Issue link: http://savannah.uberflip.com/i/1542376
20 4 International activities included supporting the Greater Savannah Ghana Alliance's first tri-city mission, facilitating more than 40 business connections and meetings with government, educational and industry partners. WTCSav also led an outbound mission to Marseille, France for the World Trade Centers Association's 55th Global Business Forum. WTCSav's TradeBridge program expanded in 2025 with the addition of County Limerick, the first Irish west coast county to join the network. The organization completed 118 trade service projects, hosted 20 delegations from eight countries, delivered cross- continental programs and continued its support of 16 Southeast Georgia counties and the City of Savannah as its founding investor. In 2025, the Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE) team continued to support workforce development efforts within its eight- county region that includes Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty and Screven Counties. Work continued within the key focus areas of Education (K-12 and Higher Education), Military, Childcare, Underrepresented, Housing, Marketing and Transportation. Some of the key RISE initiatives undertaken this year included a Military/Employer Forum, the Higher Education Alignment Summit, support for the Georgia Department of Transportation Commuter Feasibility Study, partnering with EOA on a underserved populations hiring event, starting the development of a housing toolkit for people searching for workforce housing, completion of a Regional Childcare Study in partnership with Georgia Southern University, the continuation of the Succeed in Savannah talent attraction campaign (including the launch of an online job board) and the Industry Insiders program that allows young professionals to share their career journeys with students. RISE also significantly grew the efforts to engage with the K-12 school systems by implementing several programs, including the 8th Grade Experience, Regional Educator Externship Program and Building Your Future: Career and College Showcase. Additionally, 21 employer forums with 608 attendees in total were held throughout the region this year. The RISE team also supported six hiring events (including the EOA event) across the region, reaching more than 3,400 job seekers. RISE led a best practices trip to West Georgia with 35 stakeholders, which included economic development, education, industry and non-profit partners from the Savannah region. In Bryan County manufacturing employment at 40 establishments increased 18%, rising to 1,900 workers as of early 2025. As the year closed, employment at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) electric vehicle manufacturing facility increased to 1,444, a gain of 31% in one year. Also by year-end, associated automotive manufacturers of componentry, systems, electronics, plastics and parts employed an additional 2,633 workers in Bryan County. Continued employment growth is anticipated in 2026 as production continues the ramping up process at the Metaplant and its allied firms. Effingham County's manufacturing sector also saw strong gains in 2025, with two new manufacturers commencing operation and total employment of 2,600 workers. These projects highlight the county's strengthening industrial base and its competitive position within the Coastal Georgia market. Among existing industries, Sewon America announced a $50 million expansion that includes new electroplating capabilities, roughly 100,000 square feet of additional space, and 100 new jobs. As the first expansion announced by a Hyundai Metaplant supplier in the Savannah region, Sewon's investment marks an important milestone for the growing electric-vehicle supply chain. Georgia Transformer also committed to a major expansion at its Rincon facility, investing an additional $40 million and adding 400 new jobs to support increased demand for electrical equipment and grid-modernization components Effingham County also welcomed two new industries in 2025. Underwood Ammo announced a $41 million manufacturing facility that will bring 120 high-skill jobs and introduce a new sector—defense-related manufacturing—to the county's diversified economy. Manufacturing interest remains steady, supported by the county's industrial readiness, regional workforce strengths, and proximity to the Port of Savannah. Altogether, 2025 brought more than $130 million in new capital investment and hundreds of new jobs to Effingham County, reinforcing a diversified and resilient industrial base. The county enters 2026 with strong momentum and a competitive position within Coastal Georgia's rapidly evolving economy. Liberty County's 29 manufacturers employed about 2,200 workers in 2025. One notable announcement was the expansion of Atlantic Building Components, a truss manufacturing company headquartered in South Carolina. The company is establishing operations in Hinesville with an initial workforce of 25 employees and is positioned to serve the growing regional housing market. In Liberty County, infrastructure improvements are paving the way for continued industrial expansion. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs awarded a $2 million grant to support construction of Tradeport West Way, a new road that will open 170 acres