I visited a JCB Equipment plant in Pooler yesterday and it was amazing. They manufacture heavy equipment for construction, agriculture, and industrial use. They are the number three equipment manufacturer in their industry globally and one of the top 5 employers in the Savannah area. They are a good partner for Georgia and have been great corporate citizens for their community. I was impressed by the facility and the dedicated employees there. I left even more optimistic about Georgia’s future than I had been before.

JCB is a large business with a small business mentality. It has 18 manufacturing plants on four continents. But its team exudes the entrepreneurialism that drives small businesses too.

Helping the JCB’s of the world locate here in Georgia and be successful is vital. We need to do more to help them grow and expand. I have the experience as a Chamber President and County Commission Chair of doing just that. But we also need to really focus on the small businesses that employ 90% of Georgians.

While reducing the tax burden on businesses is important, it is not the only step we must take to attract and create jobs. It’s also about transportation and education. We know that Georgia is a great place to live and work, and we have the quality of life that makes people want to move here. We must make sure that we address the critical infrastructure and education issues we face to make more JCB’s and many, many more small businesses locate, stay and grow here.

Thanks to all the folks at JCB in Pooler for giving me a tour of their fantastic company yesterday. Keep up the great work.

To check out my detailed proposal for job growth in Georgia, follow this link.