“Our ports are a critical driver of our economy, creating jobs and offering new opportunities in every corner of the state,” Deal said. “In the past two years alone, Georgia has been ranked the top state in the U.S. for business by three different scoring agencies. Our state’s commitment to maintaining a high-performing, interconnected logistics infrastructure such as our ports is one of the reasons we were able to achieve this success. Companies know that when they choose to locate here, they are choosing a state with a global logistics hub, top-ranked workforce and a business-friendly government.”

Foltz also detailed progress toward deepening the Savannah Harbor, including $266 million in construction dollars set aside by Gov. Deal and the Georgia General Assembly; the signing of the Water Resources Reform & Development Act, which gave final federal authorization; and the imminent signing of the federal-state cost sharing agreement, which will allow construction to start in the coming weeks.

“Improving the Savannah Harbor is vitally important to the continued economic health of this state and region,” Deal said. “By accommodating larger, more efficient vessels, the deepening will reduce shipping costs for American businesses by $213 million a year.”

GPA Board Chairman James Walters added that the port deepening will further empower Georgia’s deep water ports to stimulate growth.

“The success of our ports helps to sustain and grow jobs within the logistics industry and beyond,” said Walters. “By improving the capacity and efficiency of our terminals, we provide a more cost-effective gateway to global markets for goods from American farms, forests and factories.”

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