Great Wolf Lodge and other projects investing millions in booming Southern town
LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce
LaGrange, GA – With the announcement last week by Great Wolf Lodge that it will open a 500,000-square-foot, multi-faceted resort here in 2018, LaGrange, Troup County and the entire western Georgia region are slated to benefit from the project’s more than $150 million investment, 600 jobs and an additional half million annual visitors. The announcement is the latest in a series of positive developments shining a light on the region’s combination of business-friendly environment and excellent partnership opportunities.
Further boosted by convenient location, outstanding infrastructure, a work-ready labor force and an excellent quality of life, the region is set to continue its positive momentum. According to LaGrange-Troup County Chamber President Page Estes, an active and cooperative economic development partnership is key to that momentum.
“Our community is well-known for its willingness to collaborate,” said Estes. “When opportunity presents itself, key stakeholders from every segment ask what they can do to ensure success. The Great Wolf project is proof that teamwork is a critical component to the economic development process in Troup County.”
As the leading advocate for business in Troup County, the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber works with stakeholders across the area to foster a welcoming environment for economic development. The collaboration has seen several new and expansion project announcements in the last 18 months, including entertainment venues, lodging properties and, most notably:
- S. Badcock Corp., one of the largest privately held furniture retailers in the United States, has invested more than $22 million in a 535,000-square-foot regional distribution center. The operation has created more than 100 jobs in Troup County and is designed for additional expansion.
- Previously ExxonMobil, Jindal Films Americas LLC (JFA), a global leader in the manufacturing of specialty films for packaging and labels, which has been in LaGrange for more than 25 years, recently launched an expansion of their manufacturing operation as well as a new research and development facility. The $180-million expansion and relocation project will create more than 250 new jobs in Troup County.
- Fokker, a Dutch aerospace company which services component parts for several major airplane manufacturers, located in LaGrange since acquiring Aerotron in 2007, has announced its first major expansion here. The company is building a 10,000-square-foot addition to its existing plant and adding 25 new jobs.
LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce
These expansions, along with new developments such as Great Wolf’s, are indicators of the positive reputation the region has within the existing business community as well as in the greater economic development industry. In addition to the welcoming business atmosphere, LaGrange-Troup County has additional advantages that place the community ahead of many others in the minds of site selectors:
- Proximity to major highways (I-85, I-185)
- Access to Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport, less than an hour away
- Collaborative partnerships with local college and career academy, liberal arts institutions and technical college
- Dynamic performing and visual arts community including professional theatres, symphony orchestra and major art collections
- Diverse recreational opportunities including the 26,000-acre West Point Lake as well as baseball and softball complexes that host national tournaments nearly every weekend
According to Estes, the Chamber’s staff and board, along with the entire partnership of active stakeholders, see more exciting, well-planned development on the horizon. They stand ready, she said, to welcome additional prospects who wish to join the LaGrange-Troup County region and become a part of the robust economic landscape.
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