In case you missed it, and we hope you didn’t, Governor Nathan Deal announced that for the fifth year in a row, Site Selection Magazine named Georgia the No. 1 state in the nation in which to do business. According to Site Selection, Georgia is the first state to hold this ranking for five consecutive years under the same governor.

So how do we continue to earn this top distinction? Mark Arend, Editor-in-Chief of Site Selection Magazine explains the process at a recent press event at Tech Square in Midtown Atlanta:

“Our Conway Projects Database of new and expanding facilities is the basis of much of this ranking. It tracks private capital projects involving $1 million or more of investment, 20 or more new jobs or 20,000 or more square feet of new construction. Georgia finished in the top five of most of the ranking criteria that are based on those projects, and site selectors ranked Georgia third in the nation in the executive survey component. This makes Georgia the state to beat for the fifth consecutive year, and it signals to our readers and to the broader capital investment community that Georgia competes to win.” – Mark Arend, Editor-in-Chief of Site Selection Magazine

But it’s not just winning big projects that have earned Georgia the top spot, it’s our innovative approach to economic development, low cost of doing business, our thriving partnerships at both the state and local levels and the ease of access to the world that Georgia offers. All of these incredible assets combined with our robust and skilled workforce put us at the top of the list once again.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this ranking,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “It’s not only a testament to Governor Deal’s leadership, but to each and every economic development partner across the state. For five years in a row, our top-notch business environment and astounding global infrastructure has earned us this honor. The future of economic development in Georgia is incredibly bright and we are looking forward to more big wins. We are proud of this achievement, and all of the work our local partners do across the state to help Georgia thrive and remain competitive in this dynamic economy.”

As Governor Nathan Deal stated, “I am confident that the efforts of state industry leaders, community partners and the people of Georgia will help us maintain this momentum for many years to come.”

Thank you to all who have played a role in Georgia’s successes!

From the Georgia Department of Economic Development