Information Technology (IT) is currently one of the fastest growing industries in the world. With a greater emphasis placed on globalization and cloud-computing, IT professionals continue to become more and more of an integral part of global commerce.
Our area, in particular, is experiencing rapid growth in this industry. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia is home to over 17,000 technology companies, which result in a more than $113-billion-dollar impact. These businesses rely on our state-of-the-art IT infrastructure in order to meet the high demands of the modern IT industry. Additionally, Georgia is home to the fifth largest IT employment cluster in the United States, and the state houses two of the country’s largest fiber-optic trunk routes.
Not only is Georgia’s IT presence large, but it is also diverse. From cutting-edge FinTech companies, to pioneering health IT firms, to innovative software developers and even those in the entertainment industry, Georgia is prepared to meet the challenges of all these industries and more.
However, there is still so much room for growth. In order to further study and identify potential room for growth in the information technology sector, I have been appointed to the Senate Information Technology Corridors in Georgia Study Committee. This committee will be tasked with examining the status of IT corridors throughout the state and analyzing where there is room for growth or improvement. While the GA-400 corridor is leading the state when it comes to the accessibility of its digital infrastructure, there are many other areas around the state that could benefit from additional investment and attention. For example, the corridor between Atlanta and Augusta along I-20, I-75 between Atlanta and Macon, and Highway 316 between Atlanta and Athens all have the potential to become as important as the GA-400 corridor in innovating our state’s IT infrastructure and cementing it as the best in the nation.
We will hold meetings throughout the state in the coming months to hear from stakeholders and industry professionals to see what resources Georgia needs to lead the nation when it comes to information technology. Georgia has long been one of the best states in the country in which to do business, and these meetings will help ensure that Georgia continues to be the number one location for technology companies to locate, and that Georgia maintains its title of the “Silicon Valley of the South.”
to your business!