b'ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTThomasville BY THE South Georgia for the Win:NUMBERS 2019 CelebratingEconomic Victories I n 2019, communities across South Georgia pulled out their ceremonial gold shovels and red ribbons to announce millions of dollars in investments and hundreds of new jobs. There was plenty to celebrate, with 371 economic development projects announced throughout the state in 2019, 79 percent were outside of the Atlanta area, and South Georgia communities including Adel, Bainbridge, Cairo, Camilla, Moultrie, Quitman, $126.5 Million 730+ 500,000 Strong Thomasville, Tifton, and Valdosta claimed some big wins.INVESTMENTS JOBS WORKFORCE IN 30 MI. RADIUS Brooks County Thomas County$28With seven announcements representing new industries and MILLIONINVESTED expansion projects, Thomas County gained $126.5 million in 100 JOBS CREATED investments and approximately 730 plus new jobs. The most recent announcement is Walmarts $90 million case-ready meat facility that will hire up to 400 people during the next four years. To meet a growing demand for quality broiler 7 MAJOR PROJECTS Red Chamber Seafood breeding stock around the world, AviagenAlso making headlines in Thomas County was the opening of opened a new hatchery in Quitman, Brooksa $15 million plant for Check-Mate Industries. A family-owned Brandt Information Services Wal Mart County. The 78,000-square-foot facility is thecompany based in West Babylon, New York, Check-Mate Check-Mate Industries Southern States Insulation companys ninth largest facility, and has theIndustries is projected to hire 230 employees. capacity to set 1.1 million eggs per week. TheNew and expanding projects in Thomas County also include Marriott Sweet Grass Dairy company invested $28 million in the QuitmanBrandt Information Services, Southern States Insulation, Sweet hatchery and created 100 new jobs. Grass Dairy, Red Chamber Seafood, and a downtown Marriott hotel. Brooks County is also home to one of the states Shelley Zorn, Executive Director largest solar facilities. The Quitman Solar Energy Thomasville Payroll Center, which was completed in December,$126.5MILLION INVESTEDDevelopment Authority created hundreds of construction jobs, and is developthomas.com | 229.425.1026 expected to generate more than $13 million in730+ JOBS CREATEDtax revenue over the next 30 years. 40 SG MAGAZINE | WINTER 2020 BUSINESS + CULTURE 41'