Enterprise Pleasant; Life-style Fun – Georgia Development Journal

Top Metropolitan Area: Tim Evans, Greater Hall County Chamber president and CEO, at Kubota Manufacturing of America. Photo credit score: Daemon Baizan

In June, Greater Hall County Chamber officers took half in not one, however two kagami biraki ceremonies – conventional Japanese sake barrel openings – as Kubota Manufacturing of America opened its new $190 million plant and Mimaki USA opened its new company workplace in Flowery Branch. It was a ritual that marks a brand new starting – and it mirrored the county’s broad enchantment.

Firms from Korea, Japan, the Czech Republic and different nations have joined or expanded within the space, including to greater than 60 different worldwide subsidiaries, says Greater Hall County Chamber President and CEO Tim Evans.

For Mimaki USA, a Japanese producer of huge format printers and 3-D printers, the placement meets the wants of staff in addition to the enterprise. By putting its North American headquarters in Flowery Branch, the corporate was in a position to consolidate websites that had been beforehand break up between Buford and Suwanee, says Ken VanHorn, senior vice chairman. Mimaki USA presently employs greater than 160 within the United States and Canada.

“We looked at where the majority of our employees were currently living or might be planning to move to,” he says. “There’s a significant amount of growth in the Gainesville/Flowery Branch/Hall County area.” He notes that it’s each household and enterprise pleasant.

Low Cost of Living: Hall County Commission Chair David Gibbs at Sardis Creek Park. Photo credit score: Eric Sun

Mimaki USA will profit from Georgia’s latest inland port, generally known as the Blue Ridge Connector, which gives a direct practice hyperlink to and from the Port of Savannah. “There’s an ease of getting things from the port to our inventory much quicker and there’s an ease of getting things from our warehouse to customers across North America. So that was a huge consideration,” VanHorn says.

Another plus is Lanier Technical College. “It means there’s a promising talent pool of highly qualified individuals with both technical and administrative skills,” he says. “This gives us the option to work locally with area educators to develop programs for Mimaki and/or our industry partners.”

Ribbon Cutting: The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce celebrates the grand opening of Mimaki USA’s North American headquaters, in Flowery Branch. Photo credit score: Contributed

Other employers have been attracted by the identical property. King’s Hawaiian selected Oakwood in Hall County for its East Coast baking facility in 2010, and in July, the corporate introduced the addition of a brand new manufacturing line and a $54 million enlargement.

“We are putting in a new line for our snacking platform,” says Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Joe Leonardo.

New merchandise are anticipated to be rolling off the road by the second quarter of 2026. By then, King’s Hawaiian will make use of round 935 individuals in Oakwood.

Leonardo describes Georgia QuickStart as “indispensable” within the firm’s progress and coaching course of. The state’s workforce coaching program has been held up for instance for different states to observe.

“People flock to Hall County for the quality of life, the strong job market and the low cost of living,” he says. “This is the best community I have ever worked in, in terms of trying to help businesses grow.”

That high quality is being acknowledged. The Milken Institute named Gainesville the nation’s high small metropolitan space in its Best Performing Cities index this 12 months.

“We’ve been in their top 10 since 2016,” Evans says. “This year we made the No. 1 spot.”

The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce performs a job in creating the favorable enterprise local weather that earned that rating; Melissa Tymchuk, incoming chamber chair wrote in an electronic mail, “The chamber excels in its ability to connect people within a community that is fast-growing yet still close-knit.”

New Beginning: In June, Kubota Manufacturing of America held its grand opening for its new front-end loader facility in Gainesville. Photo credit score: Eric Sun

The Education Connection

“Hall County is a huge success story of how a university and a community can do so many different things together,” says Michael Shannon, president of the University of North Georgia. “We’re very integrated with the chamber. They’re trying to inspire people to want to do business here, and we offer the strong education component to that.”

Building a Workforce: Michael Shannon, president of the University of North Georgia. Photo credit score: Contributed

He factors to quite a few native industries already within the space, the place UNG college students are interning – lots of whom will return to these corporations upon commencement. That consists of the Northeast Georgia Health System. “We do so much with them to build their workforce, and they have been an incredibly strong and generous part of our nursing program,” he says.

The college techniques are one other associate. UNG sends three college members to show at Ivester Early College, a Hall County college that gives twin enrollment courses to college students from across the county.

“Not only are we serving their students, we are helping their teachers grow their credentials. A lot of them are with us in the graduate level, working on specialist programs and doctoral programs,” he says.

Brenau University can also be working to fill the realm’s want for academics. This spring, the college renamed its training college the Carole Ann Daniel College of training after receiving a present from the Carroll E. Daniel Family Foundation, named in honor of her late husband. The training college is Brenau’s second-largest faculty, with practically 600 college students enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate college.

Strengthening a Program: Brenau University President David L. Barnett, left, celebrates the renaming of the training college to the Carole Ann Daniel College of Education, alongside Carole Ann Daniel and her daughter-in-law and son, Kristin and Brian Daniel. Photo credit score: Contributed

The funds will likely be used to strengthen the general program, together with an improve in amenities.

“The shortage of qualified teachers continues to be an issue in local schools and across the state,” Brenau President David L. Barnett wrote in an electronic mail. “Through these partnerships, Brenau can help increase the number of state-certified classroom teachers by providing educational opportunities for those already working in local schools.”

Lanier Technical College is one other important hyperlink between companies, group and healthcare.

“We’re blessed to have such great partnerships with our local businesses, industries and the hospital system,” Tim McDonald, president of the school, says. “We could not do what we do without their support.”

He provides that not solely does the school proceed to see nice progress in enrollment in all areas, together with healthcare, transportation, manufacturing and public providers, however job placement price of its graduates continues to be about 95% in discipline.

Enrollment Growth: Tim McDonald, president of Lanier Technical College. Photo credit score: Contributed

“We have expanded our partnership with Hall County schools in the dual enrollment program,” he provides. “The area [of] the greatest expansion is with their Lanier College and Career Academy.”

The Academy serves college students from across the county with courses led by Lanier Tech instructors. “We’ve been able to grow our welding enrollment, and for the first time ever, we’re teaching auto collision and diesel technology at the high school level,” McDonald says.

The faculty has expanded its industrial electrical energy and industrial techniques packages into the twin enrollment program. “Students can graduate high school, and they have the foundational knowledge and skills to go straight into robotics and automation,” McDonald says.

On the Lanier Tech campus, a brand new $1.9 million tutorial constructing adjoining to the Commercial Driver’s License coaching vary is within the design part, with building estimated to start in 2026.

Foundational Knowledge: Lanier Tech instructors train courses in automotive refinishing, diesel know-how and extra at Lanier College and Career Academy. Photo credit score: Contributed

“It’ll be much more efficient getting our students from navigating classwork to out on the range,” he says. “Instructors can be in the middle of class then step outside and go over parts of the tractor.”

This 12 months, McDonald can also be serving because the chair of the Greater Hall County Chamber of Commerce. He says he needs to deal with enhancing the group by way of purposeful collaborations.

“2025 marks the 20th year of the extremely successful Vision 2030 initiative,” he wrote in an electronic mail. “The chamber executive board will begin visioning the next long range community enrichment plan, the core of which will include continued robust economic development, preserving green space, strengthening communities, and efficient mobility.”

Healthy Living

Quality of life is likely one of the causes that corporations come to the realm. “The nearby mountains and vibrant downtown Gainesville provide a great lifestyle for the employees and executives,” says County Commission Chair David Gibbs. “We have a low cost of living, excellent healthcare and top-ranked schools.”

Keeping Momentum: Dr. Matt Hanley grew to become president and CEO of the Northeast Georgia Health System in April. Photo credit score: Eric Sun

The Northeast Georgia Health System serves Gainesville/Hall County and the encompassing area with 5 hospitals, quite a few outpatient places and 1,500 medical employees members representing greater than 60 specialties. It employs round 12,000 individuals in all and contributed greater than $7.4 billion in financial affect in 2023. That identical 12 months, the Habersham County location, with its greater than $117 million estimated financial affect, joined the system.

In February, the Gainesville hospital opened its new Green Tower. The 11-story, 927,000-square-foot tower incorporates certainly one of Georgia’s six Level 1 Trauma Centers, in addition to providers for the Georgia Heart Institute. A helipad is on the roof of the brand new constructing, offering fast entry to the hospital’s emergency division or working rooms.

NGHS welcomed Dr. Matt Hanley as its new president and CEO in April, following the retirement of Carol Burrell, who led the system for 14 years.

11-Story Addition: In February, Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville opened its 927,000-square-foot Green Tower. Photo credit score: Contributed

“I stepped into an enviable situation that many CEOs would love to have – a thriving health system in a growing market … I’ve spent these early months on the job learning as much as possible and keeping the momentum,” he wrote in an electronic mail. “As we look to the future … we will continue building, performing, transforming and optimizing.”

Building a ‘Happening’ Place

Beyond enterprise hours, Hall County thrives as a vacation spot. “Our downtown continues to be on fire,” says Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon. “It’s very vibrant.”

Vibrant Destination: Gainesville Mayor Sam Couvillon. Photo credit score: Joann Vitelli

Restaurants and leisure venues have introduced individuals to the city sq. and made it a occurring place. Local tourism introduced in $22 million in financial affect. The metropolis has seen document attendance at its First Friday, Blue Sky concert events and vacation occasions.

“In addition, we’re going to be attracting another downtown hotel,” Couvillon provides. “The Marriott has been a home run.”

Capstone Property Group plans to construct a Tempo by Hilton downtown simply off the sq.. It may have about 130 rooms and a rooftop bar, says Jeff Payne, Capstone chair.

Capstone has additionally began building on a brand new Residence Inn, a 99-room prolonged keep resort off Limestone Parkway. The major marketplace for it’s the hospital, Lake Lanier Olympic Park, the Blue Ridge Connector and the brand new J. Melvin Cooper Youth Athletic Complex, nicknamed the Coop, which attracts journey baseball and softball groups.

In addition to the inns, Capstone is ending its new 5-story downtown workplace constructing. Although it’s not utterly rented out, Payne says there’s extra curiosity than accessible area.

About 12 miles southwest of Gainesville is Flowery Branch, which has a picturesque downtown with eating places, retailers and a courtyard that hosts a farmers market round 40 instances a 12 months. Some housing developments not removed from downtown are in growth or have lately been accomplished.

“We’re growing like gangbusters,” says Mayor Ed Asbridge.

The metropolis will quickly have a brand new pickleball venue with 18 indoor courts and a dozen open air. It is anticipated to herald tournaments and guests.

There’s a lot pleasure that Flowery Branch now has a Department of Fun.

“The mayor gets a lot of credit, but these folks who work in the city do all the work,” Asbridge says. “Our Department of Fun is known all over the state.”

Renee Carden is the Director of Fun, previously the group relations director. “That’s just kind of boring,” she says of the previous title. “It’s so much more than just events. We’ve got a really cool vibe in town.”

Carden says the city’s amphitheater has concert events scheduled all through the spring, summer time and fall.

Tourism Pays Off

Lake Lanier is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ most visited lake with over 12 million annual guests, says Stacey Dickson, president and CEO of Discover Lake Lanier.

Lanier Islands Resort, identified to many by its former identify of Lake Lanier Islands, has 1,200 acres of lakefront property and an estimated financial affect of greater than $100 million.

“We have everything from great food, a top-in-the state golf course, luxury accommodations, tons of wildlife and a great pool,” says Matthew Bowling, resort president, and grandson of CEO Virgil R. Williams, whose household bought the lease rights to the lakeside resort from the state in 2005. Other facilities embrace a water park, miniature golf, a marina and an RV resort.

Wedding and Event Location: Lanier Islands Resort President Matthew Bowling in entrance a backyard named for his late mom, above, which sits adjoining to the Lakeside Chapel, a brand new venue for weddings, celebrations of life, baccalaureates and extra, under.

The resort lately opened Game Changer, an indoor leisure venue with every little thing from axe-throwing to duckpin bowling. It has a digital sports activities suite with greater than 30 digital video games, arcade video games and grownup gaming machines.

This 12 months the resort added a brand new hilltop venue, the Lakeside Chapel and Gardens, to its number of lakeside wedding ceremony venues.

Another enormous draw for the county is Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, a NASCAR property situated in Braselton. The monitor averages about 300 days of occasions starting from massive spectator occasions to a driving membership that invitations individuals to take a spin on the monitor themselves.

The Motul Petit Le Mans is its largest occasion, a four-day race that culminates with the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, a 10-hour race that finishes underneath the celebs.

NASCAR Property: The Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta is situated in Braselton. Photo credit score: Contributed

Kelsi Miller, director of public relations and advertising and marketing, says it usually attracts upwards of 100,000 over the course of the occasion. “It’s our keynote event for sure, kind of our Super Bowl,” she provides.

New this 12 months, Formula DRIFT partnered with GRIDLIFE to create the Road Atlanta Special Stage occasion, a brilliant weekend of drifting, the raceway’s second largest occasion of the 12 months.

The Georgia Tech Center for Economic Development and Research carried out an financial affect examine this 12 months and located that the ability creates about $80 million price of financial affect within the state, $60 million of that in Hall County.

“Hall County isn’t just growing, it’s thriving,” says County Commission Chair Gibbs. “People flock to Hall County for several reasons that blend economic opportunity, quality of life and a strong location, as well as a strong job market, thriving industries, desirable living.”

Local Flavor

Where Kids Explore

Imaginative Play: Charles Bramwell, government director of the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids, will get pampered by Jenny Staley and Cortney Murray, each affiliate administrators at INK, to showcase the sweetness salon room on the museum, the place youngsters may give and get fake haircuts and manicures. Photo credit score: Daemon Baizan

Squirt, a Red-eared Slider turtle greets guests to the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids (INK for brief.) While many museums have a robotic or interactive mascot to greet youngsters, this one prides itself on limiting know-how. It’s about letting youngsters expertise the true world.

Founded by Sheri Hooper in 2002, the museum has simply opened at its new endlessly dwelling in Oakwood.

“She just wanted to create a space for kids to use their imagination while playing,” says Cortney Murray, affiliate director of the museum.

Executive Director Charles Bramwell says the 40,000-square-foot constructing was financed with $6.5 million in bonds on Oakwood metropolis property in a lease-to-own association. “No public money went into it,” he says. The metropolis has a group middle in a portion of the constructing, and the expectation is that finally the museum will buy that half and develop into it.

Exhibits embrace a hearth truck, a police automotive and an ambulance. Kids don the gear and climb into the automobiles, even hit the sirens. There’s a dock with a ship to take a seat in – after placing on a life preserver.

The dentist workplace has an genuine chair and a few equipment, as does the sweetness salon. An synthetic cow lets youngsters expertise milking. Sponsors like Publix have arrange a grocery retailer with directions on bagging, so youngsters will be both clients or staff. Pinnacle Bank has a show with an ATM, and a diner has been arrange by an area café known as Loretta’s. The Northeast Georgia Health System created a hospital show, with – as an alternative of a CAT scan – a kitten scanner. There’s a small airplane and likewise an air visitors management tower by which youngsters can communicate through intercom on to the pilot of the airplane.

The museum has an artwork and pottery room and a room with musical devices that children can contact, maintain and play.

INK encourages households to discover collectively. “We are a hands-on museum, allowing the children to freely explore and learn while playing,” says Associate Director Jenny Staley. “We do have a few rules … such as using walking feet, gentle hands … picking up after playing … and of course, to have fun!”

Staff and volunteers rotate all through the day and ensure visitors are taking part in safely. Large discipline journeys are rotated on a schedule, so academics and employees can see all of the areas for a similar period of time.

Memberships and occasion leases can be found. There are 4 party rooms. The museum is acknowledged by the IRS as a nonprofit, permitting charitable donations. It is open Monday by way of Saturday from 10 a.m. to six p.m. For info, see inkfun.org.