110 Jobs Retained In Bartow County In 2017

CARTERSVILLE, GA — The Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development has unveiled its 2017 annual report to its board of directors, community stakeholders and Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority members.

In 2017, 110 quality jobs were retained in Bartow County, 304 quality jobs were announced and investments of $147.9 million are expected over the next several years. The community, the department said, is "grateful for growth plans" announced by Anheuser-Busch, Toyo Tire North America, Vista Metals Georgia and the Georgia Department of Transportation's District 6 headquarters.

The will also welcome MJC and Lidl US to Cartersville. MJC, a manufacturer of custom HVAC equipment, has purchased and is renovating their new Cartersville facility at 415 Grassdale Road. Lidl US is planning their regional grocery Distribution Center in Highland 75 Corporate/Industrial Park, with the construction timeline to be coordinated with the expansion of its retail stores into Georgia.

Executive Director Melinda Lemmon reported on marked improvements in performance measures over time. Since the Department’s creation under the BCJDA in 2004, some focus areas and accomplishments have included increasing job retention and reversing significant job loss trends from the early 2000’s. Annual reports between 2004-2017 have reflected a collective 12,131 new job announcements in diverse areas, but primarily in advanced manufacturing. Lemmon said 1,704 of those jobs are expected to come online between 2018 and 2021.

Lemmon believed this should be good news for job seekers in the Bartow Labor Draw Area if they keep up with the advanced technical skills, credentials and other attributes expected from quality employers (For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here).

Another significant milestone was the amount of new investment Bartow County has seen in the last 14 years. Since 2004, a little more than $5 billion in new capital investment has materialized or will be coming online in the next few years. About 90 percent of this growth is credited to the success of existing industries, compared to the 80-percent threshold offered as the typical rule, Lemmon added.

“Our Board directs us to take exceptional care of our existing industries; they are the key to Bartow’s economic recoveries and successes. For example, a recent announcement of $750 million in Georgia has understandably generated excitement,” said Lemmon. “We should not take for granted that two of Bartow’s existing industries collectively have invested nearly four times the recent headline-catching news. Existing industries of all sizes are making a positive difference in our region’s economy.”

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Bartow County Grant Writing Department were thanked for existing industry support in 2017. A total of $626,585 from three grant sources, were received to support the creation of 332 jobs and investments of $85 million.

In February 2017, Southern Business & Development Magazine named Cartersville-Bartow County among The Best of Economic Development in Metro Atlanta including: Best PLACES for Manufacturing in North Metro Atlanta, Best LOCATIONS in Metro Atlanta for Automotive Suppliers, and Best Industrial SITES in Metro Atlanta – HIGHLAND 75.

More than 115 American manufacturers and 35 companies from 19 countries call Bartow County home. In October 2017 the Atlanta Business Chronicle in partnership with World Trade Center Atlanta and the Georgia Department of Economic Development presented Georgia’s International Business awards recognizing “individuals and organizations working to build and strengthen Georgia’s vibrant global economy.”

Finalists in various categories included Bartow’s own Anheuser-Busch, Toyo Tire, voestalpine, as well as the Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development that was ultimately able to bring home the 2017 International Community Award to Cartersville-Bartow County.

Joint Development Authority Chairman James Jarrett thanked the many partners in economic development for their contributions to the community’s economic health. He noted that their collaboration is a large part of our community’s success and positive reputation. A special note of thanks was given to Bartow County and the city of Cartersville governments for their ongoing leadership and financial support of the BCJDA over the years.

Photo: a March 16 ribbon cutting was held to commemorate the start of construction on Georgia DOT's new District 6 headquarters in Bartow County. Credit: Georgia Department of Transportation