The Atlanta Business Chronicle reported in its June 12 edition that Georgia may be one of several states competing for a significant biotech development that could be located on more than 100 acres and employ at least 1,000 in metro Atlanta. If The vaccine or pharmaceutical manufacturing operation – as yet unidentified – could be a boon to Georgia’s drive to enhance its biotech credentials.

According to a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, Georgia currently falls behind state industry leaders in bio-engineered medicines, fuels and foodstuffs, which include California, Massachusetts and North Carolina. The state is moving to significantly increase its status in the biotech industry, and so has placed the lucrative and competitive life sciences field atop its economic recruitment pyramid. In May, Georgia hosted the world’s largest biotech conference, the 2009 BIO International Convention, which was attended by more than 14,000 industry leaders and convention-goers from 58 countries and 48 states.

Charles Craig, the president of Georgia Bio, a nonprofit that promotes the biotech industry explained, “What this convention has done is really shine a light on Georgia and helped change peoples’ perceptions of Georgia. There is a huge growth potential for Georgia. We’re headed in the right direction.”

Although not a state biotech leader – 70 percent of Georgia’ 300 biotech companies generate revenues of $10 million or less – Georgia does boast Big Pharma manufacturers, such as Solvay. Marietta is the U.S. corporate headquarters for the Belgium-based $13 billion chemical and pharmaceutical producer. Additionally, Atlanta is home to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Emory Vaccine Center, one of the largest academic vaccine centers in the world.

Fortune 500 company NCR Corp., a leading producer of ATMs and business automation equipment, recently announced that it is moving to Gwinnett County (Duluth) after 125 years in Dayton, as reported in the Dayton Daily News. Georgia communities that submitted proposals to the $5.3 billion-a-year automation giant included Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Fayette counties, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A spokeswoman for the Atlanta Development Authority (ADA), Sonya Moste said the city pledged $1.5 million in grants and 10 years of property tax abatements for NCR. Ms. Moste related that the ADA, at the request of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, had submitted a bid for the automation giant approximately a year ago.

According to the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, NCR’s relocation and expansion of its existing Southeastern presence will create 1,250 new jobs for the Gwinnett community. NCR will join several other major technology companies located in Gwinnett: Cisco Systems (formerly Scientific Atlanta), EMS Technologies, Quality Technical Services, Sage Software and CCP North America.

According to a recent article in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, international food retailer and discount supermarket chain ALDI is rolling out a 781,000-square-foot distribution center in Jackson County.

Thanks in part to the nation’s economic woes, ALDI has grown significantly, adding 20 new Atlanta-area stores to its operation since it entered the market in 2001.

Now would be a great time to capitalize on this growth — get your resume and cover letter ready to go!

Key company figures and contact information:

ALDI, Inc.
1200 North Kirk Road
Batavia, IL 60510
phone 630.879.8100
fax 630.879.8410

Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Vern Frazier
President: Mr. Chuck Youngstrom
Chief Financial Officer: Mr. Terry Pfortmiller
Administration Executive: Ms. Kimberly Shanner
IT Executive: Mr. Ken Moyner