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The state of Georgia is seeing a substantial surge in construction activity, driven in large part by key industries such as auto supply manufacturing, solar panel recycling, life sciences and aircraft maintenance.

The state’s Department of Economic Development reported that in a year-long period there were 429 facility expansions and new locations, resulting in more than $20.3 billion in investment and 26,900 jobs.

Eighty-three per cent of those expansions and new locations are on their way to communities outside the 10-county Atlanta region, creating more than 18,300 new jobs and $12.5 billion in investment.

The economic development department has been working closely with local and state partners across Georgia to bring jobs to communities, especially in rural areas, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said.

Metro Atlanta leads the way and continues to support the state’s overall economy as a logistics and business hub, attracting nearly $7.8 billion in investments.

Statewide, new locations account for $12.8 billion in investments and expansions are responsible for 9,800 new jobs.

In 2023, Georgia was the number one state for construction, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors. That year, construction in the state contributed $45 billion, or 5.2 per cent of the state’s GDP of $878 billion. In August, 220,900 people were employed in the construction industry in Georgia, up 12,900 from 2020.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones credits workforce training programs delivered through the technical college system, universities, career academies and public-private partnerships for providing a stable pipeline of trained workers.

“As we build on this great momentum, we have to ensure that businesses coming to Georgia or expanding their footprint have the necessary workforce.”

Earlier announcements for the state have included a $5.5-billion Hyundai electric vehicle and battery plant in Ellabell that will employ 8,500 workers, more than $4.5 billion in projects planned for state ports and infrastructure, and a $28-million facility by Ritz Instrument Transformers in Waynesboro.

Lee Kum Kee Sauce Group is building a $288-million plant in LaGrange that will create 267 jobs. First Quality Baby Products is investing $418 million to expand its footprint and create 60 new jobs in Macon-Bibb County and Syensqo is building a $178-million battery manufacturing facility in Augusta.

Recently, there have been another flurry of announcements. Solarcycle has declared that it is accelerating its expansion into an existing 255,000-square-foot building along North Park Boulevard in Cedartown North Business Park in Polk County to meet increasing demand for solar panel recycling services.

The company is investing an additional $62 million to increase its panel recycling capacity to 10 million solar panels per year, which will create 640 new full-time jobs in the second half of 2025.

The facility will be across the street from the company’s 1.1-million-square-foot solar glass factory. The new factory will use recycled materials from retired solar panels to make five to six gigawatts worth of solar glass every year. The company will be one of the first manufacturers of specialized glass for crystalline-silicon photovoltaics in the U.S.

Meanwhile, Shinsung Petrochemical, an automotive supplier, is investing $11.2 million in a new manufacturing facility in Toombs County that will create more than 30 new jobs. The company specializes in products like auto sealant and will be a key supplier for Hyundai Motor Group in Bryan County.

Construction on the new manufacturing facility, located at 1407 Highway 1 North in Lyons, is expected to be completed in 2025.

Toyota Industries Electric Systems North America, a subsidiary of Toyota Industries, is expanding its campus in Pendergrass with a $69-million manufacturing facility that will create more than 250 jobs.

The new facility will produce converters that change high voltage to low voltage to supply power for auxiliary equipment.

StandardAero, a leading provider of business aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services, has started work on a $33-million expansion of operations in Augusta that will create about 90 new jobs. The company has been operating in Augusta since 1974 and supports more than 170 jobs in the area.

StandardAero is building a new hangar and engine shop along Hangar Road adjacent to the airport. The expansion will add 80,500 square feet to the company’s footprint in Augusta. It is expected to be completed in 2025.

Gerresheimer, a partner for the pharma, biotech and cosmetics industries, is expanding its production capacities with a $180-million project at its Peachtree City site that will create 400 new jobs. Presently, the company employs 270 people at the site.

The first phase of the project will consist of two buildings — one totalling 83,000 square feet, the other 53,800 square feet. The second phase will consist of an 11,000-square-foot plant near Atlanta Regional Airport.