Why Are Businesses Investing in the Robins Region?
Excellent location in Middle Georgia is just one of the many reasons this region has become a hot spot in the Southeast.
The Robins Region means business.
With its central location along the busy I-75 corridor between Atlanta and Florida, the region is a location of choice for various companies in everything from aerospace and agribusiness to manufacturing. The area boasts a highly educated and skilled workforce and a suite of local and state incentives encouraging business investment.
“Our location proves advantageous,” says Angie Gheesling, executive director at Development Authority of Houston County. “In this part of Georgia, you can travel to the coast or mountains in three hours or less. You can quickly be in downtown Atlanta for events or the Hartsfield-Jackson airport in 90 minutes.”
Access to colleges and universities, a premier K-12 education system, low cost of living and doing business, and accessibility to other markets and travel destinations are only a few reasons the Robins Region has experienced tremendous growth. “Houston County has been tremendously successful with industry expansions, even during a pandemic, and we are competing against other locations across the country,” Gheesling says.
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A Thriving Economy
The Robins Region’s economy is diverse. It includes aerospace, advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, food processing, logistics and health care. A roster of globally known companies has operations in the region, including Frito Lay, Perdue Farms, Northrop Grumman and Anchor Glass.
“Houston County is very diverse, from the highly commercialized area of Warner Robins to the quaint small-town feel of Perry, which has mom-and-pop establishments throughout. The community serves as a shopping and employment hub for many counties, and retail is supreme,” Gheesling says. “But the people are what make Houston County so appealing. The entire community is very family-oriented, from events to parks and recreation.”
As a result, the region’s thriving economy has added more than 7,000 jobs since 2015. And it’s only going to get stronger. It’s easy to see why businesses are flocking to the Robins Region.
Expanding into the Robins Region
Jack Link’s, the leading meat snack manufacturer in the U.S., company announced that it would expand into Perry with a new manufacturing facility. The $450 million investment is expected to create 800 jobs.
With origins in Wisconsin, Jack Link’s now has a worldwide presence. The 120-acre site in Perry is Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) certified, having gone through an extensive certification process to ensure a viable construction site. The state’s Quick Start workforce program also helped create a place for Jack Link’s in Perry.
The unique work culture at Jack Link’s upholds values like “stewardship,” “self-discipline” and “be real.” Competitive pay and benefits are offered, along with paid time off and unique options for home and auto insurance. The new plant in Perry is scheduled to be up and running by the end of 2023.
The region is also a great place where companies can grow. For example, Clean Control Corp., a locally owned business that has manufactured OdoBan The Original Odor Eliminator since 1980, now employs more than 100 people in Warner Robins.
Birthed out of necessity, OdoBan was a solution to escalating chemical costs. At 24, Stephen Davison, founder and CEO of Clean Control, started Mobile Wash of America (MWA), a government janitorial contractor focused on cleaning industrial equipment. The need for superior cleaning products led Davison on a mission to develop technologically advanced, cost-effective cleaning solutions. As a result, the OdoBanbrand of products is now recognized worldwide as a leading solution for odor elimination and disinfecting.
Military-Focused
A large veteran population supports much of the Robins Region business climate. Houston County has the largest veteran population in the state. In addition, the county is home to Robins Air Force Base (RAFB), the most significant industrial complex in the state, employing over 24,000 people.
“People move to Houston County for employment due to the transient nature of the military personnel associated with RAFB,” Gheesling says. “Most of the people employed at RAFB are civilians. One new job at RAFB equates to 1.58 jobs regionally. In Middle Georgia, RAFB employs 28.86% of the workforce – for Houston County, the percentage is 58.45.”
The Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, which employs more than 7,000 people, plays a significant role in providing maintenance, engineering support and software development to military aircraft and weapons systems. “The base delivers an economic impact in the region of more than $3.8 billion,” Gheesling says. “Warner Robins’ metropolitan statistical area population has surpassed Macon-Bibb due to this rapid growth.”
More Opportunities for Growth
There are even more opportunities for growth, including from some major employers that have maintained a presence in the region for years, even decades.
In 2016, Sandler Nonwoven Corp., based in Germany, opened its first U.S. location and first outside Germany in Perry, after scouting several communities around the country. Convenient to the international airport in Atlanta, as well as the Port of Savannah, Perry provided not just a logistical but a personal connection.
“We looked at a number of different locations all throughout the U.S. and this was the one that had the feeling of being home,” says Mia Maharaj, human resources manager for Sandler Nonwoven.
As Sandler’s first U.S. employee, Maharaj has seen the company’s presence in the community flourish. Since 2016, the company has expanded to 110 employees, who enjoy competitive pay and benefits, according to Maharaj. And Sandler’s values trickle down to its workforce. “Sandler is very much family-oriented,” says Maharaj. “We’re like a big family.”
The plant in Perry has proved to be beneficial for both the company and the community. Sandler Nonwoven holds membership in the Robins Regional Chamber.
“The people are so welcoming and friendly and hospitable,” Maharaj says. “They make you feel like family even if you’re not originally from here.”
Outreach and Diversity
Perdue Farms is another employer with a long-standing presence in the Robins Region. With nearly two decades of history here, Perdue Farms continues to positively influence the economy.
According to Bill See, a Perdue spokesperson, the company’s economic impact in Houston County alone is more than $500 million. In Perry, the harvest plant and prepared foods facilities employ 2,400 associates.
“Perdue is committed to improving quality of life and building strong communities,” See says.
The Delivering Hope To Our Neighbors outreach program supports nonprofits throughout the region, including the American Red Cross, Middle Georgia Community Food Bank, United Way and more. The program also makes donations to local schools and first responders.
Prospective employees can expect competitive wages and benefits packages, with a 401(k). The on-site Wellness Center at the Perry plant is staffed by health care professionals and is available to employees and their dependents with no copay.
Perdue has a strong record of diversity in its workforce, having twice been named by Forbes as Best Employer for Diversity.
“Our diverse teams help foster a culture of acceptance and respect, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected,” See says.
– Writer Wesley Broome contributed to this article.
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