Development Authority part of group recognized at state Capitol

Members of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, including Development Authority of Bryan County CEO Anna Chafin, recently present Gov. Nathan Deal with a ceremonial check for $5.2 million, representing the amount of investment generated by the 412 economic development projects in Georgia in the last year. - photo by Provided

GEDA with Governor Deal — Members of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, including Development Authority of Bryan County CEO Anna Chafin, recently present Gov. Nathan Deal with a ceremonial check for $5.2 million, representing the amount of investment generated by the 412 economic development projects in Georgia in the last year. - photo by Provided

Bryan County News

Updated: Mar 30, 2017, 11:00 AM

Published: Mar 29, 2017, 1:23 AM

Anna Chafin, CEO of the Development Authority of Bryan County (DABC) and current chair of the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA), was part of a group recognized recently at the state Capitol.

The group of leaders of the GEDA presented Gov. Nathan Deal with a ceremonial check for $5,232,503,264, which represents the amount of investment that has been generated by the 412 economic development projects that located in the state of Georgia last year. In addition, those 412 projects also translated into 34,703 jobs created across the state.

“When you look at the positive impact economic development has around the state, it really is incredible,” said Chafin, “I’m proud of the part that Bryan County has played in the statewide impact of economic development through projects like the consolidation of Daniel Defense’s Bryan County and South Carolina operations into a single new facility in Interstate Centre, which will create $29.5 million in investment and 75 new jobs for our community.”

Chafin and the group from the GEDA were also invited to be recognized by Representative Ron Stephens, who chairs the House Economic Development Committee, in the House Gallery and Senator Mike Dugan, who chairs the Senate Economic Development Committee, in the Senate Gallery.

In addition to being recognized with the other leaders of the GEDA, Chafin participated in a legislative leadership dinner with the GEDA executive committee and leadership from the House and Senate, and she also attended a legislative drop-in breakfast the following morning at the capitol.

“These events serve as a way to stay in touch with our elected officials during the legislative session,” said Chafin, “We want to make sure that economic development is always at the forefront of their minds.”

Record April boosts Savannah's container trade at port

The Port of Savannah moved 356,700 20-foot equivalent container units in April, an increase of 7.1 percent. - photo by Provided

GardenCityTerminal — The Port of Savannah moved 356,700 20-foot equivalent container units in April, an increase of 7.1 percent. - photo by Provided

Bryan County News

Updated: May 23, 2018, 1:59 AM

Published: May 23, 2018, 2:00 AM

The Georgia Ports Authority's busiest April ever pushed its fiscal year-to-date totals to more than 3.4 million 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs), an increase of 8.8 percent, or 280,000 TEUs, compared to the first 10 months of fiscal 2017.

"We're on track to move more than 300,000 TEUs in every month of the fiscal year, which will be a first for the authority," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "We're also anticipating this to be the first fiscal year for the Port of Savannah to handle more than 4 million TEUs."

April volumes reached 356,700 20-foot equivalent container units, up 7.1 percent or 23,700 units. As the fastest growing containerport in the nation, the Port of Savannah has achieved a compound annual growth rate of more than 5 percent a year over the past decade.

"As reported in the recent economic impact study by UGA's Terry College of Business, trade through Georgia's deepwater ports translates into jobs, higher incomes and greater productivity," said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. "In every region of Georgia, employers rely on the ports of Savannah and Brunswick to help them become more competitive on the global stage."

To strengthen the Port of Savannah's ability to support the state's future economic growth, the GPA Board approved $66 million in terminal upgrades, including $24 million for the purchase of 10 additional rubber-tired gantry cranes.

"The authority is committed to building additional capacity ahead of demand to ensure the Port of Savannah remains a trusted link in the supply chain serving Georgia and the Southeast," Lynch said.

The crane purchase will bring the fleet at Garden City Terminal to 156 RTGs. The new cranes will support three new container rows, which the board approved in March. The additional container rows will increase annual capacity at the Port of Savannah by 150,000 TEUs.

The RTGs will work over stacks that are five containers high and six deep, with a truck lane running alongside the stacks. Capable of running on electricity, the cranes will have a lift capacity of 50 metric tons.

The cranes will arrive in two batches of five in the first and second quarters of calendar year 2019.

Also at Monday's meeting, the GPA Board elected its officers, with Jimmy Allgood as chairman, Will McKnight taking the position of vice chairman and Joel Wooten elected as the next secretary/treasurer.

For more information, visit gaports.com, or contact GPA Senior Director of Corporate Communications Robert Morris at (912) 964-3855 or rmorris@gaports.com.

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