Economic Development

UPSON COUNTY REDEFINING BUSINESS FRIENDLY

Start, expand or relocate your business in Thomaston-Upson County, Georgia where you will find the most common answer to questions is a resounding "yes". Yes, we have a ready and skilled workforce. Yes, we have a unified group of Economic Development partners ready to support your growth. Yes, we have aggressive business incentives to encourage job creation and capital investment. Yes, we have an abundance of available buildings and industrial acreage. Yes, we have strong water, power, fiber infrastructure and central access to the State's largest population and economic centers. Yes, we welcome you to visit Upson County where we will roll out the red carpet and show you a version of "business friendly government" you didn't know existed.​l

Upson County Georgia Economic Development

Doing Business in Upson County

Upson County, strategically located between Atlanta, Columbus, and Macon is home to one of the lowest costs of living and doing business in Georgia and a compelling destination to live, work, visit, and play. The County in conjunction with its Economic Development Partner, the Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Agency (TUCIDA) is committed to providing the resources and support for new and existing businesses to grow and thrive. For businesses considering locating and expanding in Upson County we offer a variety of economic development support programs:

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Cash Grants – for projects creating at least 25 new jobs that exceed the County Average Wage cash grants may be available to offset costs related to land acquisition, machinery purchases, or hiring new employees. Number of jobs created, average wage level, industry category, and level of fringe benefits awarded will be considered in determining potential awards.

Upson County Georgia Economic Development

Property Tax Abatements

Upson County offers one of the most aggressive property tax abatement schedules in the State of Georgia for projects with substantial capital investment and job creation potential that demonstrate an extraordinary economic impact to the County. Level and term of abatement schedules are bespoke based upon project parameters and projected fiscal impact.

Low Cost Electricity & Green Power Options

Upson County offers some of the lowest cost power available in the Southeast United State and multiple utility providers to choose from. Additionally, for businesses seeking electricity from 100% renewable sources, we offer green power options as well. For data centers and other high load intensity projects we will partner with businesses to ensure reliable, highly cost competitive power supply that will grow and scale along with your business.

One-Stop Shop Permitting & Expedited Approval Process

Upson County prides itself as the most business friendly County in Georgia. Our mission is to ensure that your business is supported 24/7/365 and our elected officials are available to ensure that County government is doing everything necessary to catalyze economic growth and job creation. For new construction and business expansion projects we will assign a project ombudsman to act as the primary intake point for land development, building & construction permits and business licenses. We will work directly with your business to ensure we move at the speed of business while providing certainty and transparency on timing and costs to get your project from groundbreaking to occupancy as quickly as possible.

Public Infrastructure Support

Upson County may offer financial and in-kind assistance for businesses requiring public sewer, water, broadband, electricity, or road improvements required for large scale industrial development projects.

Customized Training

In collaboration with the Georgia QuickStart Program and our higher education partners at Southern Crescent Community College, Flint River Campus in Thomaston, we provide customized, job-specific training, as well as a host of other training, recruiting, and technical assistance to meet the needs of employers for a consistent and reliable pipeline of qualified workers.

Upson County Georgia Economic Development

The Thomaston-Upson Development Authority (TUCIDA)

Upson County through the Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Agency are dedicated to growing the County economy by attracting talent, promoting new business investment, retaining expanding existing industry to stimulate job growth, and improving the quality of life in Upson County. Its role is to coordinate the operations of economic development programs and services for business and industry in Upson County. TUCIDA is your business one-stop shop for technical assistance, government approvals, statistical data to support site selection, business incentives, relocation and expansion in Upson County.  

Upson County Georgia Economic Development

Available Sites & Buildings

The Central Georgia Business and Technology Park is a 240 acre park that is Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development Certified "GRAD" ready. TUCIDA understands that cost, speed to market, risk minimization, flexibility and efficiency drives decisions and wins projects. These considerations are prioritized and operationalized in our approach to developing infrastructure ready sites supported by a dedicated team of Economic Development, Utility, Planning & Engineering experts ready to make Upson County the home of your next investment project.

• Central Georgia Business and Technology Park​

The Central Georgia Business and Technology Park is a 240-acre park that features the entire utility infrastructure an industry would need.

CLICK HERE FOR A VIRTUAL TOUR


• Thomaston Upson Industrial Park​

The Thomaston-Upson Industrial Park is a proven site for business. With such tenants as Southern Company, Solutions Pest & Lawn, Criterion Technologies, and Chief Manufacturing, it is a wonderful park to call home.

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• McIntosh Parkway​

Located in our Thomaston Industrial Park, this 58-acre site is located on McIntosh Parkway near GA 36.

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Upson County Georgia Economic Development

Thomaston-Upson Airport 

When the Thomaston Upson County Airport (OPN) was opened in July of 1994, it held the distinction of being the first airport in Georgia built from the ground up in more than 20 years.

OPN currently provides 6,350 feet of runway, an ILS approach and AWOS. There are 63 based aircraft, including five business operations, 70 T-hangars and three corporate hangars, two of which are brand new. The joint city and county industrial development authority has successfully recruited several major businesses to whom airport access was at the top of their list of needs. The first among these was Quad/Graphics, which opened their Thomaston plant in 1995 on adjacent property to the airport. Today the airport not only serves every major business in Upson County, but it also reaches out to industry and trade in seven surrounding counties.

​The FBO at the Thomaston airport is manned by employees in a joint project of Thomaston and Upson County with the concept that the first impression a prospective industrial client will get is upon exiting the aircraft. Airport staff knows its top priority is to provide excellent service to customers which is easy to do when everyone who works at OPN shares a love of airplanes.

​The Thomaston Upson County Airport is a success story that is now widely known across the state and used repeatedly as an example of how a community can invest by providing access for industry via aviation.

Upson County Georgia Economic Development

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