Georgia cities are among the best in the nation for affordability and quality of life, and food manufacturing is a major industry in the South Atlantic region of the United States.
The subsector, which employs 1.6 million people nationwide and comprises 21,000 businesses, turns agricultural and animal resources into consumer items like dairy, coffee, and tea. Its yearly sales total $1.9 trillion.
Labor readiness, talent pool, education, infrastructure, logistics, regulatory environments, general quality of life, and cost of living are among the factors that Global Location Strategies uses to rank location sites on a scale of 0 to 100.fDi Markets is credited.
Out of over 400 ranked locales, the Greenville, South Carolina-based organization’s 2025 study, which was issued on July 29, listed five Georgia cities and the larger Chattanooga, Tennessee, area among the top 12 sites nationwide.
The cities’ results are as follows:
LaGrange, Georgia, is highlighted in the report as a top-ranked investment site for a new facility that will create 267 jobs and $288 million in investment for a seasoning and dressing factory.
The robustness of Georgia’s whole ecosystem, particularly in smaller cities that are making a significant effect, is what sets the state apart, Didi Caldwell, CEO of Global Location Strategies, told GPB in an email. Warner Robins, which was at the top of our report’s national rankings, rose 11 ranks because of a 17% decrease in electricity prices and high workforce and quality of life scores.
According to the research, new projects in the South Atlantic region continue to be capital-intensive rather than labor-driven, which reflects a persistent trend toward investment driven by automation.
Additionally, it reported that salaries in the food manufacturing sector have grown by 23% nationally, to an average of $59,873 per year. This rise has outpaced that of general manufacturing wages, which have increased by 21% to $84,207, but has lagged behind the economy as a whole by 26%.
According to Caldwell, despite growing lease prices, No. 2 Savannah maintains its position as a workforce and industry ecosystem powerhouse, earning it the region’s highest quality score.
According to Cadwell, Dalton, Georgia, has the lowest operating costs in the region despite ranking 78th nationally.
Given that tariffs, immigration, and regulatory changes are posing problems for all states, Georgia’s high ratings might be helpful.
According to her, Georgia’s depth is a reflection of the state’s long history of producing food and its large concentration of skilled workers. Georgia is coordinated in addition to being competitive. This demonstrates that choosing a location is a strategic choice that can influence a company’s success for decades rather than merely being a box to tick. Businesses are better positioned to prosper in the face of changing industry needs when they give location top priority early on.
This content was brought to Now Habersham by GPB News.
