Google plans to invest $25M+ in Georgia in 2021, including its new Atlanta office currently under construction in Midtown where the company will occupy 19 floors at 1105 West Peachtree. Nationally, Google plans to invest more than $7 billion in offices and data centers and create at least 10,000 new full-time Google jobs across the United States this year.  

“I believe a lasting economic recovery will come from local communities, and the people and small businesses that give them life,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google and Alphabet. “Google wants to be a part of that recovery. That’s why we plan to invest over $7 billion in offices and data centers across the U.S. and create at least 10,000 new full-time Google jobs in the U.S. this year.”

Google will initially occupy five floors (roughly 150,000 square feet) at 1105 West Peachtree starting next year, and move into the remaining space over the next several years. As part of the company’s racial equity commitments, Google has also committed to investing in the long-term growth of U.S. locations that contribute to a high quality of life for Black+ employees, including Atlanta, Washington D.C., Chicago, and New York. Progress is already being made: 2020 was the company’s largest year ever for hiring Black and Latinx Googlers in the U.S., both in tech and non-tech roles. 

“Google’s presence in Georgia is a testament to the strength of our people and our economy,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “As the No. 1 State for Business, we are at the center of innovation, development, and entrepreneurship, thanks in part to the work being done and supported by Google. We appreciate their continued investment, and I know this partnership will continue to strengthen, educate, and support opportunities for hardworking Georgians for generations to come.”

Google also released its 2020 Economic Impact Report today, sharing how more than 67,000 Georgia businesses, publishers and nonprofits used Google products last year to increase their online presence and connect with the people and communities they serve -- generating $9.88B in economic activity in 2020, a 13 percent increase from 2019.  

Goodr in Atlanta was highlighted in Google’s nationwide Economic Impact Report in a case study that details how they used digital tools to increase their online presence and reach customers. Goodr is a digitally-driven food management company that takes excess food from restaurants and businesses and delivers it to nonprofits or directly to those in need. Founder and CEO Jasmine Crowe uses Google Analytics to track surplus food from pickup to donation. Her partners access the Goodr app on Google Play. And with Google Maps, Goodr optimizes delivery routes from restaurants and grocery stores to food banks. After three years of great success in Atlanta, the company plans to expand into L.A., Chicago, and Miami this year. 

“Google products are easy to use,” said Crowe. “It’s so helpful to just look at a simple application like Google Analytics and say, ‘Okay, this is where the traffic is coming from.’”

Goodr is one of many American businesses that used the internet to adapt to new challenges last year. A poll conducted by the Connected Commerce Council in February 2021 found that over 83 percent of  Georgia small businesses increased their use of digital tools during the COVID-19 crisis, and 93% of the state’s small businesses will continue to use digital tools at the same or a higher rate than during COVID-19. Learn more here.