Chamber Addresses Airport Concerns

An Open Letter to the Residents of Paulding County

The Paulding County Chamber of Commerce and its Board of Directors, consisting of 30 business leaders, is tasked with seeking and developing businesses and industries that will sustain and grow the economic viability of the county. At the same time, we are also responsible for ensuring that Paulding maintains the quality of life its residents have come to love.

It is because of this commitment to our community that this organization 
fully supports and stands behind the development of Silver Comet Field at Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport in its effort to attract new business from commercial flights and other aerospace industries.

This project offers the balance we seek between economic development and quality of life.

Here are some of the reasons your Chamber supports Silver Comet Field.

Economic Development

 • New jobs: Current projections estimate that over the next several years 
the airport development will create 2,000 to 3,000 new jobs by attracting a 
variety of aerospace businesses near the airport.
• Growing economy: These new businesses are estimated to generate $350 million annually for the local economy.
• Increasing property values: When a community like Paulding, already one 
of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, develops sustainable 
economic industries with high-paying jobs, like aerospace, the need for homes will increase and so will property values.
• Proven benefit: Two international companies have chosen Paulding County to open and expand U.S. locations specifically because of the airport and the ability to conveniently fly executives and clients close to their facilities. Interroll, a Swiss-based company, is opening its first U.S. headquarters in the new Paulding Commerce Park bringing 100 new jobs and plans to double that in the next few years. Ronchi, an Italian-based company, also sighted the airport as a primary reason they chose Paulding County to set up operations with 35 new jobs and plans for growth.
• Aerospace Alliance: This Chamber has worked with seven aerospace 
companies already in Paulding to create the Aerospace Alliance. These 
companies have teamed together to go after – and win – large contracts 
that individually they would not have been able to secure. The Alliance is 
also taking an active role to educate Paulding’s children on careers in the 
aerospace industry.


Improved Quality of Life
• Live, Work and Play: Paulding County has always strived to be a location 
where its residents could “live, work and play.” Currently that is not the case. 
Nearly 75 percent of Paulding residents leave the county each day for work. 
With the creation of these new jobs, more residents will be able to work 
closer to home.
• Less traffic: A constant concern with residents is the congestion of the main 
arteries in and out of the county during rush hours. With people working 
close to home, the commute time will be reduced. Existing traffic patterns 
would change greatly with more residents employed in Paulding and fewer 
commuting out of the county.
• Access to Flights: For those residents who utilize commercial air services 
for work or pleasure, having access to these flights in Paulding will greatly 
reduce the stress and issues of traveling to/from Atlanta. Imagine parking, 
taking your family – including young children – through check-in and security 
and arriving at your gate in 15 minutes. This is impossible at Hartsfield-Jackson, currently the world’s busiest airport.


There have been a lot of myths and misinformation surrounding the events leading up to this point in the development of Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport. While it is not the role of this Chamber to dispel myths and rumors, we do believe that this agreement was made following all legal requirements, in complete openness of the public and in the best interest for this county.

Residents should also keep in mind that the development of Silver Comet Field is not a new concept. In 2007 Paulding County received the “Excellence in Economic Development” Innovation Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, beating out New York City and Birmingham, AL.
This award was achieved because of the overall plan for jobs and sustainable growth of the land surrounding Silver Comet Field. We applaud the Airport Authority and other community leaders who have worked tirelessly to ensure that Paulding is – and remains – a strong and vibrant community committed to economic growth and development.