Georgia Offers Massive Incentive Package to EV Manufacturer

In what is said to be the largest incentive package ever offered by the state, Georgia has put together a massive set of tax breaks, abatements, and infrastructure improvements to lure electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian to Atlanta. Among other perks, the package includes a "mega tax credit" of $5,250 per job created and financing for a Quick Start training and recruitment facility. The facility will be built at the East Atlanta Mega Site an hour east of the city, where plans are underway to widen roads in anticipation of increased traffic to the factory.

As reported by Greg Bluestein, the package, which will be formally released in a few weeks, has drawn criticism from some who want to see more transparency in how the state secures factories and other facilities. Georgia State University professor Dan Immergluck "cautioned that Georgia is making a substantial wager, too, on a firm that is still awash in red ink and facing production glitches and fierce competition." The state's economic development commissioner, Pat Wilson, expressed optimism, noting that "the tax credits typically include a clawback mechanism that allows Georgia to seek repayment if Rivian doesn’t substantially meet its promises," which include the creation of 7,500 local jobs.