U.S. Chamber lauds Georgia for infrastructure, regulation, training

By David Markiewicz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia is poised to create jobs on the strength of its transportation and logistics infrastructure, policies and strategic efforts, a new study of the business climate for each of the 50 states said.

In Enterprising States, released on Tuesday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce lauded Georgia as "a top performer in infrastructure measures."

It noted the economic power of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the ports of Savannah and Brunswick, that four of the top 10 warehouse providers in North America are headquartered in the state, and that 90 percent of the top 25 global logistics providers have operations in Georgia.

The state also is "playing a pivotal role in fostering the conditions for job growth," according to the study, through tax and regulation measures, and workforce development and training programs.

The report cited the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics, the Quick Start employee training program, the HOPE Scholarship, and the state's Technology Development Centers and Georgia Research Alliance VentureLab. The latter two help emerging businesses and entrepreneurs.

The study said Georgia's  "... strong overall performance suggests a comprehensive approach to meeting the ongoing skills and infrastructure needs of retaining, growing and creating jobs in today's global economy."