia's consistent top ranking as the No. 1 state for business showcases the state's commitment to fostering a supportive business environment and driving economic growth.