PRO-BUSINESS
Georgia boasts one of the top pro-business environments in the nation. State statutes, economic development practices, business development support, fiscal conservatism, community leadership and an innovative, progressive business community all combine to provide an ecosystem that is prime for doing business. Here’s why:
No. 1 State for Business
Year after year, Georgia ranks as one of the top states for business. The state was named the No. 1 State for Business by Site Selection magazine 5 years in a row (2013-2017). Area Development magazine also listed Georgia as the No. 1 state for business and the No. 1 state for distribution & supply chain hubs (2015).
Low Corporate Taxes
Georgia was the first Southeastern state to pass single-factor corporate tax apportionment. This means that in-state sales are the only relevant factor in determining the portion of taxable income to which the 6 percent corporate tax rate is applied.
High Bond Ratings
Georgia is one of a handful of states to have the highest bond ratings (AAA) from all three major municipal bond rating agencies — Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s.
Fiscal Conservatism
State law mandates that Georgia continuously maintain a balanced state budget. And the state consistently maintains one of the nation’s lowest debt-per-capita levels.
Corporate Headquarters
Industry giants like The Home Depot, UPS, The Coca-Cola Company and Delta Air Lines are just a few of the 17 Fortune 500 and 30 Fortune 1000 companies that chose Georgia for their headquarters. View full list
Best-in-Class Business Development Support
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has industry experts and project managers whose sole responsibility is to help businesses expand.
These professionals connect companies large and small to government and business leaders at home and abroad; represent the state’s industries at conventions and meetings worldwide; and provide a wealth of data and analysis to inform decision-making. Read case studies
Community Leadership
Strong, forward-thinking community leadership is a key component to Georgia’s pro-business approach.