Former Formula One race car driver Michael Schumacher once declared, “I always thought records were there to be broken.”
The State of Georgia, it seems, has fully embraced that concept, as it has been recognized as the number one state for business for the 12th consecutive year by Area Development Magazine, considered the leading executive magazine covering corporate site selection and relocation.
Lately, the building boom has been led by facility expansions and new construction in the fields of manufacturing, health care logistics and AI-powered customer relationship management.
In the last quarter alone, six companies have announced major expansions in the state totaling $122.9 million. In the one-year period ending July 1, there were 423 facility expansions and new locations, representing more than $26.3 billion in investment, a new record.
Recently, Underwood Ammo, which makes handgun and rifle ammunition for hunting and self-defence, revealed the company is investing $41 million to build a new manufacturing and assembly facility in Savannah Portside International Park in Effingham County that will create 120 new jobs. Construction will begin in 2026 with operations set to start in 2027.
Company president and founder Kevin Underwood said the project marks an important milestone in the history of Underwood Ammo.
Virginia Transformer Corp., which manufacturers custom-designed power transformers for a range of industries, is investing $40 million to expand an existing facility near Rincon in Effingham County that will generate 400 new jobs.
The 250,000-square-foot facility will produce transformers ranging from 30 MegaVolt-Amperes (MVA) to 500 MVA at up to 525 kilovolts.
Virginia CEO Prabhat Jain said the company is known for making power transformers with the shortest lead times, and the additional investment will further underscore that position.
Construction on the expansion is expected to begin in January.
Salesforce, a customer relationship management firm, is investing $15 million to expand its Georgia footprint in Fulton County, creating more than 250 new jobs by the end of 2028.
Tanya Counter, site Lead for Salesforce Atlanta, said the company already supports more than 2,000 jobs across Georgia and Atlanta has always been a cornerstone of the firm’s growth story.
In Columbus, BioTech, a health care logistics company, is investing $12.5 million to expand two existing facilities, creating 480 new jobs in Muscogee County over the next four years.
Construction has begun with full operations expected by 2028. The company currently employs about 400 workers across two existing facilities at Corporate Ridge Business Park and Columbus East Industrial Park.
BioTouch CEO Rob Coyle said the company has been proud to call Columbus home since 2005 and the expansion is a pivotal chapter in its growth story.
Early in 2026, Socomec Group, an electrical component and system manufacturer, will start construction of a new $10-million facility in an existing building at 2935 Shawnee Industrial Way near Suwanee. The firm specializes in power switching, monitoring, conversion and energy storage.
Michele Putignano, president and CEO of Socomec North America, said opening the new facility in Georgia marks a major milestone in the company’s growth in North America.
“The state’s strong talent pool, infrastructure, and business environment make it the ideal location to accelerate innovation, support the energy transition, and advance our commitment to sustainable development while delivering greater value to our customers,” he said.
Robin Sodia, director of HR for Socomec North America, said the expansion will create around 300 new jobs.
Meanwhile, Grupo Vialume, a manufacturer of advanced visibility solutions for transportation safety, has announced it is investing $4.4 million to expand its U.S. manufacturing operations in Colquitt-Miller County, which will create 150 new jobs over a period of approximately seven years.
The company is one of the largest global manufacturers of advanced visibility solutions for transportation safety.
A new integrated manufacturing and recycling hub will be located on E. Crawford Street in the City of Colquitt. It will produce both plastic raised pavement markers and precision-engineered reflective lenses, and also transforms materials once considered unrecyclable, including textile offcuts and peanut-shell byproducts, into high-value products and raw materials.
Upgrades to existing facilities are expected to be completed in 2026.
Company CEO João Paulo Moura said the company decided to expand its manufacturing footprint in Georgia because of the growing demand for sustainable products.
“Combined with attractive tax incentives, the stability of the U.S. dollar, and the security of investing in such a strong market, Colquitt offers the ideal environment for Grupo Vialume to continue building a brighter, more sustainable future.”
