The Home Depot’s 2011 expansion project, estimated to facilitate the creation of 700 jobs in Cobb County, noted as a top deal of the year by Area Development magazine.
Cobb County, GA (June 18, 2012) – With its headquarters in Cobb County, Fortune 500 company and active contributor to the community, The Home Depot, was recognized by Area Development magazine as one of the top deals of the year in Georgia, playing a significant role in the state earning the coveted Silver Shovel Award.
This esteemed recognition was a direct result of last year’s decision by The Home Depot to begin an expansion in Kennesaw, marked by the construction of a new customer support center, which will maintain online retail operations. The new support center will be located in Chastain Meadows commercial office park in 2012. This $24M project was accomplished with help from statewide partners— Walt Farrell of Electric Cities of Georgia and Blair Lewis and Chris Cummiskey of the Georgia Department of Economic Development—and local partners—the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Cobb Works, Cobb County Board of Commissioners and the Development Authority of Cobb County.
“Cobb County is extremely lucky to have The Home Depot in our community. Their continued commitment to Cobb is something we all, in this county and metro Atlanta, are all truly grateful for. Each and every project takes many partners to make new jobs and investment a reality for our citizens,” said Brooks Mathis, Vice President of Economic Development at the Cobb Chamber. “Earning this recognition is especially important to show not only our citizens and leaders, but site selection consultants and potential companies across the country that Cobb is serious about economic development and working together for the betterment of all, our community stands as a team.”
The Home Depot aims to open its new customer support center with more than 400 associates, paving the way for its expected intake of 700 employees by 2015. With this incredible economic development win for Cobb County and the Town Center area, The Home Depot further reaffirms its significance as not only a major employer, but a vital economic stimulator in Cobb County and the metro Atlanta area, exemplifying the attributes looked for in identifying a Silver Shovel Award recipient.
Area Development’s annual Gold and Silver Shovel Awards recognize states that were tremendously successful in marketing their attributes, forging relationships with both existing businesses and clients, and customizing incentive packages to secure billion-dollar, large-scale deals that have the ability to generate thousands of jobs, reinforcing their reputation as excellent places to conduct business. In 2011, 18 states were recognized for the Shovel Awards. Information collected from all 50 states regarding their top 10 job creation and investment projects initiated in 2011 were reviewed based on a variety of weighted factors, including estimated number of new jobs created in relation to state population, total dollar amount of investments, number of new facilities, and diversity of industry embodied. Four states achieving the highest overall weighted score are awarded Gold Shovel Awards in four population categories: 9+ million, 5 to 9 million, 3 to 5 million, and fewer than 3 million. Runners up in each of the four population categories are awarded Silver Shovels.
Georgia received a Gold Shovel in 2007 and Silver Shovels in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Data collected by Georgia State University indicates that Georgia’s GDP grew by 2.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011, and although growth is projected to be slightly slower (approximately 2 percent) for 2012, the large-scale projects being conducted in the areas of health care, professional and business services, warehousing and distribution, and manufacturing will continue to move forward keeping Cobb County, as well as other areas of the metro Atlanta region, the ever-progressing and vibrant hub of our Georgian economy. In 2011, Cobb County was responsible for a third of all new jobs created in the metro Atlanta region. The Cobb Chamber and its partners reported 26 major relocations and expansions, 3,093 new jobs and $248 million in new investments last year.
This esteemed recognition was a direct result of last year’s decision by The Home Depot to begin an expansion in Kennesaw, marked by the construction of a new customer support center, which will maintain online retail operations. The new support center will be located in Chastain Meadows commercial office park in 2012. This $24M project was accomplished with help from statewide partners— Walt Farrell of Electric Cities of Georgia and Blair Lewis and Chris Cummiskey of the Georgia Department of Economic Development—and local partners—the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, Cobb Works, Cobb County Board of Commissioners and the Development Authority of Cobb County.
“Cobb County is extremely lucky to have The Home Depot in our community. Their continued commitment to Cobb is something we all, in this county and metro Atlanta, are all truly grateful for. Each and every project takes many partners to make new jobs and investment a reality for our citizens,” said Brooks Mathis, Vice President of Economic Development at the Cobb Chamber. “Earning this recognition is especially important to show not only our citizens and leaders, but site selection consultants and potential companies across the country that Cobb is serious about economic development and working together for the betterment of all, our community stands as a team.”
The Home Depot aims to open its new customer support center with more than 400 associates, paving the way for its expected intake of 700 employees by 2015. With this incredible economic development win for Cobb County and the Town Center area, The Home Depot further reaffirms its significance as not only a major employer, but a vital economic stimulator in Cobb County and the metro Atlanta area, exemplifying the attributes looked for in identifying a Silver Shovel Award recipient.