Editing Albany, Georgia (section)

==Economy==
[[File:Defense-12.jpg|thumb|An [[M88 Recovery Vehicle]] at the [[Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany]] undergoes depot maintenance in 2005.]]

Today, although the city is surrounded by [[pecan]] groves, [[pine tree]]s, farms and plantations, almost none of the population is employed in agriculture. It has become heavily industrialized, and most business is conducted on a multinational scale. The city developed on both sides of the Flint River.

Health care, education and the [[Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany]] are the largest employers. [[Manufacturing]], transportation, and [[retail trade]] are also important foundations of Albany's economy, and the city acts as a hub for commerce in southwest Georgia.

On December 17, 2008, Cooper Tire and Rubber, one of Albany's largest employers, announced plans to close the local manufacturing facility.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2008-12-17 |title=Cooper Tire Closing Albany Plant |url=https://www.walb.com/story/9536984/cooper-tire-closing-albany-plant |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=WALB |language=en}}</ref>  Approximately 1,400 employees at the plant were projected to lose their jobs.

As a result of the [[Great Recession]], unemployment remained higher in Albany than the country average. In 2012 Albany continued to add more new jobs while other portions of the state were trying to stem the tide of unemployment.<ref>{{cite news |first=J. D. |last=Sumner |url=http://www.albanyherald.com/news/2012/jan/21/expert-albany-faring-better-state-recovery/ |title=Expert: Albany faring better than state in recovery |newspaper=Albany Herald |date=January 21, 2012 |access-date=April 14, 2012}}</ref>

Albany has a skilled workforce, makes continual upgrades to its infrastructure, and has improvements in public safety, such as its ISO fire rating of 2.<ref name="CA-2015">{{cite web |title=Cost of Doing Business |url=http://choosealbany.com/business-climate/cost-of-doing-business/ |website=choosealbany.com |access-date=June 27, 2019 |date=2015 |archive-date=June 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627212740/http://choosealbany.com/business-climate/cost-of-doing-business/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It has numerous economic development initiatives, such as an Opportunity Zone, which offers a $3,500 tax credit per job created.<ref name="DCA-20120422">{{cite web |url=http://www.dca.state.ga.us/economic/DevelopmentTools/programs/opportunityzones.asp |title=accessed January 30, 2012 |publisher=Dca.state.ga.us |access-date=April 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422163153/http://www.dca.state.ga.us/economic/DevelopmentTools/programs/opportunityzones.asp |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>