A corporation that generated more than $2 billion in revenue last year is considering Sandy Springs for a new technology innovation center.
The move by Minnesota-based Deluxe Corporation would create more than 700 new jobs with an average salary of $91,500 in the north Fulton city, officials said.
At a Tuesday meeting, Sandy Springs City Council members approved a standard incentive application submitted by Deluxe. If the city is selected, Sandy Springs has agreed to waive as much as $255,000 in permit and business license fees depending on the length of the company’s office lease.
Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson did not disclose what incentives the state and Fulton County have offered to the corporation.
“We are working closely with Governor Kemp and the company and are hopeful that we will be able to announce something soon,” Wilson said. “We appreciate the great partnership the Sandy Springs team has shown throughout the project.”
Deluxe is well known for making paper checks — the company says founder W.R. Hotchkiss invented the checkbook more than a century ago — but it also helps other businesses with financial services including solutions to operating more effectively in a digital world.
Deluxe has approximately 200 employees in Georgia. A company statement said they have a couple of locations in Atlanta which focus on administrative, product development, engineering and payments and remittance. The company also has a warehouse in Americus and a warehouse and custom printing operation in Lithia Springs.
In Sandy Springs, the company would spend $10 million on building construction and $2 million on furniture and fixtures, Economic Development Director Andrea Worthy said Tuesday. Employees would move into the 172,000 square foot office later this year or early 2021, she said.
In apparent anticipation of post-pandemic times, a statement on Deluxe provided by Sandy Springs said the company would benefit the local economy by hosting clients weekly who would stay in local hotels and patronize area restaurants.
The potential relocation of the technology innovation center to Sandy Springs has been somewhat secret. It was referred to as Project Painted Lady until Tuesday when Deluxe approved the release of the company name.
Worthy would not disclose what city the technology services department is moving from or what location is being considered in Sandy Springs.
“They need to make that decision (on relocation) with stakeholders first without having it prematurely disclosed,” Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul said.
Worthy said Deluxe plans to make a final decision on relocation in 30-60 days.
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