CARTERSVILLE-BARTOW COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SHARES 2021 ANNUAL REPORT

March 15, 2022

Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia, March 15, 2022–

The Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development shared their 2021 Annual Report with their Board, the Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority (BCJDA), and community stakeholders. 

Customized research was compiled on local workforce development, community development, and general economic indicators.  Highlights include positive employment and unemployment trends, the return to pre-pandemic workforce participation levels, Bartow’s cost of living consistently being lower than the U.S. average, improving education completion, and housing statistics.  The significance of Manufacturing and related industries was acknowledged during this 185^th year of manufacturing in Bartow County since Jacob Stroup’s first iron furnace. 

The largest sector in Bartow’s economy was noted to be Manufacturing, followed by Retail, then Accommodation and Food Services.  Manufacturing, Utilities, and Transportation-Warehousing are the three largest location quotient (LQ) sectors (i.e. high concentrations of employment compared to the national average).  Manufacturing, by far, remains the largest contributor to Bartow County, Georgia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over $4.48 billion in goods and services produced.

A presentation was given regarding economic progress in the industrial sector that data sources may not yet know about; progress that will positively impact Bartow’s future. 

• Previously announced projects celebrating 2021 milestones including Wellmade Flooring with the opening of their operations, the ribbon cutting of Agile Cold Storage, the completion of the Nippon Light Metal (NLM) building, and continued progress of the Anheuser-Busch expansion, among others.
• 2021 welcomed new companies to the community including:  IC Biomedical that is now operational on Cass-White Road, the announcement and construction of Amazon’s Last Mile Delivery Station at Third Army Road, the announcement and ribbon cutting of Textron GSE on Busch Drive, and the future opening of Broadrange Logistics on Cass-White Road, among others.
• Existing industries who invested in their employees and/or facilities included: 3D Storage Solutions in Cartersville, 84 Lumber Company in Cartersville, Anheuser-Busch in Cartersville, Chief Container Corporation in Bartow County, and Premium LVT Mfg. in Cartersville.

• Additionally, ten Developers invested in nearly 6.4 million square feet of Class A industrial space throughout Bartow County for speculative development purposes.  Developers include:   Ashley Capital, Cass-White Holdings, Core5, Hillwood, Hines, IDI, Panattoni, Pattillo, Strategic RE Partners, and Transwestern.

Collectively, these efforts will result in 748 new jobs and $535.5 million in new capital investment in Bartow County, Georgia over the next several years.

In partnership between the BCJDA and Bartow-Cartersville Second Joint Development Authority, Highland 75 Corporate/Industrial Park continues into phase two, gaining the attention of potential economic development opportunities.  655 acres remain in the park for qualified employers.

Administrative highlights in 2021, included a year with significant support for the school systems and other stakeholders, debt retirement, frugal operations, and general progress as outlined in the Short-Term Work Program.  Thanks was given to the City of Cartersville and Bartow County Governments for their unified vision for economic development and funding invested in the operations of the Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority (BCJDA), d.b.a. Cartersville-Bartow Economic Development.

About the Authority:

The Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority (d.b.a. Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development) is a lead community partner in economic development serving Cartersville and all of Bartow County, Georgia.  The Authority is made up of appointed business leaders from diverse backgrounds who carry out their Mission “to develop and promote trade, commerce, industry, and employment opportunities for the public good and general welfare of Cartersville, Bartow County and the state of Georgia.”  Together they oversee staff and effort to support existing industries, recruit new ones that are a strategic fit for the community, develop industrial property, as well as support partnering organizations in various aspects of community and workforce development.  Under the direction of elected leaders, the Authority has encouraged and supported the creation of over 15,300 jobs and $6.5 billion in new investment throughout the community since its creation in 2004.

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Melinda Lemmon, Executive Director, Melinda@LocationofChoice.com
Office 770.607.1197  |  Direct 404.218.2180