Georgia is in the midst of a historic construction surge, with new facility expansions and development projects pushing total investment to a record $26.3 billion over the past year. The state’s sustained growth has reinforced its reputation as a leading destination for business expansion across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, health care logistics, energy infrastructure and technology.
Former Formula One driver Michael Schumacher once said, “I always thought records were there to be broken.” Georgia appears to be doing just that, earning recognition as the top state for business for the 12th consecutive year by Area Development Magazine, a publication widely followed by corporate site selectors and executives.
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According to state data, Georgia recorded 423 facility expansions and new locations in the one-year period ending July 1, representing more than $26.3 billion in total investment. In just the most recent quarter, six companies announced expansions totaling $122.9 million, highlighting the continued momentum heading into 2026.
One of the largest recent announcements came from Underwood Ammo, which revealed plans to invest $41 million in a new manufacturing and assembly facility at Savannah Portside International Park in Effingham County. The project is expected to create 120 new jobs, with construction beginning in 2026 and operations launching in 2027.
Company president and founder Kevin Underwood said the project represents a key milestone in the company’s growth and future manufacturing strategy.
Virginia Transformer Corp. is also making a significant investment in Effingham County, committing $40 million to expand an existing facility near Rincon. The expansion will create approximately 400 new jobs and add 250,000 square feet of manufacturing space dedicated to custom-designed power transformers ranging from 30 MVA to 500 MVA, with capacities up to 525 kilovolts.
Virginia CEO Prabhat Jain said the company is known for producing power transformers with some of the shortest lead times in the industry, and the additional investment will further strengthen that position. Construction on the expansion is expected to begin in January.
Salesforce announced it is investing $15 million to expand its Georgia operations in Fulton County, creating more than 250 new jobs by the end of 2028. The expansion further cements Atlanta’s role as a major hub for technology and customer relationship management services.
Tanya Counter, site Lead for Salesforce Atlanta, said the company already supports more than 2,000 jobs across Georgia and that Atlanta has long been central to the firm’s growth.
In Columbus, BioTech, a health care logistics firm, is investing $12.5 million to expand two existing facilities at Corporate Ridge Business Park and Columbus East Industrial Park. The project will create 480 new jobs in Muscogee County over the next four years, with construction already underway and full operations expected by 2028.
BioTouch CEO Rob Coyle said the company has been proud to call Columbus home since 2005 and described the expansion as a pivotal chapter in its growth.
Socomec Group, an electrical component and system manufacturer, plans to begin construction in early 2026 on a new $10-million facility located in an existing building near Suwanee. The company specializes in power switching, monitoring, conversion and energy storage technologies.
Michele Putignano, president and CEO of Socomec North America, said opening the new facility in Georgia represents a major milestone for the company’s North American expansion.
“The state’s strong talent pool, infrastructure, and business environment make it the ideal location to accelerate innovation, support the energy transition, and advance our commitment to sustainable development while delivering greater value to our customers,” he said.
Robin Sodia, director of HR for Socomec North America, said the expansion will create approximately 300 new jobs.
Meanwhile, Grupo Vialume announced a $4.4-million investment to expand its U.S. manufacturing footprint in Colquitt-Miller County. The project will generate 150 new jobs over roughly seven years and establish a new integrated manufacturing and recycling hub on E. Crawford Street in the City of Colquitt.
The facility will produce plastic raised pavement markers and precision-engineered reflective lenses while also recycling materials previously considered unrecyclable, including textile offcuts and peanut-shell byproducts.
Company CEO João Paulo Moura said the decision to expand in Georgia was driven by rising demand for sustainable products.
“Combined with attractive tax incentives, the stability of the U.S. dollar, and the security of investing in such a strong market, Colquitt offers the ideal environment for Grupo Vialume to continue building a brighter, more sustainable future.”
Upgrades to existing facilities tied to the project are expected to be completed in 2026.
Originally reported by Grant Cameron in Construct Connect.
