It’s no secret that Georgia has been recognized for its exceptional business-friendly environment. In fact, Site Selection has named it the number one state for doing business for nine consecutive years. That kind of reputation undoubtedly attracts companies of all sizes to settle in the area every year, establishing headquarters, distribution centers, customer service operations and more, while other companies look to expand in the area. Here are some of the most recent big business moves to our fair city and its surrounding areas.

Qcells

Qcells, a renewable energy solution provider, will build a new facility in Cartersville and add a third facility at its Dalton location, investing more than $2.5 billion to expand its solar module manufacturing operations in Georgia. The new facility and expansion are expected to increase the number of employees to more than 4,000 by the end of 2024. Qcells touts this expansion as the largest solar investment in U.S. history to build the only complete and sustainable solar supply chain in the U.S. The new manufacturing facility in Cartersville, located at Highland 75 Corporate/Industrial Park, will manufacture solar ingots, wafers, cells and finished panels.

Renewal by Andersen

The window replacement division of Andersen Corporation is expected to create 900 new jobs with a $400 million investment in a new manufacturing facility in Henry County. The new Renewal by Andersen facility, the company’s first manufacturing facility in Georgia, will be located at The Cubes at Locust Grove, adding to the company’s other properties in Douglasville and Marietta. Construction is expected to begin this year, and operations are slated to begin in 2025.

Hyundai Motor Group and SK On

Hyundai Motor Group and SK On, which produces lithium ion batteries, are expected to build a new electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Bartow County to supply Hyundai’s U.S. plants, creating 3,500 new jobs from a $4 to $5 billion investment. The site is expected to be located at Bartow Centre, a zoned manufacturing and industrial site on Highway 411. The details of this partnership are still in the development stages, but the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding regarding the partnership to develop the new manufacturing facility. The facility may begin operations in 2025.

Becker Robotic Equipment

Becker Robotic Equipment, a cable and robotic machinery manufacturer specializing in individualized robotic equipment, will build a manufacturing facility to house its North American headquarters in Canton. The $30 million investment is expected to create 137 new jobs in Cherokee County. Located at The Bluffs at Technology Park in Canton, the facility is expected to consist of three buildings and be designed with clean energy solutions. Becker plans to hire sales and applications engineers, automotive and non-automotive project engineers, inside sales support staff, project engineers, office administrators, HR generalists, manufacturing technicians and customer and service technicians within the facility.

Archer Aviation Inc.

Archer Aviation Inc., an aerospace company advancing sustainable urban air mobility, will build a new electrical vehicle takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) manufacturing facility located alongside the Covington Municipal Airport in Newton County. The facility is anticipated to create 1,000 jobs with an $118 million investment over the next 10 years. Three buildings will span 96 acres with eventual capacity to produce 2,300 aircraft per year. Construction will follow a phased buildout of eVTOL aircraft production with the facility slated to open in 2024. Hiring is expected to begin later this year.