CRH's Atlanta Expansion: Is Georgia Selling Out Workers for Corporate Gains?

When a global giant like CRH announces a new Finance & Accounting Shared Services Center in metro Atlanta, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement. Over 300 jobs, $1.7 million in investment, and a foothold in Fulton County sound like a win for Georgia. Local leaders, from Roswell’s mayor to Fulton County’s commissioners, are practically beaming, touting the economic boost and the allure of a ‘business-friendly’ state. But beneath the polished press releases lies a more complicated story, one that demands a closer look at what these corporate deals truly mean for Georgia’s workers, communities, and environment.

The narrative is familiar: a big company arrives, promising jobs and prosperity, and state officials roll out the red carpet. CRH, a building materials behemoth with operations in 28 countries, is the latest to benefit from Georgia’s generous incentives. The state’s leaders celebrate the deal as proof of their economic prowess, but the applause drowns out critical questions. Who really pays the price for these jobs? And are they the kind of jobs that will build a sustainable future for Georgians?

For those who care about equitable growth, the CRH deal is a flashing warning sign. The building materials industry, while essential, carries a heavy environmental toll, contributing to 37% of global carbon emissions. Cement alone, a cornerstone of CRH’s business, accounts for 7% of CO2 emissions worldwide. Yet, the conversation around this deal focuses almost exclusively on job numbers, ignoring the broader implications for Georgia’s air, water, and marginalized communities. It’s time to ask whether these corporate handouts are worth the cost.

Georgia’s economic strategy hinges on luring companies with lavish tax breaks and incentives. Southern states like Georgia lead the nation in these giveaways, offering job creation credits, property tax abatements, and workforce training programs. While these perks undoubtedly swayed CRH to choose Roswell, they come at a steep price. Every dollar funneled into corporate coffers is a dollar diverted from schools, healthcare, and infrastructure, vital services that Georgia’s working families rely on.

The evidence is clear: poorly targeted incentives often fail to deliver the promised economic windfall. Studies show that many subsidized projects would have happened anyway, with companies pocketing benefits without creating lasting value. In Georgia, where public schools are chronically underfunded and healthcare access remains a struggle for many, these trade-offs hit hard. Advocates for fair taxation argue that the state’s obsession with attracting big business leaves ordinary Georgians footing the bill, forced to endure strained public services while corporations reap the rewards.

CRH’s new center may create 300 jobs, but the quality and accessibility of those jobs matter just as much as the quantity. Finance and accounting roles often require specialized skills, potentially excluding many local workers who lack advanced training. Meanwhile, the state’s investment in workforce development, while touted as a selling point, often prioritizes corporate needs over broader community uplift. For every job created, there’s a risk that the benefits skew toward the already advantaged, leaving behind the very communities that need opportunity most.

CRH’s core business, building materials, places it at the heart of a global push for sustainability. The industry’s environmental footprint is staggering, with cement production alone rivaling the emissions of entire nations. While some companies, like France’s Saint-Gobain, have made strides, reporting 73% of sales from sustainable products in 2023, CRH’s own commitments remain less transparent. Only 32% of building materials firms disclose the proportion of revenue from sustainable solutions, a gap that raises red flags for those tracking environmental accountability.

In Georgia, where communities near industrial sites often bear the brunt of pollution, the arrival of a company like CRH demands scrutiny. The environmental justice movement, rooted in decades of activism, has long highlighted how marginalized groups, often low-income or minority communities, suffer disproportionately from industrial activity. These ‘fenceline’ communities face higher rates of respiratory illness and contaminated water, yet their voices are rarely centered in economic development debates. For advocates of equitable progress, CRH’s expansion must come with ironclad commitments to reduce emissions and protect vulnerable populations.

Opponents of stricter regulations might argue that companies like CRH are already doing enough, pointing to their ESG rankings or incremental improvements. But token gestures fall short when the planet is choking on carbon and communities are left to clean up the mess. The building materials sector has the potential to lead, with innovations like energy-efficient insulation or recycled aggregates, but only if companies are held to account. Georgia’s leaders should demand more from CRH, not just celebrate their arrival.

The rise of shared services centers, like CRH’s new facility, reflects broader shifts in how companies operate. The global market for these centers is booming, valued at $51 billion in 2023 and growing fast. They centralize functions like finance and accounting, streamlining operations and, in theory, creating jobs. But the reality is more nuanced. As automation and AI reshape these roles, the long-term job growth may tilt toward high-skill positions, leaving lower-skill workers with fewer opportunities.

The shift to remote and hybrid work, accelerated by the pandemic, adds another layer of complexity. Companies now prioritize locations with access to talent and digital infrastructure, but the benefits don’t always trickle down. In metro Atlanta, where CRH’s center will be based, the ‘Donut Effect’ has seen economic activity spread to suburbs, leaving urban cores struggling. For workers in Roswell or Fulton County, the promise of new jobs is tempered by questions of accessibility, wages, and job security in an increasingly automated world.

Advocates for workers’ rights see a missed opportunity in deals like this. Instead of prioritizing corporate profits, Georgia could leverage these investments to fund robust training programs, ensuring that local residents, not just outsiders with fancy degrees, can compete for these roles. The state’s leaders could also push for living wages and union protections, creating a model for economic development that puts people first. Instead, the focus remains on job counts, a metric that glosses over the deeper challenges facing Georgia’s workforce.

The CRH deal is not inherently bad, but it’s a stark reminder of what’s at stake when economic development prioritizes corporate interests over community needs. Georgia has the chance to redefine what it means to be ‘business-friendly’ by balancing job creation with environmental stewardship and social equity. This starts with demanding transparency from companies like CRH, ensuring they commit to sustainable practices and fair labor standards.

For those who believe in a future where prosperity lifts everyone, the path forward is clear. Georgia’s leaders must rethink their reliance on corporate handouts, redirecting resources to education, healthcare, and green infrastructure. By investing in workers and communities, not just boardrooms, the state can build an economy that’s resilient, equitable, and ready for the challenges of a warming world. CRH’s arrival could be a turning point, but only if Georgians demand better.