Community Collaboration brings over 10,800 jobs in 10 years, and over $4.5 Billion

Press Release

2014 Cartersville-Bartow Economic Development Report Released

Cartersville, February 23, 2015:  The Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development released its 2014 Economic Development Annual Report to its Board of Directors, the Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority, at their annual meeting February 23, 2015 at the Clarence Brown Conference Center.  “Collaboration is making a positive difference in this community,” shared Chairman James Jarrett.  He thanked partners and credited their collaboration for more than 10 years of measurable improvements in the local economy.

“In 2014, Cartersville-Bartow County had 15 companies commit to 1,937 new jobs and over $297,000,000 in new investment over the next five years,” reported Executive Director Melinda Lemmon.  Existing and new companies were celebrated including B.I.G. USA, Inc., Surya Rugs, Inc., Trinity Industries, Daiki Corporation, Vista Metals Georgia, Aquafil USA and voestalpine Automotive Body Parts, among others.

Other accomplishments of note in the report included the positive developments associated with Highland 75 Industrial Park, the success of the community’s Existing Industries Support Program, the Department’s receipt of the rare CSX Partnership Award and special collaboration in the area of education/ workforce.

Since 2004 when the Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority became fully operational, 131 economic development projects of all sizes have been assisted, reported Lemmon.  With support from the community, those companies have been able to commit to the creation of 10,878 new jobs and new investment of over $4,524,947,000 throughout Bartow County.  Projects were described largely as manufacturing, along with sports tourism and medical.

The Chairman and staff also shared statistical trends and analyses including the tax digest by component parts, the impact of digests on each school system, trends in population and industry mix over time and the importance of manufacturing to the local economy.

The Mission of the Development Authority is to develop and promote trade, commerce, industry and employment opportunities for the public good and general welfare of Cartersville, Bartow County and the state of Georgia.  For more information about the Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development and the Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority, go to www.LocationofChoice.com.