Tech and manufacturing are driving Georgia's economic development pipeline. (Does that mean we get first dibs on new software, because our Windows '97 is starting to glitch?)
One of the state's
top economic developers, Metro Chamber of Commerce's
Hans Gant, tells us recruitment and growth in the tech sector—particularly with software makers, IT, digital app makers—are robust. During last week's PulteCorp HQ unveiling at Buckhead Plaza, he said the deep tech pipeline was something "we didn't see four years ago." (To be fair, four years ago there was no such thing as an
iPad, so would anybody want tech?)
We asked
Gov. Nathan Deal (here with Atlanta Mayor
Kasim Reed and PulteGroup's CEO
Richard Dugas) about development, and he echoed Hans. "We seem to have
a lot of good prospects," with
potential HQ relocations and companies growing here, he says. The governor is also preparing to travel next week on another
deal-seeking trip to China, especially targeting agricultural businesses.
Parkway Properties'
John Barton would really, really like to buy another Atlanta office tower: "Oh yeah,
we want to buy more, especially in the Sunbelt." (Now you know what to get him for his birthday.) PulteGroup's HQ—along with the expansion of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Georgia—basically fills its One Capital City Plaza. And Georgia State University's
135k SF lease helps bring Tower Place 200
to over 90%.
