Savannah Chamber

32 In Bryan County, 37 establishments employed 250 workers in the logistics sector in 2021. The number of jobs has been relatively stable for the past three years but is poised to experience significant and substantial growth in the upcoming years. Medline industries, a manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies and equipment, completed a 1.2 million square foot distribution center in Belfast Commerce Park. The project represents an investment of nearly $70 million and will create 150 jobs with capacity for more than 600 workers as the company grows. In north Bryan County, CRG, a developer based out of St. Louis, Mo., completed a 700,000 square foot facility, which is now fully leased to a tenant as a distribution center. Another notable accomplishment was the acquisition by the Savannah Harbor I-16 Corridor Joint Development Authority of the 2,300 acre Bryan County Mega Site, which is being marketed for a single large manufacturing project. This is the state of Georgia's single largest site acquisition project in history. Across I-16 from the JDA mega site, St. Joseph's/Candler purchased a site in the Interstate Centre industrial park where it plans to build a 40,000 square foot medical facility that will serve the industries in and around the park and residents in the surrounding areas. The growth wave in Bryan County expected to continue strongly in 2022. VanTrust, a developer based in Kansas City, Mo., is nearing completion of an almost 1.2 million-square-foot speculative building in North Bryan County and CRG has begun construction on both a 463,250 square-foot speculative building and a 708,990 square-foot speculative building, both of which are also in North Bryan County. In Liberty County, as of mid-2021, 46 logistics businesses employed 1,526 workers, a 35% increase in one year from 1,132 workers. This figure does not entirely include the remarkable growth in employment at the Target distribution center by 2021 year-end. This facility itself doubled employment, adding about 700 workers. Savafieh completed a 1.4 million square foot distribution facility of which Hooker Furniture occupied 800,000 square feet in Tradeport East Business Center. The $23.5 million project has already created over 50 workers and anticipate additional hiring in the future. Bulloch County had 1,500 workers at 66 logistics businesses in 2021. Employment in the sector increased 8% from 1,385 workers in 2020. Industrial recruitment activity has increased substantially during 2021. The Southern Gateway Commerce Park at Interstate 16 is the site of a new TravelCenters of America fuel station/truck shop. As the Port of Savannah continues to grow and increase its container traffic, Bulloch County is becoming more attractive to logistics related businesses. The development authority experienced a significant increase in interest for logistics projects in the county and anticipate that will continue to increase in 2022. Long-term prospects for logistics and distribution in the region are exceptionally strong. With the Georgia Ports Authority plan to double capacity, the resultant demand for distribution space will continue to grow, particularly west along the I-16 corridor and south along I-95. The regional market currently has nationwide recognition as the hottest logistics and distribution market in the country. It is fully expected to mature into one of the most important distribution networks in the country.

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