ATLANTA-- 2020 Georgia, a broad coalition of more than 80 organizations is urging the Georgia Competitiveness Initiative not to focus solely on business tax cuts.



At the request of Governor Nathan Deal, the Georgia Competitiveness Initiative is tasked with developing a long-term strategy for economic development in Georgia.

2020 Georgia calls for a broad approach to that mission that recognizes the many factors that go into successful economic development.



"We urge the Georgia Competitiveness Initiative to think more broadly than proposing tax cuts for businesses as the key to making Georgia competitive." the coalition wrote in a letter to Commissioner Chris Cummiskey and Chris Clark, co-chairs of the Initiative. "Tax cuts for businesses would deplete the resources needed to invest in education, transportation, public safety and the other tried-and-true building blocks of job creation and a strong economy."



The letter noted the success of such state-level investments as Georgia's air transportation and seaport, universal pre-kindergarten education, PeachCare for Kids, and the state's technical colleges, universities and QuickStart. These are concrete examples of how innovative investments can lead to job growth and economic prosperity.



"A skilled workforce, state-of-the-art transportation network, adequate water resources, and a responsive, engaged public sector are vital to businesses and to a thriving Georgia. We make a mistake if we think that competitiveness is only a business concern. Businesses and the people who work for them and buy from them all share in the desire for Georgia to be competitive."



"For the families of Georgia, being able to compete means college tuition that's affordable, access to health care, and public schools where teachers aren't furloughed. It means access to services for a child with developmental disabilities instead of being on a waiting list."



2020 Georgia stresses the importance of raising sufficient revenue to support vital economic development investments. Investing in areas such as education and infrastructure will go a long way in securing Georgia's future and its ability to remain competitive in a global market. For more information on 2020 Georgia, visit