Loading...Red Carpet Tour® Guests Announce Plans to Grow in Georgia
The 2006 Red Carpet Tour® was April 5-8. Guests from throughout the United States and across the globe visited Augusta, Metro Atlanta and Valdosta during their visit to Georgia. During this 4-day period, guests are paired with a state host, and they have the opportunity to learn about the benefits of doing business in Georgia, while also visiting cities and towns around the state. Of course, guests have two days to attend the prestigious Masters® Golf Tournament held in Augusta.
Guests or companies invited to attend the Red Carpet Tour® are a mix of active projects – companies that are already considering Georgia for their expansion and relocation needs, and relationship builders – representatives of companies who may one day choose Georgia as a place to invest and bring jobs.
“A first-class event. The local and state hosts put new meaning into the term ‘Southern Hospitality,’” one guest on the 2006 Tour commented about their experience. “Any company would count itself lucky to be able to locate in the great state of Georgia.”
Since the completion of the Red Carpet Tour®, multiple guests have announced their plans to expand or relocate their company in Georgia.
First, Fiamm Technologies, a manufacturer based out of Italy, will increase its battery production at their Burke County plant, creating 30 new jobs. The company plans to expand their facility by 50,000 square feet, due to be complete this fall. Their Global Industrial Operations Director attended the 2006 Tour.
Second, Trojan Battery Company will create a 140,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Sandersville. The company has a plant in Lithonia and two plants in California. The company is planning to initially employ 70 Georgians, and hopes to expand that number to more than 200 within four years. Their President attended the 2006 Tour.
Third, American Insulated Wire, headquartered in Mansfield, Massachusetts, will begin manufacturing in Douglas. They will take over an empty manufacturing plant. This $16 million investment will create 250 jobs for Georgians. Their Vice President of Midwest Operations attended the 2006 Tour.
Finally, Hewlett Packard announced two data center openings: one in Gwinnett County creating 140 jobs and investing $300 million, and a second in Alpharetta/North Fulton County creating 140 jobs and a bond issue of $500 million. Hewlett Packard representatives also attended the 2006 Red Carpet Tour®.
“I’m very grateful at having been invited to the Red Carpet Tour and can understand why you are so proud of Georgia,” one guest said. “I really had no idea what to expect when I arrived but you exceeded any expectations I may have had. I think this is a very effective way to introduce your state to the business community and introduce business people to what Georgia has to offer,” the guest added.
Clearly, the impact this economic development initiative creates for the state of Georgia cannot be matched. Plans are underway for the 2007 Tour, which will visit Savannah and Augusta.
