Great teamwork promotes business
When it comes to area development and promotions for economic growth, new business and tourism, Walker County is blessed with and driven by teamwork.
The cooperation, commitment, and dedication of many groups and countless individuals with the same vision, goal, heart and commitment to a thriving and growing Northwest Georgia and Walker County is without equal.
While some gainsayers discredit the opportunities in the county because it is without an Interstate to attract and feed large industry and manufacturers, nevertheless, the county offers a unique rural, pastoral and natural haven or paradise for investors, entrepreneurs and visitors from across America and around the world.
It’s the beauty and balance of Walker County that those who love and promote the county understand, appreciate, and are eager to share with others.
And the county has a tremendous network promoting its assets. The broadest group is the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority, promoting regional economic development in Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties. Teaming with that group is the Walker County planning commission and the planning commissions of the four incorporated area of the county: LaFayette, Rossville, Chickamauga, and Lookout Mountain. Finally, the Walker County Chamber of Commerce represents and promotes local and countywide projects and development and coordinates anything and everything business related in the county.
The natural, economic and human resources the county has to offer industry, business and families interested in Walker County are phenomenal.
In education, over 81% of Walker residents 25 and older have a high school diploma or higher, and nearly 16% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
In home ownership, over 72% of Walker County residents own their homes with the median value of owner-occupied housing units at $111, 100. Median household income is nearly $44,000 yearly.
The labor force included over 31,000 residents with over 96% of those employed. Average salaries for goods producing (manufacturing) employees is nearly $750 weekly, while that for service providing employees is nearly $550 weekly.
The latest figures indicate the top ten largest Walker County employers are Bluecross Blueshield Of Tennessee, Food City, Lucent Group, LLC, McDonalds, Nissin Brake Georgia, Roper Corporation, See Rock City, Inc., Shaw Industries Group, Inc., Syntec Industries, LLC, and Walmart.
A strong tri-state labor force, an excellent transportation network, location and planning assistance, great business incentives and high-performing schools are just a few of the advantages businesses locating in Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority’s Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade and Walker counties will discover. Several state and local programs are available to encourage job creation and investment in the Top of Georgia. Available incentives include tax exemptions, tax credits, labor recruiting assistance and Georgia’s Quick Start Training Program.
Georgia has earned national acclaim for the low- to no-cost resources it provides to help companies maintain a strong, competitive workforce. Administered by the Technical College System of Georgia (formerly Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education - GDTAE), Georgia’s nationally recognized Quick Start program provides flexible, customized training through a network of technical colleges and universities. Since 1967, more than 5,600 companies and 706,000 Georgia workers have benefited from this no-cost program. Walker County is proud to host a campus of Georgia Northwestern Technical College in the heart of the county, Rock Spring.
For specific industry needs, there’s Georgia’s Service Industry Academy, Certified Economic Developer Trainer program, the Georgia Business Expansion Support Act, and other certified-specialist programs to address a number of job categories.
With Georgia’s workforce programs come important tax credits and incentives to encourage workforce development through growth, enrichment, training or retraining. Together, these innovative programs help build the valuable workforce that employers must have to ensure success for them and their employees.
The industrial parks contain all the amenities that a business would expect to find and provide easy access to major highways and rail from US Hwy 27. The county’s main industrial park includes 463 acres and is located on Hwy 27 between Chickamauga and LaFayette. The affordable cost of living and an outstanding quality of life offer distinct advantages in attracting and keeping quality employees.
In addition to manufacturing and automotive suppliers, agriculture is a top industry in Walker County, Georgia, with farms occupying 30 percent of the county’s land. The county is home to more than 600 farms whose leading products are beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, and row crops.
In summary, then, Walker County offers a very diversified and well-prepared team of advisors and cheerleaders for established and potential businesses exploring the area. The promotional team is always excited to share that Walker County, indeed, offers something very special and unique for everyone: residents, visitors, investors, entrepreneurs, businesses, and tourists. And that makes the members of the team likewise super special and unique.