Across the globe, Dalton is known as the carpet capitol of the world.
The multi billion dollar industry has called Whitfield county home for decades.
But now, many of these companies make their own raw materials.
Brian Anderson is the President and CEO of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce.
"So, whether it be extruding fiber that they've recycled out of old yarn, to the tufting and the backing, and the finishing, that's all now done in some places in the same plant. So, through all of that, they've become true manufacturers."
And as the carpet industry has expanded, so have other businesses like chemical companies.
David Aft serves as the President of the Community Foundation of Northwest Georgia.
"We have lubricants that are non petroleum based that keep machinery running all over the world. We've got companies that develop epoxy's that coat most of the wind turbines that are generating power all over the world. Those are things that people don't necessarily associate with carpet."
Dalton Utilities does more than just provide electricity, natural gas and water.
With Georgia Power, the company runs a solar plant.
Don Cope says the business also has solar panels on its roof, and has had a fiber optics system since 2003.
"We provide high speed band-with. We provide telephone, internet, television service, all over 100 percent fiber optics through to the home."
Local leaders are also working with other counties for a regional approach to economic development.
With the carpet industry, and companies like Volkswagen and Alstom close by, Brian Anderson says there's a huge effort to get young people to stay in the area.
"We decided that Dalton State's got a better future in providing our baccalaureate or 4 year degrees. We had Georgia Northwestern put a campus here to now teach the technical programs. Within that technical program, we wanted to immediately put into the degree programs that there's jobs open right now."
