CHEP USA, an industry leader in pallet and container pooling solutions and a part of Brambles Limited, plans to relocate its headquarters to Atlanta. The company is expected to bring 173 jobs to the new facility over the next five years.

"Georgia has many natural benefits and other strategic resources that make our state an attractive location for companies in the logistics industry," Gov. Nathan Deal said in a press release. "CHEP and other logistics service providers understand that Georgia has significant capabilities to support this industry, so we are indeed glad to welcome this new headquarters operation to Georgia."

CHEP manages pallet and container supply chain logistics for its customers in the consumer goods, produce, meat, home improvement, beverage, raw materials, petro-chemical and automotive industries. The company is a recognized leader in pallet and container pooling services for well-known brands. CHEP partners with a myriad of companies to develop pallet- and container-management solutions that ensure reduced product damage, offer enhanced delivery efficiencies, eliminate waste and reduce supply chain costs, adding exceptional value for its customers.

"We are delighted to join the Atlanta business community. Georgia offers CHEP excellent proximity to many of our key customers, provides advantages in recruiting and attracting talent into our organization and offers an outstanding quality of life for our employees who will relocate," said Kim Rumph, president of CHEP USA. "We look forward to becoming actively involved in the community."

The CHEP USA headquarters operations will locate in office space in Dunwoody. In addition, this location will be the base for other leaders from the Americas Region and global functions of the pallets business segment, and will serve as a Brambles regional office with members of the Brambles IT leadership team. CHEP expects the facility to be operational by the fall of 2012 and is actively recruiting for open positions in the Atlanta area.

"Dunwoody is excited that a company of CHEP's reputation and international reach selected our city as its new U.S. Headquarters," said Dunwoody Mayor Michael G. Davis. "The company's selection of Dunwoody highlights the city's strategic attributes in terms of workforce recruitment, outstanding amenities and convenience to almost anywhere in metro Atlanta."

The Georgia Department of Economic Development collaborated with the city of Dunwoody and the metro Atlanta chamber to secure this business opportunity for Georgia. Lauren Salas, senior project manager of the department, oversaw this project on behalf of the state.

"CHEP's decision to relocate its USA headquarters to Atlanta not only highlights our position as a global headquarters destination, but also as a global logistics hub and an advanced manufacturing center," Matthew Patterson of the metro Atlanta chamber said in the release. "Our region is rich with manufacturers that operate in several of the key industries that CHEP serves, such as packaging, beverage, automotive and home improvement products."

"In addition to the metro Atlanta region's presence as a global logistics hub, this area is also ripe with talent and other significant resources for headquarters operations," said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "Georgia works aggressively to remain among the best places to do business, so CHEP's decision to locate its headquarters here is a great result of those ongoing efforts."