Record numbers for the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick reinforces the importance for harbor expansion. Savannah, Ga. – Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced today that the Ports of Savannah and Brunswick experienced record volumes in calendar year 2011 and handled 26.1 million tons of cargo, an additional 1.1 million tons, or a 4.3 percent increase. In Savannah, the Authority handled a record 2.95 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs) containers, an additional 130,000 units, or a 3.5 percent increase over calendar year 2010. In Brunswick, the Authority handled a record 495,000 auto and machinery units, up 23 percent from the previous calendar year. “The Ports of Savannah and Brunswick achieved record volumes in 2011 despite the nation’s economic challenges,” said Foltz. “As our ports grow market share, Georgia’s deepwater terminals provide American exporters an increasingly vital gateway to global trade.” Additionally, the Port of Savannah, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, is second only to the Port of Los Angeles for the export of American containerized goods. In CY2011 alone, exports accounted for over 15.5 million tons, or 59 percent of the Authority’s trade. Calendar Year 2011 also marked important developments in Georgia’s effort to finalize the SHEP study and move the project toward construction. These efforts include the public review and revision of study documents and securing a total of $134 million in state funds with an additional $46.7 million proposed by Governor Nathan Deal. “By making this financial commitment, Governor Deal and the General Assembly have sent a powerful message to our customers and stakeholders that the Savannah harbor deepening is a top priority for the State of Georgia,” said Poitevint. Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 295,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $15.5 billion in income, $61.7 billion in revenue and $2.6 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah was the second busiest U.S. container port for the export of American goods by tonnage in FY2011. It also handled 8.7 percent of the U.S. containerized cargo volume and 12.5 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2011. Gov. Deal links Kia's success to Georgia's success as he visits the company's West Point plant. Gov. Nathan Deal joined Byung Mo Ahn, group president and CEO for Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia, at the company's West Point plant Wednesday to celebrate the growth and success at its first automotive manufacturing facility in the United States. The occasion marked Deal's first official visit to KMMG since taking office. "Kia's success is Georgia's success. KMMG has made an indelible and lasting impact on this state," said Deal. "We have a deep appreciation for Kia's continued investment in Georgia and for the vision of the company's leadership, which we have seen grow to fruition over the last seven years. The strong relationships that have developed between the company, the community and the state are a model for the kind of partnerships we strive for." Kia announced in 2006 that Georgia would be the site of its first manufacturing site in North America. KMMG's production began in 2009 on the Sorento CUV, and the company announced in 2011 that it would add the Optima midsize sedan to its production line and increase its capacity in 2012 to 360,000 vehicles annually. KMMG has stated that it expects the number of jobs created by the company and its suppliers to amount to more than 10,000. A Georgia Tech study estimates the facility's economic impact to Georgia is approximately $4 billion per year. "We are honored to host the governor today and celebrate with him the outstanding success KMMG has enjoyed in Georgia, thanks to his leadership and the exceptional business environment the state has cultivated," said Kia executive Byung Mo Ahn. "Our pride in this facility is exceeded only by the pride we have in our committed and highly trained team members who have contributed so much to our accomplishments." Georgia has been instrumental in helping Kia recruit and train its workforce. The state constructed and staffs a 70,000-square-foot training center on the Kia site, where Georgia Quick Start, the state's award-winning workforce training program, operates the curriculum and training courses it developed for plant employees. "We not only care about companies locating or expanding in Georgia, we care about helping them succeed here," said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "Assets like the Georgia Ports and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are important to a global company such as Kia, and part of our ongoing commitment to companies we work with is to be sure they are able to take full advantage of what our state has to offer."
“Georgia’s position as the number-two export port in the nation provides a clear and compelling case for why the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP) is so critical for this state, region and country,” said GPA’s Chairman of the Board Alec Poitevint. “The work to deepen the Savannah Harbor up to 48 feet is precisely the type of effort that will bring sustainable economic recovery to the United States.”
@GovernorDeal Governor Nathan Deal
