How Atlanta Became a Top Destination for Commercial Moves
In recent years, Atlanta has transformed into one of the best metros for business, rivaling any urban area across the United States.
Atlanta’s economic development and job growth continue to accelerate, with global companies making their marks on the city. Invest Atlanta predicts that employers will create nearly two million jobs in the metro by 2040.
Here are five factors that have led Atlanta to a competitive position as one of the top places to relocate your business.
Advanced Infrastructure
Atlanta is one of the leading transportation centers in the U.S., making it convenient for companies with national footprints to receive, ship and deliver goods. Georgia maintains the largest rail network in the Southeast with over 4,600 miles of active rail lines and 28 freight railroads. Atlanta not only serves as a hub for the state’s impressive railroad system, but it also sits at the heart of Interstate 20, Interstate 75 and Interstate 85.
The metro is an ideal location for global travel and logistics because of its bustling airport and proximity to ports on the Atlantic Ocean. Airports Council International found that the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was the busiest in the world in 2021, marking a nearly 23-year streak in the No. 1 spot.
Booming Logistics Sector
With Atlanta’s central location, it’s no wonder that the city’s logistics market has experienced significant growth. As e-commerce jumped to unprecedented levels during the pandemic, companies began buying up warehousing and industrial space in and near the Atlanta metro.
From 2016 to 2020, warehousing and transportation jobs increased by 20 percent in Georgia, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Paving the way for future job growth in the logistics sector is Amazon, which operates around 30 facilities in Atlanta and plans to hire roughly 5,000 more workers across the metro area.
Recently, global logistics provider Transportation Insight announced it was moving its headquarters to Atlanta from Charlotte, North Carolina, after acquiring several Atlanta-based logistics companies. Transportation Insight CEO Ken Beyer told the Charlotte Business Journal that the vibrancy and size of Atlanta make the city easier to recruit college graduates to than its current home base in Hickory.
Diverse Tech Talent
As companies nationwide compete to fill available positions with qualified candidates, major players in the technology sector are looking to Atlanta to find the best young, diverse talent
Data from the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education shows that Atlanta has the ninth-highest level of student enrollment among the largest urban areas in the U.S. The Atlanta region is home to prestigious higher-education research institutions, such as Georgia State University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Spelman College, Emory University, Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University.
As a result, Atlanta has the seventh-highest number of annual tech degrees completed and the ninth-largest pool of tech talent in the country, surpassing even Los Angeles in a CBRE report. Walmart, Inc., Capital One, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft and Visa are just a few companies moving tech hubs to Atlanta to recruit some of the bright minds at local institutions.
Support for Startups
Atlanta is one of the top 25 areas for startups in the world, according to Startup Genome. Several investment firms have become drawn to the city, providing critical backing for homegrown startups.
Support for Atlanta startups has grown quickly. Atlanta-based companies Mailchimp and GreenSky each sold for billions in 2021, serving as shining examples for the future of the local startup scene. The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that area companies raised nearly $1.8 billion in venture capital in 2018, compared to $967 million in 2018.
Atlanta has a strong community for startup founders to network and receive mentorship, including from accelerators, innovation centers and incubators such as Atlanta Tech Park, Atlanta Tech Village and the Propel Center.
Friendly Business Climate
Georgia has built a reputation for having a regulatory environment that is friendly to businesses. Site Selection Magazine recognized Georgia’s business climate as the best in the U.S. for eight consecutive years, reflecting the state’s strong economic development and business-development policies.
Georgia is also one of the most affordable states in the country, ranked No. 9 for its low cost of living by the U.S. News & World Report. Its corporate tax rate is only 5.75 percent, and the state has one of the lowest debt-per-capita levels in the country.
The local business climate will only get stronger as corporate giants set their sights on Atlanta. With more companies deciding to relocate their domestic headquarters, Atlanta is poised to move to the top of every CEO’s list of ideal places to live and do business.
Reduce risk, downtime and liability by partnering with Armstrong Relocation – Atlanta for your commercial move. With decades of experience and partners from coast to coast, Armstrong ensures your logistical needs are met with no added stress. Get started today by calling 770.368.0368 or requesting a free quote online.
