Business Climate

Dalton-Whitfield has become the headquarters for the world’s carpet industry because of the community’s willingness to provide whatever industry needed to prosper and grow. It is therefore an excellent area for supporting services, distribution, shipping, retail and diversification.

The local labor situation is unique in that our local manufacturing workforce of more than twenty-five thousand is labor union free. Skilled labor is available in a broad range skills due to the ever-increasing technological demands of local industry and the readily available training in the local colleges and technical schools. Dalton State College is a delivery point for Georgia’s highly successful Quick Start training program where a training program is established for employees, free of charge. National and international employers who operate in the area attest to the quality of labor in this region.

Our community has received national recognition by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of four places in the country where the business community and education have been working effectively to improve educational performance for more than a decade.

Hamilton Medical Center is acknowledged as one of the 100 best hospitals in the country.

In summary, the business environment and quality of life are superior. The city is located 30 miles south of Chattanooga, 90 miles north of Atlanta, and is within a day’s drive of half the country’s population - a great location for distribution!

The Chamber maintains an available sites/facility listings reference. There are also builders ready to construct new buildings in 90 to 120 days.

The Chamber maintains up-to-date information on available sites and facilities throughout the county through comprehensive listings’ reference.

Utilities

Electric Providers

Dalton has the lowest electrical rate in Georgia.

Dalton Utilities

• Electric Customers: 14,543

Georgia Power

• Electric Customers: 6,841

North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation

• Electric Customers: 96,000

Water/Wastewater

Water:
Dalton Utilities:

• Permitted Water Sources (Total - 64 MGD)
• Customers:  34,153 (39 MGD)
• Permitted Production Capacity (Total - 57 MGD)
• Drought Contingency (Total - 2.54 billion gallons)

Wastewater:
Dalton Utilities:

• Treat 30+ MGD (annual average)
• 32 MGD (monthly average)
   

Natural Gas:
Dalton Utilities:
Dalton Utilities is the largest municipal LDC in the State of Georgia and serves gas customers in Floyd, Gordon and Whitfield Counties.

• 8,695 customers - 87% consumed by local industry

Georgia’s Business Expansion Support Act (BEST) provides job tax credit for a business or headquarters of a business engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, tourism, research and development industries.

Population Trends
Additional Census 2000 Information May be Obtained from the following web site: 

 www.census.gov

The Dalton-Whitfield location yields great convenience for the air traveler. There are two primary airports used by the community: Lovell Field in Chattanooga, and Hartsfield in Atlanta. Each is easily accessible by automobile or shuttle express.

Dalton’s Jolly Field supports both the local private air enthusiast and corporate commuters. The FAA approved facility has a lighted 5,500 foot asphalt runway.