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As international investors train their eyes (and dollars) on the Southeast U.S., Georgia’s largest county is combining its fiscal tools with its deep experience in hosting global companies to ensure their success.
Develop Fulton, the economic development authority of Fulton County, provides a concierge level of service and impactful incentives for companies entering the U.S. market and constructing a new factory, data center, warehouse or office building.
Develop Fulton drives more than $2 billion in impact annually, mainly through a bond for title program that simultaneously grows the local tax base while keeping companies competitive as they undertake often costly and complex U.S. expansions. Develop Fulton also leverages deep relationships with local officials and a dynamic legal team to navigate complex zoning and bureaucracy.
More than simply facilitating transactions, Develop Fulton creates “win-win-win” scenarios that benefit what Chairman Kwanza Hall calls the “three C’s”— county, community and corporate partners — in the belief that fostering shared success long-term will catalyze the transformation the county hopes to achieve for its million-plus residents across 15 municipalities.
Fulton County’s diverse offering is an “investor’s dream,” from its high-tech hubs to mixed-use meccas to retail regeneration opportunities and large already prepped for light factories and distribution centers near the world’s busiest airport at Hartsfield-Jackson, Chairman Hall said.
But telling that story, especially in a loud and crowded world, requires a focus on facilitating cross-border relationships.
“Capital goes where it feels most comfortable, and we want to make sure that our partners feel comfortable,” Chairman Hall says.
Whether it’s visiting some of the 20 consulates general located within Fulton County or participating in overseas delegations, the county is well-versed in the “two-way street” of international economic development, he said.
“You do business with people you trust, and trust is built through informal and formal means. The informality is to help you get to know one another — to understand culture, to understand the idiosyncrasies and the uniqueness of respective partners. And when you add that all together, you have something to build longstanding relationship on.”
Long-time Partners and New Opportunities
Recent trips to Japan and South Korea underscore the county’s efforts to build on long-term partnerships fostered by the state of Georgia in both markets.
Chairman Hall was on hand last fall as state leaders including Gov. Brian Kemp traveled to South Korea to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Seoul office.
He visited Tokyo, where the Southeast-U.S. Japan Alliance conference yet again underscored the deep investment ties that have created tens of thousands of jobs. Chairman Hall’s message was clear: Fulton County, perhaps especially in uncertain times, is dedicated to global partnerships that drive mutual benefit.
“We want to double down on these relationships. Others created these partnerships, and now it’s time for this new generation of leaders, whether they be in Fulton County or in the respective countries, to get together and figure out new pathways and new ways to partner for the long term.”
The efficacy of this grounded, sustained approach has been proven out over the chairman’s career in city council and Congress, as contacts established at one level of government have paid off in later engagements.
Partly for that reason, Fulton County has started to see an increasing parade of dignitaries looking for hospitable places where their companies can land.
“More begets more,” Chairman Hall said. “Making friends before you need them is always important. We’ve seen over the years elected officials and small delegations come visit. Next, they’ve been promoted. They’re no longer on city council. Now they’re mayor, governor, member of parliament, and they come back with a delegation. Because of the great experience they’ve had here, either in college or with family or meeting with city and county leaders, now they want to help companies invest. That’s been exciting.”
That’s the hope for the budding relationship with the Czech Republic, kick-started by the $20 million PBS Aerospace investment in Fulton County’s City of Roswell but cultivated through multiple delegations in both directions designed to deepen connections in key industries like automotive and aerospace.
As geopolitical headwinds abound, local relationships provide an anchor for investors, a safe harbor as they negotiate policy shifts, Chairman Hall says.
“There is a degree of uncertainty around tariffs and immigration. Hopefully we will see some clarity over the course of this year. That clarity really will spur on the economy.”
How Global Investment Drives Fulton’s Future
Despite short-term headwinds, Develop Fulton is eyeing the outpouring of investment that he believes will come as stability returns.
“We believe the international community is the future, and the investment they can bring to Fulton County is going to help us grow in ways that we’ve never seen.”
Companies, for their part, will also benefit from a jurisdiction that spans 70 miles from north to south and is home to dynamic tech incubators, unrivaled universities, Fortune 500 headquarters (crucial for new investors seeking customers) and a growing logistics cluster on its southern edge, Mr. Hall said.
“There’s not one thing you can’t do or find in Fulton County. And if you’re an investor, that makes for not only a single bet, but differentiated and diverse bets that hedge against each other.”
Increasingly, partners from around the world are making their wagers on Fulton County.
- Learn more about how Fulton County is using the World Cup as a platform to reach out to international investors and partner:
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