Georgia Chamber of Commerce Quail Hunt hits Albany area for 35th year

ALBANY – Crisp, cool mornings in the longleaf pine forests of the region’s hunting preserves are what bring quail hunters to southwest Georgia.

And those conditions were perfect for the movers and shakers who make the trip each year to the Albany area for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Georgia Quail Hunt.

Business leaders representing industry recruitment and expansion prospects joined local and state economic development officials to get a feel of the region. Joining the group on Thursday night were Gov. Brian Kemp and other state economic leaders.

“This is a good event,” the governor said during a media session with local reporters. “It’s always good to be in God’s country. It’s a good opportunity for me to be face-to-face … for us to just let (business leaders) know we’re glad you’re considering our state. It’s always important for us to be selling all parts of the state.”

The state has had an exceptional run in luring new industry and seeing existing companies expand, Kemp said, and the annual Quail Hunt plays an important role in showcasing southwest Georgia.

In addition to the natural beauty and resources in rural parts of the state, Albany also has other resources that are important to businesses, including the University System of Georgia, of which Albany State University is a part, technical colleges and a strong network of highways, the governor said.

“It’s great to be promoting a great quality of life,” Kemp said.

Over the previous five years, 2,200 companies have located or expanded in the state, representing a total investment of $168 billion and accounting for 35,000 new jobs, said Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

“Seventy-seven percent of all those investments are businesses in rural Georgia,” he said.

That represents a shift from the past, when nearly all new investments went to the Atlanta area and other major cities.

“If we’d had this conversation 10 years ago, it would have been different,” Clark said of the investment in rural areas in the state. “It would have been the opposite.”

Some of the local companies that have located in Albany after site developers or company officials participated in the quail hunt include Outdoor Network, PowerSports Plus and WebstaurantStore.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]