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GPA Ports draw $5B investment, 12K jobs to Georgia

[ September 23, 2019   //   ]

The Georgia Ports Authority plans to double capacity at Garden City Terminal to 11 million twenty-foot equivalent container units per year. In Fiscal Year 2019, port-related industries announced $5 billion in new investment and 12,000 new jobs coming to Georgia.

At a recent State of the Port conference, GPA authorities and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp revealed that port-related announcements of expansions and new business accounted for nearly $5 billion in investment and 12,000 jobs across the state of Georgia in Fiscal Year 2019, a year in which the Port of Savannah moved a record 4.5 million TEUs.

“The manufacturing and logistics sectors are key components of our economy, and I am excited for the opportunities created for hardworking Georgians,” said Gov. Kemp. “Georgia provides the workforce, infrastructure and collaborative business environment that industry leaders need to thrive, and we look forward to supporting their long-term success in the Peach State.”

In the fiscal year that ended in June, GPA achieved record volumes in containers, total tonnage and cargo moved by rail. At 4.5 million TEUs, the Port of Savannah grew its containerized trade by 7.3%, or 305,000 TEUs. Total tonnage reached 37.5 million, up 1.5 million tons or 4.2%. The port handled 507,000 intermodal boxes, up 73,000, or 17% compared to the previous year.

“The market has clearly chosen the Port of Savannah as the Southeastern hub for containerized trade,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. “To fulfill the growing responsibility placed on our deepwater terminals, we have developed a plan to double our capacity.”

“What has set Savannah above the competition is our ability to scale up in advance of market needs, so that we are ready when our customers are ready to grow,” said GPA Board Chairman Will McKnight. “Our terminal infrastructure plan adheres to our investment philosophy of always keeping infrastructure ahead of current demand. This will ensure the GPA is prepared to handle the next wave of cargo expansion.”

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