............................
Major company branches seldom move to Atlanta proper; they move to
one of the outlying areas. MB is probably thinking of the Atlanta
area for several reasons: lower overhead, a world class airport with
direct flights to all major international cities, seldom any weather
disruptions in the winter, major international ground and air
shipping routes and facilities, a few hours drive or 45 minute
flight to their plant in Alabama, etc.
Besides that, Atlanta is probably more of an international city than
anyplace in New Jersey. Over 60% of the Atlanta area population are
from someplace besides Georgia; including numerous foreign countries.
Company employees transferred to the Atlanta area seldom have
problems acclimating to the local culture since Georgians, like
Southerners in general, are friendly and hospitable.
Jaimie and his friends would probably settle in quickly and be glad
they were transferred to the Atlanta area.
Gerry....who lived and worked in Atlanta for six years
Lower overhead: Lowest would likely be Fargo or GreatFalls. Near
the existing plant in AL would also be a very low overhead. Anywhere
between the appalachians and the rockies would be competitive with or
less than Hotlanta with the possible exceptions of Denver or Dallas.
World class airport, meaning a major airline hub: Chicago, Dallas,
Houston, Memphis, St Louis, Minneapolis, Denver would all qualify.
Of these, I'd guess Memphis would have the lowest overhead cost.
Places like Des Moines or Omaha, and Charlotte are gaining as hubs
too, with much less congestion and lower costs. AA is moving from
the hub and spoke arrangement to point to point. That will make many
more locations desirable, and lessen the advantage of hubs like
Denver, Chicago and Hotlanta. If other airlines follow suit, the
hubs will diminish in importance.
Seldom any weather disruptions in the winter: Depends on
definitions. I think Hotlanta has as many disruptions as Chicago,
but the FAA or NWS should have the info.
major international ground and air shipping routes and facilities,
Hard to beat Memphis for these, but St Louis, Memphis, Des Moines,
Omaha and Chicago are all major distribution points. Chicago, St
Louis, Memphis and Omaha have major rail and water shipping
facilities.
International City: Any city and many small small city in the
central US has large international populations. Companies like
Siemens have locations all over the country. My son works for
Siemens building automotive software in a town of 40,000. Most have
several international stores. Larger cities have many international
stores.
Friendly People: Everywhere in the central US is known as friendly.
There are undesirable sections in the big cities, but aside from big
cities, friendly people are pretty much everywhere west of the
appalachians and south of the MasonDixon line east of the
appalchians. Most outside visitors say Des moines is the friendliest
place in the country, but I've been lots of places I think are as
good or better.
So, politics aside, there are many locations as good as or better than hotlanta
That said, the decision will be mostly or ALL political.
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