After featuring Peach County, Georgia in July 2017, Business in Focus checked back in this month to hear the latest news and developments from this industry-focused rural community, which is still serving up plenty of southern charm along with its famous peaches.
“Peach County continues to build on its strengths as a strategically located and business-friendly community,” says Jill Bowen, Project Manager for The Development Authority of Peach County. “Recent updates emphasize the continued development of our workforce, particularly with the ongoing success of the Peach Regional Workforce Development Center located in the South Peach Industrial Park.”
A key asset for the community, the Workforce Development Center provides vital educational programs including CDL driver training through Central Georgia Technical College. Peach County High School’s Career Center and its dual-enrollment program are also located there, and students have access to a variety of courses, from warehousing and welding to logistics and early childhood education.
County leaders are eager to keep up this support for the next generation of employees. There is a “continued focus on improving and expanding our workforce training programs to ensure that local businesses have the workforce they need,” says Bowen.
Businesses continue to view Peach County as an ideal location for setting up shop. “We’re also seeing sustained interest from businesses looking to take advantage of our prime location, excellent infrastructure, and supportive local government,” Bowen says. “The Development Authority of Peach County remains very active in recruiting and supporting new and existing businesses.”
And the county is planning ahead, with current and upcoming projects that will continue to strengthen the local business environment. “A significant focus remains on expanding our industrial base,” Bowen tells us. “We are actively working to attract new manufacturing and distribution businesses to the region and have seen significant growth at the Robins International Industrial Park.”
In November 2024, KIHOMAC broke ground on a new, 130,000-square-foot aerospace manufacturing facility within the park. The newly built Pratt Industries building located inside the park is now fully operational and employing over 120 workers. And there is an expansion underway of the greenhouse grower Local Bounti.
“We are also working on continued infrastructure improvements to support this growth, including being the recipient of a $2 million grant from the state to help construct a new road that will connect the interior of RIIP to Highway 247,” Bowen adds.
The commitment to growth does not stop there. Local leaders are focused on enhancing the community’s quality of life with a variety of projects, including improvements to parks, recreational facilities, and downtown areas, “making them more attractive to residents and visitors,” Bowen says.
Indeed, Peach County leadership has embraced a growth-centered mindset. “Our ‘open to grow’ attitude reflects a proactive and collaborative approach to economic development,” she says. “It means we are committed to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for businesses, investing in infrastructure and workforce development, [and] working closely with our partners at the state and local levels.” The entire community is fully behind the concept. “This attitude is deeply ingrained in our community, which values progress and opportunity,” Bowen says. “It represents a community that is forward-thinking and ready to embrace the future.”
Certainly, businesses will find myriad benefits to setting up shop in the area. “Peach County offers several key advantages,” Bowen says. The first is its strategic location. “We are conveniently located on I-75, providing easy access to major markets and transportation hubs, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Port of Savannah.”
In addition, there is a solid workforce already in place, ready to fill new jobs. “We have a skilled and growing workforce, with access to excellent training programs,” Bowen says. Equally important, the community is a business-friendly environment. “Our local government is committed to supporting businesses and providing a streamlined permitting process,” she says.
An affordable price tag is another critical advantage. “Peach County offers a lower cost of living than many other areas, making it attractive to both businesses and employees,” Bowen says. The area is also affordable for land development—and land is currently available, meaning Peach County is poised to become a substantial manufacturing center in the near future.
On June 16, 2022, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced the purchase of an economic development site in the community, over 1,100 acres in size. “The Middle Georgia Mega Site represents a significant economic development initiative for Peach County and the broader region,” says Bowen. “The acquisition of this site was a collaborative effort between the State of Georgia and the Development Authority of Peach County, and the site was selected because of its strategic location and potential for large-scale development.” It boasts close proximity to the major north-south transportation corridor I-75, the Deep Port of Savannah, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and has access to rail service via Norfolk Southern.
Local leaders have made the development process easy for incoming businesses. “The site has undergone extensive due diligence, which streamlines the development process,” Bowen explains. “This includes assessments of environmental factors, topography, and utility availability. The flat topography of the site minimizes development costs and time, and the availability of utilities, and the work done to prepare the site, makes it very attractive to large-scale manufacturing companies.”
Peach County is eager to welcome a large OEM to the Middle Georgia Mega Site. “The arrival of a large Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) at the Middle Georgia Mega Site would have a transformative impact on Peach County and the surrounding region,” Bowen says, including substantial job creation. “It would generate a significant number of high-quality jobs, providing substantial economic opportunities for local residents.”
Economic growth would be another positive impact. “It would stimulate economic growth by attracting supporting industries, businesses, and services to the area,” Bowen says. And the increased tax revenue could be used to improve essential services including education and infrastructure.
As a result, the community would enjoy new opportunities. “It would enhance the overall quality of life in the community by providing new amenities, recreational opportunities, and cultural experiences,” Bowen says. In fact, the entire region would see a boost. “A large OEM would place Middle Georgia on the map as a premier location for advanced manufacturing and industrial development,” Bowen says. “It would also create a ripple effect of economic growth for surrounding counties. It would show that Peach County is a prime location for large-scale industry.”
The area is not just a great place to do business, it is also a great place to live. “Peach County offers a high quality of life with a strong sense of community,” Bowen says. “We have excellent schools, affordable housing, a variety of recreational opportunities, and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere in a rural setting with easy access to larger metropolitan areas.”
With so many assets close at hand, the future definitely looks bright and local leaders are well prepared for it. “Our vision for the future of Peach County is to continue to grow as a thriving and prosperous community,” Bowen says. Goals include the creation of more jobs and economic opportunities, enhancing the county’s educational and workforce development programs, improving county infrastructure, and preserving the community’s rural character and quality of life. “We plan to continue to be proactive in our economic development efforts, and to work closely with our partners to achieve our goals.”
