ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Albany’s recovery from the economic standstill caused by the pandemic has been remarkable. More importantly, the city is on the brink of reversing fifteen years of economic decline. Surface connectivity is critical to attracting industrial prospects. Georgia Hwy. 133, known as the Sunbelt Parkway, is being reconstructed into a four-lane highway from Albany to Moultrie. When work is completed, there will be a multi-lane road connecting Albany to I-75 in Valdosta. 69
Construction of the $25.6 million welding and body shop at MCLB began in July 2021. 70 A few weeks later, Outdoor Network announced plans to relocate to the former McGregor facility on South Slappey Blvd., which had been vacant for more than twenty years. Outdoor Network expanded its distribution center and constructed a manufacturing plant, where outboard diesel motors are assembled. Ninety-two jobs, forty of which are in manufacturing, were created with this $21.8 million investment. 71
Also, in 2021 Pratt Industries commenced construction of an $18 million expansion of its facility at 1809 Turbine Lane. Pratt, which manufactures and packages corrugated boxes, has hired thirty new employees. 72 The Harvey’s at 1032 W. Gordon Avenue closed in early 2019. This left thousands without access to fresh meats, fruits and vegetables. Bo, speaking at the grand opening of Food for Less on February 16, 2022, said: “One of my priorities was to bring a grocery store to south Albany. We – and it was a team effort -worked hard to make this day happen”. 73
Amadas Industries, a manufacturer of peanut harvesters and implements, relocated to a 54,000 square foot warehouse on Krug Street in east Albany (formerly occupied by United Distributors). Amadas has more than doubled its workforce, adding twelve jobs. 74
Two major projects are under construction at Phoebe Putney’s main campus. The four-story Trauma & Critical Care Tower, which is situated north of the hospital, is a $140 million project. A new emergency room will be on the first floor, the neonatal intensive care unit, which will be expanded to fifty beds, will occupy the second floor, and the intensive care unit will be moved to the third floor. The current emergency room and stations will be gutted and renovated. The hospital will employ between 125-150 more healthcare professionals once the tower is completed next year. 75
The Living & Learning Community, a $40 million project, will be located east of the hospital on N. Jefferson Street. The complex will have 47,000 square feet of learning space and offices on the first floor and 80 one-bedroom apartments on the second and third floors. This is a joint project with Albany Tech, which is expected to quadruple the number of students in the school’s nursing program. The Living & Learning Community is scheduled to open in the fall of 2024. 76
150 jobs were created when Webstaurant opened a distribution center in an existing 472,000 square foot facility 77 on Mitchell Avenue. Webstaurant is a “national online supply company, serving restaurants, health care facilities, schools and hotels”. 78 Webstaurant announced plans to hire 40 new employees, bringing the workforce “to an approximate total of 230 employees at the Albany location”, when it added a customer solution center in 2018. 79 The workforce had increased to more than 350 three years later, 80 and Webstaurant now has over 400 employees at its two facilities here in Albany.
Procter & Gamble has, in recent years, invested over $75 million in its local plant and has quietly hired over 100 employees. 81
GRUDEM, a Spanish company which manufactures automotive parts for various luxury vehicles, including Range Rover and Maserati, will be opening a facility in Albany. This is GRUDEM’s first plant in the United States and will employ sixty-five workers. 82
Diamond Door is a family-owned business headquartered in Texas, which manufactures steel doors and frames, windows, hardware and specialty items. Diamond Door will be opening a plant here in Albany, which will initially employ 25. Albany’s location will allow Diamond Door to better service existing accounts in the Southeast and further expand in region. 83
GRUDEM will move into the building at 1113 Seminole Lane and Diamond Door will be located at 1404 Industry Avenue. 84 GRUDEM will invest more than $5 million in the building, 85 as will Diamond Door. 86