GM Starts Hiring for Roswell IT Center Right Away

Steve Stroud, executive director for the Roswell Business Alliance, is excited to see eight months of work come to fruition today, with next week.

"This is a great example of how a public/private partnership works and can truly bring quality jobs to an area and have a great economic impact," he said. "As the Mayor [Jere Wood] said, this is where taking a chance on the RBA is going to pay off."

Stroud said, in the end, it was North Fulton's work force and quality of life that finally convinced GM to make the area its new home. Seeing the process through, from start to finish, is gratifying for Stroud and the rest of those who worked together with GM to make the move happen.

"The economic impact, not only for Roswell, but the state, is huge," he said.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development and Gov. Nathan Deal are continuing to "aggressively look for the right fit" in economic opportunities throughout the state, and specifically in North Fulton, according to Stroud.

Al Nash, head of the Greater Chamber of Commerce economic development organization, joined Stroud and others at today's news conference during which Gov. Nathan Deal helped GM announce its plans in Roswell. He said it was a huge announcement for the state, metro Atlanta and North Fulton.

"It's going to be a tremendous asset to the community. And it's going to help continue to build the technology and economic base that we've created here in North Fulton," Nash said.

He said a GM official who toured the building said it is ready to be used.

"You could turn the lights on today and put some office equipment in there and you are ready to go," Nash said.

The opening of the GM IT Innovation Center will have a tremendous affect on other businesses, he said.

GM Starts Hiring

According to both Stroud and Nash, GM representatives at today's news conference said that they are starting to hire immediately. Some jobs are already posted on GM's website.

As of 1 p.m. today, 46 new IT jobs were listed on the GM careers website that were posted on Jan. 9 for the Atlanta market.

GM will be recruiting from around the country, including on college campuses and with college graduates.

"And those people are going to have to live somewhere. We are very hopeful that they will choose to live in North Fulton," Nash said.

He said the communities' great schools and quality of life that everyone has worked hard to get would be attractive for new workers.

"The other piece of it is, they already have their southeastern region office here on Great Oaks in Alpharetta. So this is just building off of that," he said.

"This is a grand slam for us," Stoud added.

1,400 New Jobs in North Fulton

In addition to the GM influx of jobs, other corporations have plans to add as many as 1,400 jobs in North Fulton.

HP announced early this week that it would move its Customer Solution Center to its Alpharetta campus, creating 200 jobs.

EndoChoice entered a merger and acquired a company, with plans to hire as well. Al Nash of Progress Partners Atlanta said many of the 200 or so new hires by EndoChoice are expected in Alpharetta.