State Resources


Georgia Business Resources

The largest state east of the Mississippi River, Georgia was the last of the thirteen colonies to be founded and the first southern state to ratify the Constitution in 1788. In 1861 Georgia seceded from the Union to join the Confederacy. The ensuing Civil War devastated the state and setback the previously prosperous agriculture industry.

Tourism is important in the state, as tourists bring in over $15 billion annually and are vital to the economies of the coastal areas, the Blue Ridge area, and Atlanta (host of the 1996 Olympic Games). The federal government has a number of facilities located in the state, including military bases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Originally prospering as a cotton state, Georgia’s agricultural industry is still important to the economy. Major crops include cotton, peanuts, tobacco, and corn. The majority of jobs, however, are still located within the service sector.

Business Data

Per Capita Real GDP$35,362 Rank: 26/50 (2006)
Population8,186,450 Rank: 10/50 (2000)
Per Capita Personal Income$31,891 Rank: 38/50 (2006)
Unemployment Rate4.90% Rank: 32/50 (2008)
Business Tax Climate IndexRank: 20/50 (2008)
Corporate Tax Rate6%
Individual Tax Rate 1% - 6%
Sales Tax Rate 4%

Business Tax Climate Index

Individual Income Tax Index Rank24
Sales Tax Index Rank16
Unemployment Insurance Tax Index Rank22
Property Tax Index Rank33
Business Tax Climate Index20
Corporate Tax Index Rank6

State Information

AbbreviationGA
CapitalAtlanta
Nick NamePeach State
State Web Sitehttp://www.georgia.gov
MottoWisdom, justice, and moderation

Top 5 Export Partner Countries

Canada, Mexico, China, United Kingdom, Japan

Top 5 Export Merchandise

Chemicals Sales Transportation Equipment Sales Transportation Equipment Manufacturing Machinery Manufacturing Chemicals Manufacturing

Major Cities

Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus

GDP

Total Gross Domestic Product (USD Millions) $396,504.00 (2007)
Per Capita Real GDP (USD)$35,265.00 Rank: 26 (2007)

Population Stats

Population 9,685,744 Rank: 9 (2008)

Age Distribution

Under 18 Population2,169,230
Under 18 Percent of Total Population27%
65 and older Population785,275
65 and older Percent of Total Population10%

Gender Distribution

Male Population49.2%
Female Population50.8%
Non-English Speaker (at home)602,738
Net International Immigration192,844
Birth Rate15.7%
Percent of People Under Poverty Level14.4%
Rank13

Expenditure

Per Capita State Spending$38,679
Rank47
Energy Expenditures per Person$3,697
Expenditures of State and Local Government Employee-Retirement Systems$3,093,053

Revenue

Personal Income$30,100
Rank38
State Internal Revenue Collection$75,217,980
Rank9
Cash and Deposits by State Government$1,307,230
Per Capita State Tax Collection$1,846
Rank43

Education

High School Graduation Rate55.9%
Rank48
Percent of Population with a Bachelor's Degree17.3%
Rank23
Percent of Population with an Advanced Degree9.3%
Rank22

Largest Universities

Georgia State University University of Georgia Kennesaw State University
High School Graduation Rate55.9%

Logistics

Public Road Length (Mile)118,199
Gas Tax Rate (%)7.5%
Highway Planning and Construction (USD Thousands)1,156,480
Number of Public Airports109

Main Airports

ABY: Albany ATL: Atlanta

Ports

Brunswick, Savannah

Weather


Map



View Larger Map

State Business Links

Atlanta Journal
http://www.ajc.com

Secretary of State

Small Business Administration

Georgia Small Business Administration
http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/ga/aboutus/index.html
The District Office is responsible for the delivery of SBA's programs and services throughout Georgia. The District Director is Terri L. Denison. The Georgia District Office is located in downtown Atlanta at 233 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 1900-Harris Tower, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. The District Office is located in the Peachtree Center office complex and adjacent to the MARTA Peachtree Center Station. Office hours are from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday

Top 10 Business Links

Biz Georgia Business Directory and News
http://www.bizgeorgia.com/
Along with a business directory arranged by industry, this site features news articles related to small business in Georgia. It also lists various business training events.
Georgia Department of Labor
http://www.dol.state.ga.us/pr/current_data.htm
This site provides data on a number of different employment related statistics for Georgia. Area unemployment rates and labor force estimates are just a couple examples.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
http://www.gadnr.org/
This site contains information on the different kinds of natural resources available, the laws and legislation involved in their use, and various other related programs.
Georgia Information
http://www.georgia.org/
This site provides a wealth of information on many Georgia topics. The business section in particular is very useful, with extensive information and resources on incentives related to locating your business in Georgia (climate, taxation, logistics, etc.), workforce, education, innovation, industries, international business, and small business.
Georgia Secretary of State - Corporations Division
http://www.sos.ga.gov/Corporations/
The different kinds of paperwork and procedures involved in forming and maintaining a corporation are maintained within or provided by this site. There is also information on the different kinds of corporations in Georgia and other various topics, such as Georgia law, uniform commercial code, or trademarks.
Georgia Small Business Development Center Network
http://www.sbdc.uga.edu/newsite/index.aspx?page_name=index
This resource, supported by the University of Georgia and other state universities, provides business consulting to prospective and current small business owners. Some consulting is free of charge, while there is a nominal fee for other services. Consulting is on a number of subjects, including international trade, economic development, starting a business, business development, and more. Training and other classes are also offered.
Georgia Tech CIBER
http://www.ciber.gatech.edu/
The Center for International Business Education and Research has as its goal helping U.S. businesses to compete globally. This site provides different international business research in its working papers and research projects sections. The center also organizes events relating to international business.
Georgia Women's Business Council
http://www.gwbc.biz/
This site offers support for women in business, providing many educational workshops for members along with other benefits as listed in the section on certification.
North Georgia Local Business News
http://www.accessnorthga.com/s8-business-news.php
This site provides business news for northern Georgia. Other general state news is also available.