GM acquires Atlanta site for planned technology centre
General Motors has bought a former UPS facility in Roswell, Georgia, with plans to establish a technology development centre expected to create 1,000 jobs.
General Motors has purchased a former UPS technology facility in Roswell, Georgia, with the intention of establishing a technology development centre that could bring 1,000 new jobs to the Atlanta area. The deal was confirmed by UPS, which sold the property to GM in December 2012.
The facility, known locally as the Innoplex, was used by UPS for its own technology operations until the company relocated two years prior to the sale. According to UPS spokeswoman Susan Rosenberg, the transaction was completed in mid-December 2012. GM declined to comment on the specifics of the project or its employment plans, citing a policy against responding to rumour or speculation.
Technology centre expected to reshape local workforce
If GM proceeds with its plans, the technology development centre could become one of the largest job-creation projects in the region for 2012. The positions are expected to be high-skilled and well-paid, marking a shift for Georgia’s workforce, which has traditionally focused on agriculture and manufacturing. The state was already seeing signs of recovery from the recession, with November unemployment figures at a four-year low.
The Atlanta metropolitan area was selected after GM considered several East Coast locations for the project. The company’s choice of Roswell reflects both the availability of suitable facilities and the region’s growing reputation as a technology hub. The deal follows similar moves by manufacturers to invest in Georgia, such as Caterpillar’s announcement of a $200 million plant in Athens, creating nearly 1,400 jobs earlier that year.
Broader context for GM’s technology investments
Further details of GM’s Atlanta technology development centre, including the specific roles to be created and the centre’s technical remit, were expected to be clarified in an official announcement in early 2013. At the time of the transaction, neither GM nor local officials had confirmed a launch date or provided a timeline for recruitment.
