North Fulton Today

The nation's only major U.S. maker of computer memory semiconductors decision to open a Midtown Atlanta location in January comes as efforts continue to attract good-paying jobs to the area, a county executive said in a recent news release.

Idaho-based Micron Technology's research center is expected to come with 500 jobs to the metro Atlanta region, according to a news release issued by Gov. Brian Kemp's office Dec. 6. The "state-of-the-art memory design center" is expected to include offices, a data center and research and development operations.

Development Authority of Fulton County Interim Executive Director Sarah-Elizabeth Langford | linkedin.com/in/sarah-elizabeth-langford-bb370030/

"Our board is focused on creating quality jobs for our Fulton County residents," Development Authority of Fulton County Interim Executive Director Sarah-Elizabeth Langford said in the news release. "Micron’s investment in our community reflects our strong workforce and ability to attract innovation and research industry leaders."

Micron, a Fortune 500 company, operates in 17 countries and provides services that include artificial intelligence 5G applications applicable in client and mobile user setting. The governor's office said that the Atlanta design center "will be a key component" in Micron's global technology and product development infrastructure, including existing centers in multiple countries worldwide and U.S. locations.

Micron's announcement is significant in the still-ongoing pandemic that has bit multiple industries very hard, Kemp said in the news release.

"With the obstacles manufacturers and tech companies across the world are facing, we are glad to see Micron Technology move into the number one state for business where they will have everything they need to succeed and contribute to our thriving economy," Kemp said. "I look forward to seeing the opportunities this creates in Atlanta and to seeing the innovative solutions that will come from this brand new, world-class technology center."

Atlanta was also attractive to the company, Micron Technology and Products Executive Vice President Scott DeBoer said in the governor's news release and the company's announcement.

"Atlanta has become an emerging hub for high-tech, characterized by a rich culture and university ecosystem," DeBoer said. "Establishing a memory design center in Atlanta enables us to partner closely with world-class universities on leading-edge technology development and expand our talent pool with people who can bring different ideas, backgrounds, and experiences to our R&D and innovation efforts."