Chart Industries expanding operations
By Carolyn Mathews
carolynmathews@ledgernews.com

Cherokee economic development officials say the county is becoming an attractive magnet for high-tech, white-collar industry.

Chart Industries, a national manufacturer of cryogenic equipment, has expanded its operation near Ball Ground by moving its local administrative office to the Development Authority of Cherokee County’s I-575 Airport/Industrial Park. “We’ve got 25 people moving up from Marietta, and as we grow there will be more positions,” said company spokesman Jim Fischman. “We needed to get our customer service, technical service, and engineering lab closer to the plant.”

In all, Chart employees 262 people.

Chart (Right), has signed a 12-year lease, with an option for 20 years, to occupy 20,800 square feet of space in Stag Industries’ newly built building in the park. The stainless steel cylinder manufacturing firm chose the location due to its access to the interstate and close proximity to its existing facility
on Airport Drive off of Exit 24 of I-575, said Misti Martin, executive director of The Development Authority of Cherokee County.

“Cherokee is a good place for corporate operations to locate,” she said. “We have the housing to support it, and more retail options everyday. We are
really creating an atmosphere for white collar development.”

Martin said the shell condition of the speculative building allowed Chart to customize its own space in order to meet its specifications and accommodate its growth.

Stag Enterprises, a distributor of industrial tape, safety supplies, janitorial supplies and paper products, owns the building and is an existing industry with 21 employees headquartered in the adjacent Wilbanks Industrial Park.

“We are growing,” said Stag owner Elizabeth Gats. “We already have one building and we needed warehouse space, so we decided to build a 46,800 square foot building and take what we needed; and then lease the other unit.”

Gats said since Chart Industries is located next to them already, the space in the newly-constructed building is convenient for them.

“We’re going to create a walkway between the Chart and Stag building and the new building,” she said.

“We are very happy to enter into the long-term lease with a quality company such as Chart Industries and look forward to a lengthy relationship with them,” Gats said, adding that she hopes the new multi-tenant building can accommodate Chart’s future growth as well.

Fischman said his firm moved its distribution and service and biomedical divisions to Georgia from Minnesota five years ago, but wasn’t able to secure enough space in the Cherokee County area at that time.

Development Authority Chairman Marshall Day said, “We tried to locate this division of Chart Industries almost five years ago, but didn’t have the available space for them.  We are so proud that they have chosen Cherokee County.”

Martin said five years ago Day and Development Authority member Steve Holcomb met with Chart, and at that time they couldn’t see locating in Cherokee, but now feel it’s ideal.

“It makes a statement for community,” Martin said. “It says, yes, we’re ready for high-end corporate development.”

She said initiatives such as the current recreation bond on the ballot that would provide more parks to Cherokee is attractive to firms wanting to locate their administrative offices here, along with the quality of life and the lessened commuting time.

Bilijack Bell of Wilson, Hull & Neal Real Estate represented Stag Enterprise and was instrumental in putting the deal together.

“As an industrial real estate specialist focusing in the Northwest market over the last five years, I have seen a significant amount of companies migrating to Cherokee County in order to take advantage of the pro-business atmosphere, good schools, high quality of living and bridge the gap between where they work and where they live,” Bell said.

Cherokee County Commission Chairman Buzz Ahrens said the board is “delighted” with Chart’s decision to expand its Cherokee operations

“The Development Authority has been working closely with Chart for some time now to identify the best location,” Ahrens said.  “This is a great example of business growth and expansion needs being met locally. We very much appreciate Chart Industries' commitment to Cherokee County and wish them continued success."

Whether it’s to pick blueberries, venture through a corn maze or take a hayride, thousands of people are visiting local agritourism businesses each year.

(Left: Cagle’s Dairy Maize has been attracting visitors to Cherokee County during the fall for eight years.
Co-owner Mark Cagle subsidizes the cost of running the maize by charging companies to have the corporate logos cut into the corn field.) Sarah E. Alexander | Ledger-News

Several businesses in Cherokee County offer residents and visitors ways to enjoy and learn about agriculture or nature, which has helped to generate money in the county.

Paul Pugliese, county extension agent, said he estimates that agritourism generated about $1.5 million in the county last year. He said according to the 2007 Georgia Farm Gate Report, it is estimated that agritourism and nature-based tourism generated $80.2 million in the state, which is an increase from about $62.5 million in 2004.

“Cherokee County is in a unique position between metro Atlanta and rural areas to the north of our county,” Pugliese said. “Cherokee provides convenient access to agritourism businesses in the metro area and has the potential to increase growth in this industry. This could bring a lot of people and dollars to our local economy if embraced by local leaders.” 

Cagle’s Dairy in Canton and Berry Patch Farms in Woodstock are among the local farms in the county that attract many visitors each year.

Cagle’s Dairy’s Maize, which runs through Nov. 16, attracts around 40,000 visitors every year, said co-owner Mark Cagle.

Cagle said the Maize first began in 2000 after they had seen a similar maze in Tennessee and thought it would be a good idea.

“A lot of people get to come out and enjoy a day,” Cagle said. “This is a location the whole family can enjoy.”

The Maize is not the only attraction at Cagle’s Dairy. Cagle said dairy tours attract around 65,000 visitors each year.

“We’re a real working dairy farm and children can see … how milk is produced and the whole concept of getting milk from a cow to putting it on your cereal,” he said. “That’s one of the things that we’ve always strived to do is to teach not only children, but adults about what agriculture is and what it means to put food on the table.”

Cagle said he really enjoys running the farm.

“It has it challenges, but it’s very enjoyable to get to meet and greet the people that don’t have a lot of interaction with agriculture,” he said.

Debbie Durden, who owns Berry Patch Farms with her husband Bill, said her husband got the idea for the farm when he was a horticulture student in college.

She said they began having the blueberries for visitors to pick in 1984, and this year marks the 20th year of having available pumpkins and Christmas trees.

“It’s fun because you become a part of people’s memories and traditions,” she said of running the farm. “That is what makes it all worth it.”

Durden said each year they entertain thousands of guests, and children who visited the farm when they were younger are now grown up and bringing their families.

“We’ve met a lot of wonderful people and have gotten to know them over the years,” she said.

Pugliese said the key to a successful agritourism business is finding a unique niche. He said some examples include a farm or ranch operated by a family for generations with unique heritage components; a unique location with attractive amenities; or unique recreational activities available such as corn mazes, hayrides, petting zoos, pick your own farms, fishing ponds and theme gardens.

“These businesses benefit communities by increasing agricultural and environmental awareness. This awareness helps people to understand the importance of agriculture and the benefits it provides toward preserving green space and stewardship of the environment,” he said.

“Agritourism businesses can also provide a steadier source of income for farmers and help diversify their farm business,” Pugliese said. “This gives farmers something to fall back on during tough times such as drought. Ultimately, this can help farmers stay in business, which helps preserve our local green space and rural heritage.”

Pugliese said he thinks probably the biggest difficulty with the industry is meeting the increasing demand for this particular type of tourism in north Georgia.

Pugliese suggests if people are interested in beginning an agritourism business, they should begin small and gradually expand as success allows them to. Also, the ability to work well with the public is a must, he said.

“Agritourism activities may result in extra responsibilities, require additional labor, interfere with ongoing farm activities, lead to a deterioration in privacy and increase the farm’s exposure to risk and liability,” he said.

Agritourism also has the potential to encourage children to become interested in the agriculture industry.

“There is a growing concern that today’s indoor, sedentary lifestyles lead to a ‘nature deficit disorder’ in youth,” Pugliese said. “Research has shown an increase in behavior disorders associated with nature-deprived children. 

“A lot of farmers believe that exposing children to agriculture is just as important as raising crops – some might even say that children are an essential commodity in that respect,” Pugliese added.