Georgia is the top spot to do business in America – let our expert explain why the Peach State’s economy is ripe for the picking

There’s billions of dollars flowing into Georgia – and with that economic development, comes good paying jobs. It’s getting a lot of attention and that means news coverage on local, state and national levels.

Recently, media have been looking for expert perspective and opinion on the economic boom – and to help with their questions, Georgia Southern University’s Michael Toma is the go-to expert for reporters looking to break down the investments, the opportunities and the jobs that are coming with them.

The SK Battery America plant is, appropriately, located in the city of Commerce, Georgia. The $1.6 billion project – expected to employ 2,000 – was finalized in early January 2019, but without investment from the state and local government, it might not have been built in Georgia.

"They were looking at several other states, especially in the southeastern U.S.," said John Scott, director of economic development for Jackson County. "When we were working with them the final two sites were between here and somewhere in Tennessee."

… According to Michael Toma, Ph.D., Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics at Georgia Southern University, a new project creating 1,000 jobs can have a huge impact, while 500 jobs is a significant project for medium-sized cities. How good the jobs are is a matter of debate, although state and local officials emphasize that they look for jobs that pay well. July 27 – USA Today/Savannah Morning News

If you’re a reporter looking to know more about why business is booming in Georgia – then let us help. Michael Toma, Ph.D., is Georgia Southern University's Fuller E. Callaway professor of economics and is available to speak with media about this topic – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.