Richmond Hill, Bryan County and state officials celebrated the planned South Bryan industrial park Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the future Belfast Commerce Centre.

Local officials, including Develoment Authority of Bryan County Executive Director F.J."Josh" Fenn and Richmond Hill Mayor Harold Fowler, were joined by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who helped mark the occassion as guest speaker.

“With the potential to create more than 7,500 new jobs, Belfast Commerce Centre is an exciting economic development opportunity for the state of Georgia,” Cagle said in a press release prior to the event. “We must continue to work together to encourage business growth, attract capital investment, and create high-wage jobs for Georgians.”

The 1,100-acre industrial park is approved for 10.5 million square feet of industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, office and commercial property. Belfast Commerce Centre has two miles of I-95 frontage, 1.5 miles of frontage on the Riceboro/Southern Railroad Line and direct access – 16 miles – to the Port of Savannah.

The Federal Highway Administration recently approved a proposed interchange at Belfast Keller Road that would provide direct access to I-95.

See the full story in the Dec. 8 edition of the News.