Greater Hall Chamber joins Georgia’s effort to grow new business connections with South Korea

A business delegation of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce travelled to South Korea the week of June 17-21 on a mission to meet with executives at the global headquarters of new and existing businesses. The delegation of Chamber leaders includes representatives from Carroll Daniel Construction, Rochester|DCCM, Lanier Technical College, Jackson EMC, Georgia Power, Turner, Wood & Smith Insurance and Wilheit Packaging.

On Tuesday, June 18, Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp joined the Greater Hall Chamber Business Delegation in presenting Mr. CH Kim, CEO of CJ Foodville, with a 2024 Masters Flag signed by Gainesville’s own 1973 Masters Champion Tommy Aaron. (L-R) Tate O’Rouke, Jackson EMC; Andrew Carnes, Georgia Power; Brian Daniel, Carroll Daniel Construction; Brett Fowler, Turner Wood & Smith Insurance; Tim Evans, Greater Hall Chamber; CH Kim, CJ Foodville; Governor Brian Kemp; First Lady Marty Kemp; Eric Chini, Rochester/ DCCM; Tim McDonald, Lanier Technical College; Philip Wilheit, Jr, Wilheit Packaging.

CJ Foodville is constructing a new $47 million food manufacturing headquarters in the Gainesville 85 Business Park to produce bakery items for the company’s growing Tous Les Jours branded café-bakeries across North America. The company will complete the new facility in 2025 and the operation will grow to employ 285 new jobs.

The business delegation will meet and thank top South Korean businesses for their investments in the Gainesville-Hall County community and the State of Georgia. The Greater Hall Chamber delegation participated in the Georgia economic development mission led by Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp and the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

South Korea is one of Georgia’s top investor nations. Recent major investments from South Korean-owned firms include Hyundai EV, Kia, SK, LG and locally, CJ Group. Georgia is home to 140 South Korean owned firms the state.

“Gainesville-Hall County offers a competitive advantage for international businesses by connecting them to world-class talent and industry specific training at Lanier Technical College, the University of North Georgia and Brenau University,” said Kit Dunlap, President & CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber. We are constantly building on a network of partnerships and infrastructure that bring global markets closer to Gainesville-Hall County and Georgia.”

During their visit, the delegation will encourage new opportunities for local businesses. The team will also share progress and updates on the Georgia Ports Authority’s new Blue Ridge Connector and Lanier Technical College’s growing breadth of advanced workforce training programs.

Hall County businesses from South Korea employ an increasing number in the workforce and support small businesses. Gainesville-Hall County is home to existing employers Jinsung TEC (Oakwood), Alfrex (South Hall), KOS (Flowery Branch), the new CJ Foodville (Gainesville) bakery under construction and the new 270,000 square-foot CJ Logistics (Hall County) facility adjacent to the new Blue Ridge Connector.