A PUBLIC ATION OF THE HENRY COUNT Y CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

COMFORTABLYSOUTH of ATLANTA

a TALE OFFOUR CITIES

EXTRAORDINARYMEDICAL CARE

50 Discover Henry

Discover Henry 51

It’s easy to see why Henry County consistently ranks as

one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.

Long recognized as a premier location for business

expansion, our strategic location – just minutes from

Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

Airport – and our outstanding labor force, abundant

higher education opportunities and high quality, but

affordable, housing continue to make Henry County a

powerful location to live, work and play.

The companies that call Henry County home are as

diverse as the people that live here. A drive through

any of the county’s Class A office or industrial parks

is quite literally like a trip through the Fortune 500.

From corporate headquarters, distribution centers and

support services to manufacturing and technology,

more and more companies are choosing Henry to

grow their businesses. Phillips-Van Heusen and De

Wafelbakkers are just two of the most recent additions

to the county’s landscape who have discovered the

power of location and community that Henry County

offers.

Henry County welcomed another household name

in 2009 when Whirlpool built a new state-of-the-art

Regional Distribution Center off of King Mill Road

in McDonough. The Gold LEED certified 1.5 million

square foot complex sits on 90 acres and is one of the

largest industrial build-to-suit construction projects

in Atlanta history. The project was recognized as the

“Industrial Deal of the Year” by the Atlanta Business

Chronicle in 2008.

Businesses benefit from distribution network and community

Pictured Left: Henry County is home to world-class office and industrial parks like ProLogis Park Greenwood.

BuildingSuccess

52 Discover Henry

Another prominent addition

to the county is John Deere. In

2010, the farm equipment giant

relocated their Regional Parts

Distribution Center here, joining

major distribution centers for

companies like Kumho Tires,

Sports Authority, Home Depot,

Summit Racing Equipment and

Toys R Us.

Manufacturing also has a home

in Henry County, with household

names like Behr Paints, Ecolab,

Briggs and Stratton, Goodyear

Tire and Rubber Company and

Southern States. Corporate

headquarters for Georgia

companies like Georgia Crown

Distribution Company and

international businesses like

ALPLA, which has its North

American Headquarters

and Technical Center, join

other corporate facilities for

companies like Georgia Power

Company and SunTrust Service

Corporation.

Among the busiest air traffic

control centers in the world, the

FAA Atlanta Air Route Traffic

Control Center – adjacent to

Atlanta Motor Speedway in

Hampton – recently celebrated

its 50th year of operation

in Henry County. The FAA

Atlanta Center facility oversees

thousands of flights every day

over Georgia, Alabama, North

and South Carolina, Tennessee

and Virginia, including all flights

in and out of two of the top five

By The Numbers

2Number of days’ driving time to 80% of the U. S. population

20Number of miles of Interstate 75 that traverse Henry County with 7 interchanges

600,000Metric tons of cargo that were shipped through Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson Airport

24Miles from Henry County to airport cargo facilities

Pictured: An aerial view of Whirlpool’s 1.5 million square foot Regional Distribution Center in McDonough

Continued on page 54 >

Discover Henry 53

When ALPLA originally located in Henry

County in 2001, it was to serve a large, local

customer. The facility was originally designed as

a manufacturing plant, but has grown to become

the company’s North American headquarters

and Technical Center.

As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of

bottles and closures, the company serves beauty,

personal care, fabric and home care, food,

beverage and oils/lubricants segments. While

the majority of people do not know who make

the actual bottles and caps for their products, it

is very likely that some of ALPLA’s products are

sitting in most homes in Henry County as well as

the rest of North America.

Michael Koenig, Director of Finance for ALPLA,

finds the synergistic relationship between the

company and the local community a “great fit.”

“Henry County was selected for a number

of reasons including proximity to our local

customer, quality of workforce, transportation

and educational system,” Koenig explains.

“Local incentives have become an increasing

part of the selection process and we appreciate

the partnership that we have developed with

Henry County and the Development Authority.”

“Henry County has become the center of our

North American operations resulting in a great

amount of culture and diversity from all over

the world,” says Koenig. “We frequently have

guests visiting our site and enjoying the local

customs and community. Our employees are

also active in local charities and participate in

the educational system.”

ALPLA is once again on a growth track – fueled

by a facility expansion which will move more

of the company’s operations and technology to

Henry County.

“Our aggressive growth plan will allow ALPLA

employees opportunities for growth,” explains

Koenig. “We look forward to working and living

in Henry County for many years.”

OPEN FOR BUSINESSLocation and community make Henry the perfect fit for ALPLA

54 Discover Henry

www.discoverhenry.com

Accessibility Family Activities Recreation Shopping Beautiful Neighborhoods Business ReadyAdvanced Healthcare

Discover the Power of Location...

...Discover Henry CountyIt’s easy to see why Henry County, Georgia consistently ranks as one of the fastest-growing counties in theU.S. Recognized as a premier location for business expansion, our strategic location – just minutes from Atlantaand the World’s busiest airport – and our outstanding labor force, abundant higher education opportunities, andhigh quality but affordable homes continue to make Henry County a powerful choice to live, work and play.

140 HENRY PARKWAY, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253TEL: 770.288.8000 | INFO@HCDA.ORG

HCDA-2_GA Trend 7/6/10 4:35 PM Page 1

busiest airports in the world,

Hartsfield Jackson International

Airport in Atlanta, and Charlotte/

Douglas International Airport in

North Carolina. The Center is an

integral part of Henry County’s

economy by employing 829 staff

who provide services 24 hours

a day, 365 days of the year in a

variety of highly-skilled positions.

While many of our companies are

relative newcomers to the county,

some of our most successful

industries are homegrown. A

small company that has flourished

into an industry leader, Bennett

International Group specializes

in every aspect of transport. In

addition to receiving numerous

awards in the transportation

industry, President and CEO

Marcia Taylor has been recognized

many times for her achievements

as a woman in business, including

leading Georgia’s second largest

woman-owned business.

But whether companies are

global or home-grown, giants or

gazelles, they share one common

trait. They have all discovered

the Power of Location in Henry

County.

By The Numbers

63.7%Percentage change in population of Henry County from 2000-2009, making Henry the 11th fastest growing county in nation

238,183Projected population of Henry County by 2015

33.1Median age of the total population of the county in 2010

600,000Number of skilled workers in the area workforce

> Continued from page 52

Discover Henry 55

www.discoverhenry.com

Accessibility Family Activities Recreation Shopping Beautiful Neighborhoods Business ReadyAdvanced Healthcare

Discover the Power of Location...

...Discover Henry CountyIt’s easy to see why Henry County, Georgia consistently ranks as one of the fastest-growing counties in theU.S. Recognized as a premier location for business expansion, our strategic location – just minutes from Atlantaand the World’s busiest airport – and our outstanding labor force, abundant higher education opportunities, andhigh quality but affordable homes continue to make Henry County a powerful choice to live, work and play.

140 HENRY PARKWAY, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253TEL: 770.288.8000 | INFO@HCDA.ORG

HCDA-2_GA Trend 7/6/10 4:35 PM Page 1

If you have visited a hospital, surgical

center or assisted living facility lately,

chances are you have come in contact

with an Encompass product. From

staff scrubs and patient gowns to

cutting edge hypothermia prevention

products, the company has a rich

history of assisting health care

professionals create safe, healing

environments for their patients.

Much of that history has occurred

right here in Henry County. Dowling

Textile Company, Encompass’

predecessor, was founded in 1946.

The company’s original location was

a small room above a gas station on

the square in McDonough where

they hemmed shop towels for Fulton

Cotton Mills. In 1960, Dowling

purchased 27 acres in McDonough

to build a larger facility. Dowling

formed the Encompass Group in the

late nineties, and the facilities have

expanded as the company has grown.

Today, the facility is Encompass’

distribution hub for the eastern United

States. It also serves as the corporate

headquarters housing such functions

as human resources, accounting, and

information technology. Currently,

over 200 employees work in

Encompass’ McDonough facility.

“Many of our employees live here

in Henry County,” explains Warren

Nesbit, Executive Vice-President of

Human Resources. But, he hastens to

add that the community offers much

more than just a short commute. “The

area provides many other business

advantages,” he continues, “including

a convenient location for national

distribution, a quality workforce, and

an appealing lifestyle.”

Pictured: Encompass’ distribution center in McDonough

A HEALTHY INVESTMENT Encompass builds a solid foundation in Henry County

56 Discover Henry

In the late eighties, the Japanese company Toppan

Printing Company was looking for a U.S. location

for their new company Toppan Interamerica, a

printer of innovative designs for the furniture and

flooring industries.

Toppan began working with economic

development officials in Henry County and

Georgia and discovered the benefits of locating in

Henry. “Most of our customers are within an 8-10

hour drive of McDonough,” describes Kevin Smith,

Human Resources and Administration Manager.

“Henry County was selected because of its major

transportation networks, interstate highways,

international airport and port accessibility.”

Smith also cites Georgia’s available workforce,

lower costs, and employment at will laws as other

factors.

Since coming to Henry in 1988, Toppan

Interamerica has truly become rooted in the

community. Their original 150,000 square foot

facility has grown to 250,000 square feet and

employs 148 people. The company is active in

the community, and their efforts to become an

employer of choice have resulted in low turn

over rates. In 2008, they were recognized by the

Governor as the Work Ready Company of the Year

and selected as Business of the Year by the Henry

County Chamber of Commerce.

The company has also become a recognized leader

in their industry. The McDonough team prints

quality decorative papers with innovative patterns

developed by Toppan’s own design group to better

serve their North American clients. Their printing

process also utilizes water-based, environmentally

friendly techniques to print their decorative papers.

“The success of our operation is not only due

to its most advanced printing technology

and equipment,” explains Smith, “But more

importantly, the culmination of Japanese and

American cultures blended perfectly throughout

the management and crew, which solidifies the

Toppan Interamerica team.”

“Henry County is a great place to do

business. County and government and

local authorities are responsive to local

industries. Quality of life, housing and

school systems have grown as Toppan’s

needs have grown.”

GROWING GLOBALToppan Interamerica calls Henry home

Pictured Left: Yukio Fujie, President of Toppan Interamerica

Discover Henry 57

It’s no secret that metro Atlanta is considered

a major national transportation hub, so when

Sunglass Hut was looking for a distribution

facility in the mid nineties, Henry County was a

top contender.

Since its opening in 1996, the facility has grown

to over 235 employees and 234,000 square feet.

The center is responsible for distributing product

for three Luxottica retail brands including

LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut and Sears Optical.

It also serves as the distribution center for

Luxottica’s North American wholesale customers

as well as the North American data center.

“This location allows us to reach more customers

via ground transportation and reduce transit

time,” says Pedro Carreras, Luxottica’s Vice

President of Retail and Wholesale Distribution

for the Americas. “Since we’re located in one of

the fastest growing counties in the nation, there

are an ample number of local applicants for open

positions.”

Luxottica’s Henry County facility also serves

another function of which the staff is especially

proud – it houses a Resource Center for donated

eyewear. Through their OneSight initiative,

Luxottica and its employees have provided

eye care and eyeware for over 8 million people

worldwide. Their vision vans visit several Henry

County schools each year where they may see as

many as 100 children per day. Their 5K and 10K

Eye Run held locally each spring raises funds for

OneSight’s programs.

THE EYES HAVE ITLuxottica expands their vision of growth in Henry County and abroad

Pictured Left: Luxottica’s North American distribution center located in Greenwood Industrial Park

Pictured Below: Pedro Carreras, Luxottica VP of Retail and Wholesale Distribution for the Americas

58 Discover Henry

The next time you pick up the

phone to report a power outage

during a storm, it may be your

neighbor on the other end of the

line. Georgia Power’s Customer

Care Center is located right here

in Henry County, and the facility

is blazing new trails in employee

retention and innovation.

In the late nineties, the

power company split their

incoming calls and customer

support functions between

two centers: North Georgia

and Macon. Challenged with

managing technology in dual

facilities, Georgia Power began

looking for a site that would

be geographically strategic

and provide a good work-life

balance for their staff.

Eventually, their search brought

them to Stockbridge where the

electricity provider built a new

125,000 square foot facility that

now employs a staff of 600. As

the primary call center, over

10.5 million calls are answered

here each year. Technology,

operations, training and back

office functions are also housed

in the facility.

“This is a true public-private

partnership,” explains Mitchell

King, director of the Customer

Care Center. “Throughout

the process, we have had

tremendous cooperation with

the County, development

authority, police and public

works.”

King cites Henry County’s rapid

growth as a contributing factor

in supplying Georgia Power

with talented employees who

benefit from the company’s

emphasis on health and well-

being. The facility offers a full

time in-house nurse, on-site

cafeteria, employee managed

fitness facility, van pools for

commuters, and telecommuting

options. Their day care

center located adjacent to the

Customer Care Center is also

silver LEED certified.

“Our business requires us to

have sophisticated technology

that is up and running 24 hours

a day,” explains King. “Our

location in Henry County and

the staff that we employ here

allows us to do that.”

Pictured Above: Georgia Power employee tracks customer calls and outages

Pictured Far Left: The entrance to Georgia Power’s Customer Care Center

Pictured Left: Mitchell King, director of the Georgia Power Customer Care Center

TURNING ON INNOVATIONGeorgia Power recognizes the power of good employees

Discover Henry 59

When Frank and Louise Crowley started making

the house dressing from Ken’s Steakhouse in their

kitchen in 1958, little did they know their products

would one day line the grocery shelves nationwide.

They probably also would not have predicted

that much of their products would eventually be

produced in McDonough, Georgia, including the

number one selling barbeque sauce in the country,

Sweet Baby Rays.

Management first began to search for a

Southeastern plant in the mid nineties, they spent

eight months searching for the perfect location that

could meet their unique requirements. It needed

to have adequate water and sewer infrastructure,

room to expand, good rail access, and be within an

hour of a major airport.

“We weren’t just looking for the cheapest place

to build,” says Dave Muskopf, Vice President of

Engineering for Ken’s Foods. “We looked at all of

the requirements for the next 25 to 50 years, and

thought Henry County was the best place for the

company and our employees.”

The initial design-build project included an 80,000

square foot building that employed 45 people. Over

the years, Ken’s Foods has expanded four times

and tripled its size to 370,000 square feet with

325 employees. The privately owned company

manufactures such nationally recognized brands

as Sweet Baby Ray’s and Ken’s Steakhouse salad

dressings and produces 80,000 to 90,000 cases a

day in McDonough that are shipped worldwide.

Ray Lauer, plant manager for Ken’s McDonough

facility, cites the close labor pool and good

relationships with local agencies as some of the

benefits of being located in Henry. “Most of our

employees live in Henry County because it provides

a great quality of life,” he explains. “The county

governments and local authorities have also been

very cooperative over the years. We will continue

to grow here.”

THE SECRET’S IN THE SAUCE… AND THE LOCATIONKen’s Foods has been cooking up success in Henry County since 1995

Pictured Above: Some of the many dressings and sauces produced by Ken’s Foods

Pictured Right: Ken’s Foods manufacturing facility in Midland Industrial Park in McDonough

60 Discover Henry

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH 2000-2009

Year Labor Force Employed Unemployed Unemployment2009 96,698 87,677 9,021 9.3%2008 97,533 91,559 5,974 6.1%2007 95,294 91,279 4,015 4.2%2006 91,691 87,561 4,130 4.5%2005 87,387 83,209 4,178 4.8%2004 79,378 76,753 3,194 4.0%2003 74,722 71,571 3,151 4.2%2002 70,889 67,972 2,917 4.1%2001 69,544 67,900 1,644 2.4%2000 65,484 64,143 1,341 2.0%

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY

Number PercentAgriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting 56 0.1Mining 77 0.2Construction 2,346 4.8Manufacturing 3,225 6.6Services 33,084 68.7 Utilities * * Wholesale Trade 1,809 3.7 Retail Trade 7,974 16.2 Transportation and Warehousing 2,402 4.8 Information 308 0.6 Finance and Insurance 1,693 3.4 Real Estate 528 1.1 Professional and Technical Services 1,433 2.8 Management of Companies/Enterprises * * Administrative and Waste Management 4,001 8.1 Educational Services 457 0.9 Healthcare and Social Assistance 4,591 9.3 Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 887 1.8 Accommodation and Food Services 5,842 11.9 Other Services, Exc. Public Administration 1,135 2.3Unclassified 49 0.1Government 9,665 19.6Totals 49,222 100Source: Georgia Department of Labor, 2009 Annual Data

* Data not released

HOUSEHOLDS BY INCOME

Household Income 2000 Census 2010 (Est)$0 - $15,000 6.1% 7.3%$15,000 - $24,999 7.5% 6.8%$25,000 - $34,999 9.9% 8.1%$35,000 - $49,999 17.5% 14.1%$50,000 - $74,999 27.6% 23.4%$75,000 - $99,999 17.0% 16.3%$100,000 - $149,999 10.7% 16.8%$150,000 + 3.7% 7.3%Average Household Income $65,834 $74,256Median Household Income $57,643 $63,836Per Capita Income $22,823 $25,575Source: Decision Data, provided by Henry County Development Authority

POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD GROWTH

1990 Census 2000 Census 2010 EstimateTotal Population 58,738 119,341 202,282Total Households 20,011 41,373 68,860Source: Decision Data, provided by Henry County Development Authority

HENRY COUNTY

Discover Henry 61

HENRY COUNTY BUILDING PERMIT ACTIVITY

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Single Family 3,386 3,470 3,545 3,240 2,853 2,939 2,207 1,147 314 172 189Commer/Industrial 185 394 146 132 77 101 83 300 354 231 201Multi-Family 49 12 30 10 0 15 10 37 11 8 0Source: Henry County Building Department

HENRY COUNTY HOME SALES

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009New Units Sold 3,239 3,243 3,622 3,206 1,860 975 596Resale Units Sold 1,987 2,360 2,760 3,281 2,450 2,150 2,255Total Units Sold 5,226 5,603 6,382 6,487 4,310 3,125 2,851Median New Price $158,900 $174,600 $185,900 $209,400 $218,754 $198,250 $189,650 Median Resale Price $133,000 $138,955 $144,793 $149,999 $144,900 $131,900 $107,100 Median Total Price $149,900 $160,600 $170,000 $181,700 $179,000 $152,000 $119,900 Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

140 Henry Parkway | McDonough, GA 30253(770) 288-8000 | www.discoverhenry.com

Promoting economic development for Henry

County is the job of the Henry County Development

Authority, the county’s lead economic agency. The

Authority provides location assistance to new and

expanding businesses, advises the Henry County

Board of Commissioners on economic development

policy issues, and works closely with the Board of

Commissioners – as well as with the Henry County

Chamber of Commerce and other leaders in the

public and private sectors – to stimulate economic

growth and development in Henry County. To

learn more about how the Development Authority

helps businesses to Discover the Power of Location

in Henry County, visit the Authority’s website at

www.discoverhenry.com.

Some of our Corporate Citizens…