Hall County, Georgia

A County With A ‘Whole lot to offer’

The Ideal Location to Live, Work and Play

Hall County is a region with an unrivaled sense of place, seamlessly blending urban density and rural tranquility. “Where we are located makes us unique, and we have a whole lot to offer. We are about an hour north of Atlanta. We are in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, not too far of a drive from the east coast, the Barrier Islands,” Assistant County Administrator Katie Crumley said.

A Thriving Economy

Along with its natural wonders, Hall County, with the City of Gainesville at its seat, is one of the fastest-growing regions in Georgia. Tim Evans, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, highlighted, “The real story about the Gainesville/Hall County metropolitan area is that we’re one of the fastest-growing MSAs in the state, and we are always top in the nation for growth.”

The area has experienced a remarkable population growth rate of nearly 2% per year, supporting the robust job creations in Hall County.

“Those jobs really are focused in areas like healthcare, education, and advanced manufacturing, and those three areas are often cited as to why Gainesville/Hall County is a very resilient economy among peers around the country,” Evans said. Northeast Georgia Health System is the largest employer, with a workforce of 13,000 and a significant economic impact of approximately $7.5 billion annually.

From left to right, Beth Garmon, director of Hall County Planning and Zoning; Brent Holloway, director of Parks and Community Services; Bill Nash, director of Hall County Public Works and Utilities

Infrastructure Development for Sustainable Growth

As it grows, Hall County remains focused on enhancing its critical infrastructure. Bill Nash, Director of Hall County Public Works and Utilities, shared, “We are focused on a lot of high-capacity projects, taking a lot of rural roads and trying to widen those.”  Another significant project, the Sardis Road Connector, will connect two state roads via a 3.6-mile roadway corridor. “We’re excited for that project,” Nash said. “That’s a very high-priority project, from the stance of connecting two state routes with a lot of traffic flows, to give an additional bypass into downtown Gainesville.”

Walkability is also top of mind, with Nash noting that the ongoing road projects include a pedestrian component. “We’ve got multiuse paths on those projects that will increase mobility and safety among users,” Nash said. “We are also involved with the Highlands to Islands trail project, a multi-jurisdictional trail system that will essentially connect the highlands of Hall County all the way to the islands of Lake Lanier with 30 plus miles of continuous trails.”

Nash emphasized the importance of maintaining existing infrastructure, which consists of 1,050 miles of paved roadways. He said the Board of Commissioners has ramped up its resurfacing efforts, increasing from approximately 20 to 30 miles annually over the past three years.

In addition to road improvements, Hall County is investing in sewer infrastructure, guided by a sewer master plan implemented in 2020. “We’re executing on the projects that it identifies, one of which is the expansion of our existing sewer treatment plant,” Nash said. “We’re anticipating, in this fiscal year, beginning work on that project which represents an $18 million investment into our sewer customers.” In addition to this, Nash mentioned several miles of sewer extension projects throughout the county. “We’re doing a lot of work,” he said.

Increasing Housing Options

On the subject of future development, Beth Garmon, Director of Hall County Planning and Zoning conveyed, “We are in the middle of finalizing our comprehensive plan, as well as adopting a Unified Development Code, and addressing the tremendous growth that we’re seeing. We’re looking to be very strategic and intentional about where we see that development happening, so that we can manage it and make sure to protect the areas that aren’t quite ready or that we want to see develop more organically.”

Garmon explained that the plan separates the county into six unique character areas, outlining predicted growth. “We’ve also developed future land uses, being specific about what types of uses would be appropriate within those character areas. We’re being very intentional about how we see growth happening over the next 20 years.”

Hall County is expanding its housing options with more multi-family and higher-density developments alongside traditional single-family units. “There are certain corridors where that works, and then there are areas where it’s not efficient to develop with that higher density,” Garmon acknowledged.

“That’s where we’re looping those higher density developments back in along those corridors where we have sewer in place, and where the roads have been improved to accommodate that type of density.”

This approach aligns with the county’s workforce housing objectives, which include adding homes closer to industry. “We understand that people want to live close to jobs as well. So, we’re trying to find ways to incorporate that type of housing in a way that makes sense and cluster that growth in one area where we can, leaving it a little more open in the areas that are rural.”

The Blue Ridge Connector: A Vital Economic Link

A key infrastructure project that is set to transform Hall County’s industrial landscape is the Blue Ridge Connector, commonly referred to as the Inland Port. “The Georgia Ports Authority is developing the Blue Ridge Connector to provide a rail connection between Hall County and the Port of Savannah,” Evans elaborated. “They’re doing that because of the existing industry that’s here and the need for that connection.”

Hall County is home to 330 advanced manufacturers and food processors, which account for roughly 30% of the local workforce, which is three times the state and national average. “The Blue Ridge Connector will have the capacity to handle up to 200,000 containers per year at full build out, and it’s under construction now to be complete in 2026,” Evans said.

Since 2020, the advanced manufacturing sector in Hall County has seen significant growth, with 53 new or expanded projects, creating 3,500 new jobs and generating $1.5 billion in capital investment. Notable companies include Kubota, ZF Group, Fox Factory, Kings Hawaiian, Mars Wrigley, Makita USA and the CJ Group of South Korea.

“That is just a handful of names,” Evans remarked, “It’s a real strength for our community to have these high-skill positions that are in automation, fabrication but also the executive offices for those businesses, because many of them have their North American headquarters co-located with their facility and their R&D co-located with production.”

A strong foundation for Hall County’s growing workforce starts in its schools, where high school juniors and seniors participate in internship-style programs, gaining valuable insights into various industries and preparing for future careers. Hall County is also home to several post secondary institutions, including Lanier Technical College, Brenau University, and the University of North Georgia. “Those education providers, along with Hall County Schools and Gainesville City Schools, are that ecosystem for growing young people into the future workforce,” Evans said.

Expanding Parks and Recreation

Hall County boasts over 2,000 acres of park space, a treasured part of the community. “As the growth comes, we’re trying to make sure that we stay ahead of the curve,” Director of Hall County Parks and Community Services Brent Holloway said. “In the last couple of years, we have added five park properties. Two of those were more traditional parks with playgrounds, walking trails, ball fields, all those traditional park elements.”

A particularly exciting initiative is Hall County’s partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to increase access to Lake Lanier, a central feature of life in the area. According to Holloway, “You can’t think about Hall County without thinking about Lake Lanier.” This collaboration allows Hall County to manage three campgrounds, and revenue generated at these facilities stays within the community for reinvestment into these properties. “It’s been a big hit, and we anticipate more going forward,” Holloway shared. “We are in the process of planning and developing two other parks. We’re in a good position, and we want to continue to provide those recreational opportunities that have made Hall County a special place to live for so long.”

Another innovative project is a 200-acre development in the southern part of the county. Still in the planning phase, this endeavor is set to include a community and senior center with amenities to meet the ever-growing needs of the area, such as ball fields, pickleball courts, and extensive trails for walking and biking.

“We’ll let the community guide us in exactly what it looks like, but it’s going to be a massive project for us and something that our citizens and visitors are going to be very happy to have,” Holloway said. “200 acres in this really densely populated and growing part of the county is something we’re really excited about.”

As for what comes next, Evans said there will be a steady focus on all of the aspects that make Hall County a desirable place to live, work and play.

He summarizes, “We’re a small metropolitan area of 225,000 right next to a big metropolitan area of 7.7 million. There’s growth ahead in our future. We just want it to be the best quality we can.”

AT A GLANCE

Hall County, Georgia

What: A county experiencing major growth in population and industry

Where: Northeast Georgia

Website: www.hallcounty.org