business is conducted on a multinational scale. The city developed on both sides of the Flint River. Health care, education and the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany are the largest employers. Manufacturing, transportation, and retail trade are also important foundations of Albany's economy, and the city acts as a hub for commerce in southwest Georgia. On December 17, 2008, Cooper Tire and Rubber, one of Albany's largest employers, announced plans to close the local manufacturing facility. Approximately 1,400 employees at the plant were projected to lose their jobs. Business environment As a result of the Great Recession, unemployment remained higher in Albany than the country average. But in 2012 Albany continued to add more new jobs while other portions of the state were trying to stem the tide of joblessness. Albany has a skilled workforce, makes continual upgrades to its infrastructure, and has improvements in public safety, such as its ISO fire rating of 2. It has numerous economic development initiatives, such as an Opportunity Zone, which offers a $3,500 tax credit per job created. Top non-government employers in Dougherty County AT&T Coats and Clark, Inc. Miller Brewing Company Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Procter & Gamble Teleperformance USA United Parcel Service Companies Georgia Pacific Corp. Kendrick Brothers Mars, Incorporated Mediacom Procter & Gamble Sherwood Pictures Thrush Aircraft Arts and culture Museums and the arts Albany Area Arts Council The Albany Chorale Albany Civic Center Albany Civil Rights Institute The Albany Concert Association Albany Municipal Auditorium Albany Museum of Art The Albany Symphony Orchestra Art Park on Pine Ballet Theatre South Flint RiverQuarium The Parks at Chehaw has one of two accredited zoos in the state. RiverQuarium Imagination Theater Theatre Albany Thronateeska Heritage Center Weatherbee Planetarium Registered historic places Albany District Pecan Growers' Exchange Albany Housefurnishing Company Albany Municipal Auditorium Albany Railroad Depot Historic District Bridge House Carnegie Library of Albany Davis-Exchange Bank Building John A. Davis House Mount Zion Baptist Church New Albany Hotel Old St. Teresa's Catholic Church Rosenberg Brothers Department Store St. Nicholas Hotel Samuel Farkas House Tift Park U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Union Station Depot W. E. Smith House Sports Albany was home to the Albany Polecats, who were a low-A class team that played in the South Atlantic League between 1992 and 1995. Albany was also home to the South Georgia Peanuts, who played in the South Coast League. They won the South Coast League