Georgia economic development breaks another record
Key points:
- • Georgia economic development investment reached a record $35.2 billion in FY26, with existing companies accounting for 79% of projects.
- • Manufacturing generated 67% of new jobs, while life sciences investment is expanding through projects such as UCB’s $2 billion facility.
- • Global trade, logistics, and infrastructure are supporting Georgia’s growth, with $210.7 billion in 2025 trade activity.
September 2026 — Georgia economic development investment reached a record $35.2 billion in FY26, marking the state’s second consecutive record year. Major companies including Walmart and Siemens are investing in the state as manufacturing, technology, and life sciences drive new projects and capital investment.
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“If you look at the companies recruited to Georgia over the last six years and combine that with investments in technology, robotics, and AI, we have entered a new economic sector,” Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview with Invest:. “The innovation economy is the best term for it from our perspective.”
Georgia’s Global Commerce team supported 436 expansions and new company locations across the state during FY26, generating an estimated 25,300 new private-sector jobs. The total marks an $8.9 billion increase over FY2025’s $26.3 billion, a jump of 33.8%. It is the state’s second consecutive record-breaking year.
More than $5.3 billion of the statewide total is slated for metro Atlanta, even though 75% of FY2026 projects landed outside the 10-county region. The numbers show that Atlanta remains a significant destination for large-scale investment even as economic development spreads across the state.
The shift is also increasing demand for data infrastructure and energy. “Whether it is manufacturing or agriculture, every industry is generating demand for more data,” Clark said. AI adoption is driving demand for data management, data centers, and enterprise applications, while investment in e-mobility, aviation, and automotive manufacturing is adding to electricity demand. “Our projections show Georgia will need 40% more energy by 2050 than it produces today.”
A manufacturing surge
Manufacturing accounted for 67% of new jobs statewide in FY26, with automotive, life sciences and food-processing manufacturing making up 27% of total job creation. Investment in medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing reached its highest level in a decade.”Biomanufacturing is becoming a major strategic priority nationally, especially as the United States focuses on better supply chain resilience and domestic production,” Maria Thacker Goethe, president and CEO of Georgia Life Sciences, said in an interview with Invest:.
A major example is UCB, the global biotech company, which plans to invest $2 billion in Georgia to establish its first U.S. pharmaceutical biologics manufacturing facility. The project is expected to create more than 330 jobs in Gwinnett County at Rowen, where UCB will expand its existing presence in the state. The investment also reflects a broader push by life sciences companies to bring more manufacturing operations back to the United States.
“I think it signals to many other biotech, pharma, and medical device companies that Georgia is scaling up as a hub for life sciences,” Thacker Goethe said. “We are seeing growth in biomanufacturing, medical devices, diagnostics, and advanced manufacturing, and that creates an opportunity for the state to define itself as a place where companies can grow, manufacture, hire talent, and commercialize.” She also pointed to Boston Scientific’s facility in Johns Creek, saying the company cited Georgia’s supply chain capabilities and resilience as factors in its decision to locate there.
Existing companies did most of the heavy lifting behind those numbers. Expansions by companies already operating in Georgia made up 79% of FY26 projects, representing $24.7 billion in investment and 15,370 new jobs. The state also retained more than 90,000 existing jobs. Corporate locations focused on headquarters, software, technology, and support services are projected to add more than 3,790 jobs, with headquarters relocations and expansions drawing more than $225 million in investment.
Talent and connectivity
“The area continues to attract businesses relocating from other parts of the country, new investment, and significant population growth. What is particularly interesting is that much of that migration consists of younger, educated professionals moving from major markets such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco,” Steve Hayes, Georgia and Tennessee market executive at BMO Commercial Bank, said in an interview with Invest:.
Hayes also pointed to Hartsfield-Jackson and the Port of Savannah being a major catalyst for continued expansion, supporting large-scale business activity. Hartsfield-Jackson remained the world’s busiest airport in 2025, handling 106.3 million passengers, while the Port of Savannah handled nearly 5.7 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, its second-busiest year on record.
Georgia’s international trade reached $210.7 billion in 2025, up 5.8% year over year and ranking the state seventh nationally by total trade volume. Mexico, South Korea, China, Canada, and Germany were its five largest trading partners, accounting for more than one-third of total trade activity. Exports rose 12.7% to a record $60.2 billion across 213 global markets, more than double the national export growth rate of 5.6%.
Atlanta’s global connectivity also extends beyond physical infrastructure. The 2026 FIFA World Cup gave the city another period of international exposure, with Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosting matches during the tournament.
“The matches placed Georgia and Atlanta on a global platform in a way that other events to date have not replicated,” said Tim Zulawski, president of AMB Sports and Entertainment. “Investments at Hartsfield-Jackson totaled hundreds of millions of dollars, while more than 2.5 million people rode MARTA during the event window. More than $5 billion in private capital is also being invested near the stadium to redevelop south downtown, including Centennial Yards.”
Workforce development remains part of the pitch. Georgia Quick Start, the state’s customized training program, continues to differentiate the state for companies weighing large-scale manufacturing or technology operations. Georgia has ranked No. 1 for business for 12 consecutive years, according to Area Development magazine.
Want more? Read the Focus: Atlanta report.
