Golf is not Augusta’s only Spring tradition. It is also when the city welcomes business leaders from around the world.
Led by Gov. Brian Kemp (R), the 63rd Annual Red Carpet Tour, organized by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, wrapped up over the weekend with a second visit to Augusta. The Garden City is the only city the annual tour visits twice. The tour also visited Athens on Friday.
The guests arrived in Atlanta on Wednesday, then came to Augusta for Thursday’s opening round of The Masters ® tournament. They were welcomed by elected and economic development leaders from across the region.
Pat Wilson, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, told ABD that the visit puts economic development opportunities in the spotlight.
“Economic development is important in every community in the state,” he said. “Georgia is a great place to do business. This is an example today where you have the governor, you have the (Georgia House) speaker, you have all this elected leadership here. Everybody’s here talking about the same thing. Doesn’t matter what party we’re in; we’re all working to bring new jobs and new opportunities to Georgia.”
Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson called the tour the city’s premier opportunity to attract new businesses, expand existing businesses, and create jobs.
“To show the world the assets that we have in the state of Georgia, as far as site development, as far as workforce development, as far as opportunities to not only enhance their manufacturing or their industries or their corporation but also enhance the lives of Georgians that call this great state home,” he said.
He added that it is also the chance to show Augusta’s “can-do” attitude.
“It shows our resilience. Here we are six months and two weeks past Hurricane Helene, and we’re hosting not only the Masters Tournament, we’re hosting the 63rd annual Red Carpet event, and we couldn’t be more proud to do it.”
Johnson was one of two Mayor Johnsons welcoming the guests. The other was Mayor Cosby Johnson of Brunswick. He is also Vice President for Government Affairs in the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
He said the tour is unique to Georgia, an opportunity to attract businesses from around the world and highlight everything Georgia has to offer.
“But even more, to showcase the Georgia people, and nothing like the Masters showcases who we are, not only from the hospitality, but also from the business that is driven through places like Augusta, through places like Columbus, Macon, Brunswick, and also Atlanta. To be able to showcase that through the Red Carpet Tour, I think has proven to be successful throughout the years,” he explained.
Each guest is paired up with a local host. Hosts this year included Stan Shepherd, Regional Director at AT&T, Dennis Trotter of Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate and local businessman and philanthropist T.R. Reddy.
“It is important both to tell the outside world what Augusta is, what Augusta can offer for entrepreneurs and what are the advantages, in addition to showing them the golf course,” he said.
Also participating was a non-business entity, but one that can provide new companies with a major source of customers and potential workforce.
“Fort Eisenhower provides economic benefit to the area with our retiree population. When you consider both the installation population and retiree population, we are the sixth largest city in the state,” said COL Anthony Kazor, Fort Eisenhower’s Garrison Commander. “We bring a lot of economic benefits to the region. So, being part of an event like this helps them understand that Fort Eisenhower and the military community definitely provide some great opportunities for their investments.”
Wilson said an additional advantage this year is the ability to explain the pro-business legislation just passed by the 2025 legislative session. The bills include SB 68 and SB 69, the cornerstones in Kemp’s push for tort reform. The governor told ABD that the bills are going through the mandatory review process before they can be signed into law.
