2. Columbus has a healthy mix of locally-owned, nationally-owned and foreign-owned companies in its
industry mix. Many of these locally-owned businesses are also the headquarters for their prospective
company. Columbus is also home to many foreign-owned companies, thus making our industry mix
unique.
Locally-Owned
Company Origin
12%
Nationally-Owned
Foreign-Owned
41%
Company Headquarters
12%
47%
35%
Columbus
35%
Georgia
18%
Elsewhere in nation
Outside USA
53%
Of the companies we interviewed are headquartered in Georgia.
3. Almost one-third of the company participants were in some version of the manufacturing industry.
While some company’s industry overlapped between categories, you can still see that manufacturing is
a major industry in the Columbus, Georgia Region. However, we were still able to capture 8 different
industries, making our data diverse.
32%
3%
Manufacturing
6%
Distribution
10%
23%
HR/Administration
Warehousing
Sales/Marketing
13%
13%
IT
Engineering/Reasearch
One-fifth of the companies interviewed said they had possible local
expansion plans. Furthermore, these companies collectively represent
approximately 3, 200 employees that are in the Columbus workforce.
3,200
4. Among those interviewed, approximately 25% of local sales are staying in the Columbus, Georgia
Region. The bulk of sales are being shipped across the United States, while another 25% are being
shipping overseas, most likely through the Savannah Port. However; on the supplier side, only 12% is
coming from overseas and approximately 44% of the companies supplier needs are being met by local
and regional suppliers.
Origin of Sales
Local
Regional
5%
25%
Source of Suppliers
20%
12%
National
23%
International
50%
75%
44%
of the products being produced or distributed from the
Columbus, Georgia Region are shipped outside of the Region.
21%
5. We asked companies to rank 15 business climate indicators from very satisfied to very dissatisfied.
Overall, companies have rated the business permitting process, public water/sewer and police
protection as the top business climate assets. Availability of qualified workforce, costs of utilities and k12 education seem to be the major concerns for local companies.
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Availability of
Capital/Financing
Availability of qualified Quality of workforce Quality of Colleges and
workforce
training programs
Universities
Local tax structure
State tax structure
Building devlopment
plan review/permitting
Public Transportation
K-12 Education
Overall rating of the
local business climate
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Public water/sewer
Not Applicable
Cost of utilities
Local road and
highways
Very Dissatisfied
Police Protection
Dissatisfied
Neutral
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
6. Availability of qualified workforce was one of the concerns of many companies we interviewed. Below is
a breakdown of how the companies viewed this business climate indicator.
100%
75%
Approximately 25%
of the companies
interviewed were
Satisfied with the
Availability of
Qualified
Workforce.
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Neutral
50%
25%
0%
Approximately 50%
of the companies
interviewed were
Dissatisfied with
the Availability of
Qualified
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
7. Building Development Plan Review/Permitting was viewed as one of the business climate assets by
many of the companies we interviewed. Below is a breakdown of how the companies viewed this
business climate indicator.
100%
75%
50%
Over 75% of the
companies interviewed
were Satisfied with the
Building Development
Plan
Review/Permitting.
Very Dissatisfied
Dissatisfied
Neutral
25%
0%
Only approximately
less than 5% of the
companies interviewed
were Dissatisfied with
the Building Permitting
and Development.
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
8. Police Protection was viewed as one of the best business climate assets by many of the companies we
interviewed. Below is a breakdown of how the companies viewed this business climate indicator.
100%
75%
50%
Approximately 50% of
the companies
interviewed were Very
Satisfied with the
Police Protection.
25%
0%
Only approximately
5% of the companies
interviewed were
Dissatisfied with the
Police Protection.
9. We asked companies to rank 15 business climate indicators from very satisfied to very dissatisfied.
Overall, companies have rated the business permitting process, public water/sewer and police
protection as the top business climate assets. Availability of qualified workforce, costs of utilities and k12 education seem to be the major concerns for local companies.
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Availability of
Capital/Financing
Availability of qualified Quality of workforce Quality of Colleges and
workforce
training programs
Universities
Local tax structure
State tax structure
Building devlopment
plan review/permitting
Public Transportation
K-12 Education
Overall rating of the
local business climate
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
Public water/sewer
Not Applicable
Cost of utilities
Local road and
highways
Very Dissatisfied
Police Protection
Dissatisfied
Neutral
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
10. One of the Business Climate assets that rated highest among the companies interviewed was the cost of
doing business in the Columbus, Georgia Region. Among those interviewed, approximately 82% of the
respondents indicated that they are satisfied or very satisfied with doing business in Columbus.
6%
19%
12%
Very Dissatisfied
Neutral
63%
Satisfied
Very Satisfied
Cost of Doing Business?
The cost of doing business includes labor costs, utility rates, taxes, fees and the
cost of living.
11. Workforce Issues
•
•
•
•
Trouble finding highly-skilled employees; specifically maintenance
Overall poor work-ethic seems to be the new normal
Low-level employee turnover is rampant
Most companies interviewed were interested and willing to be involved in an
internship or co-op program
Governmental Issues
•
•
•
•
E-verify
Financial Reform Act
Higher visibility with Chamber-led governmental affairs issues
Healthcare costs, reform, etc.
