BUSINESS imagescoastalgeorgia.comimagescoastalgeorgia.com What’sWhat’s ® OnlineOnline SeeSee video of a Coastal Georgia company’s iinstrumentalnstrumental sucsuccess.cess.
COASTALCOASTAL GEORGIAGEORGIA
Making a Big Splash It’s full speed ahead for business expansion Down-Home Successes Communities earn kudos for vibrant town centers
Beacon of Opportunity Ports weather the economy, add capacity
SPONSORED BY THE COASTAL REGIONAL COMMISSION | 2009-10 We’ve got what it takes!
Stay where the expectations of the road warrior are met and exceeded every day. Four Points by Sheraton, a full-service hotel, and the Comfort Suites located off I-95 at exit 104 near the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, Port of Savannah, Gulfstream Aerospace International, Georgia Tech, major industries and distribution centers.
“Honest, Uncomplicated Comfort” Seattle’s Best Coffee and Best Brewed Beers … make traveling fun again!
SAVANNAH AIRPORT 15 Jay R. Turner Dr. Savannah, GA 31408 (912) 629-1500 www.fourpointssavannahair.com
“The Choice is Yours.” All-suite property and complimentary deluxe continental breakfast … comfort doesn’t have to be complicated!
SAVANNAH AIRPORT 9VETTE * (AGINS $R s 3AVANNAH '! (912) 721-9100 www.comfortsavannah.com BUSINESS Workstyle ® Beacon of Opportunity 8 Ports weather the economy, invest in new technology, add capacity Built To Last 10 Transportation infrastructure, workforce give Coastal Georgia solid manufacturing base
Insight Overview 3 Business Almanac 4 Making a Big Splash 7 Transportation 15 Economic Profi le 20 14 Livability Education 13 7 8 Down-Home Successes 14 Health 16
ON THE COVER The Tybee Island Light Station PHOTO BY BRIAN McCORD
All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste. 13 PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 1 BUSINESS ®
LIFESTYLE | WORKSTYLE | DIGGING DEEPER | VIDEO | LINK TO US | ADVERTISE | CONTACT US | SITE MAP COASTAL GEORGIA BUSINESS ® 2009-10 EDITION, VOLUME 2
MANAGING EDITOR BILL McMEEKIN COASTAL GEORGIA COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ONLINE ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, SUSAN CHAPPELL, JESSY YANCEY CONNECTIONS An online resource at IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.com STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAMELA COYLE, MICHAELA JACKSON DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON DIGITAL MAGAZINE >> INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER CHRIS KROESE SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN McCORD BUSINESSBUSINESS imagescoastalgeorgia.comimagescoastalgeorgia.com What’sW OOnline Seee GeorgiaG orgia company’s STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, instrumental success. ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT MANAGER ANNE WHITLOW
COASTALCOASTAL GGEORGIAEORGIA CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN Making a Big Splash It’s full speed ahead PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS for business expansion MELISSA BRACEWELL, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT Down-Home Successes Communities earn kudos SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, for vibrant town centers KRIS SEXTON, CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS LEAD DESIGNER JANINE MARYLAND GRAPHIC DESIGN ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER, Beacon of Opportunity JESSICA MANNER, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER Lifestyle Ports weather the economy, add capacity WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY SPONSORED BY THE COASTAL REGIONAL COMMISSION | 2009-10 A showcase for what drives Coastal Georgia’s WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL RUIZ high quality of life Read Business Images Coastal WEB DESIGN CARL SCHULZ WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES Georgia on your computer, COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN zoom in on the articles and AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY
link to advertiser Web sites CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN NEWS AND NOTES >> SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN Get the Inside Scoop on SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER the latest developments V.P./SALES TODD POTTER in Coastal Georgia from our V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS editors and business insiders V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS Workstyle SUCCESS PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO BREEDS SUCCESS >> CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY A spotlight on innovative companies ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, that call Coastal Georgia home Meet the people setting the MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON pace for Coastal Georgia DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE business IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE DIG DEEPER >> SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS Log into the community with EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM links to local Web sites and RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP resources to give you the big picture of Coastal Georgia CUSTOM MAGAZINE MEDIA
Business Images Coastal Georgia is published annually DATA CENTRAL >> by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Coastal Regional Commission. A by-the-numbers look at For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. doing business and living at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected]. in Coastal Georgia FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Coastal Regional Commission 127 F St. • Brunswick, GA 31520 GUIDE TO SERVICES >> Phone: (912) 262-2800 • Fax: (912) 262-2313 See the Video www.crc.ga.gov Our award-winning photographers give you Links to a cross section VISIT BUSINESS IMAGES COASTAL GEORGIA ONLINE AT a virtual peek inside Coastal Georgia of goods and services in IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM Coastal Georgia ©Copyright 2009 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, GO ONLINE (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.com Member Magazine Publishers of America Member Custom Publishing Council
2 COASTAL GEORGIA Overview
Coastal Georgia Gives You 10 Good Reasons To Live, Play, Stay
1. Location Southeast Coastal Georgia is midway 10. Population Growth The region has become a between New York and Miami, with more than 100 choice locale. A Georgia Institute of Technology study miles of coastline. in 2006 projected the coastal region of Georgia’s population will increase by 32 percent, from 558,350 2. Transportation Coastal Georgia is in close proximity in 2000 to 737,328 by 2015. to infrastructure, including ports in Brunswick and Savannah, I-95 and I-16, rail lines, Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, Midcoast Regional Airport What’s Onlinee and Brunswick Golden Isles Airport. Take a virtual tour of all that Coastal Georgia offers at 3. Skilled Work Force Coastal Georgia has a imagescoastalgeorgia.com. population of more than 620,000 and a regional labor pool of approximately 329,000. A free, nationally recognized, state-funded, locally offered training program called Quick Start is available to assist new and expanding companies. SCREVEN 21 Sylvania 4. Education Coastal Georgia is home to Georgia 24 Southern University, Ogeechee Technical College, 301 Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah College Newington 21 of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah State University, Statesboro Coastal Savannah Technical College and the College of EFFINGHAM Georgia 80 Springfield Coastal Georgia. 67 16 Rincon BULLOCH 21 5. Quality of Life Coastal Georgia boasts beaches, Pembroke 95 history, arts, culture, recreation including a variety of Pooler Garden City BRYAN water sports, hunting and fishing, boating, bicycle trails, Savannah 119 coastal living and mild winters. CHATHAM Tybee Island LIBERTY Hinesville 6. Cost Plentiful and affordable housing is available LONG in all price ranges and land costs are low. Midway Riceboro Ludowici 7. Incentives Coastal Georgia can offer state job-tax 57 credits, port tax credits, port tax-credit eligibility, tax- MCINTOSH abatement programs, Foreign Trade Zones, industrial Sapelo Island revenue bonds, Quick Start training programs and other 25 Darien programs to assist business. GLYNN St. Simons Island 32 17 Little St. Simons Island 8. Military/Law Enforcement Coastal Georgia is 82 Brunswick Sea Island home to the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Fort Satilla R. 17 Jekyll Island Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield and the world’s largest 252 95 Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. CAMDEN 9. Health Care Coastal Georgia offers numerous high- St Mar Kingsland ys R. quality health providers and medical facilities that have St. Marys invested in the latest technologies and treatments.
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 3 Almanac
THREE DECADES OF ARTS SMARTS The Savannah College of Art & Design started classes in fall 1979 with seven faculty members and 71 students. Today, the 9,000-student and 500-faculty SCAD is recognized as one of the nation’s top art-and-design universities. Programs of study range from interior design to television and film to advertising design. SCAD has rehabilitated more than 60 Savannah buildings crossing four historic districts. Among them is Arnold Hall, a former Chatham County high school that was refurbished into 80,000 square feet of space that includes a gallery and a technologically advanced, 607-seat auditorium for lectures and presentations. Go to www.scad.edu for more on the college.
ART POPS AT THIS GALLERY The Soda Shop Gallery was established in August 2005 in downtown Sylvania. The gallery showcases the talents of Screven County artists, who display and sell their works, which include paintings, stained glass, sculptures, photographs and turned wood. The gallery is located in a renovated historic building on the downtown square in Sylvania and is staffed entirely by volunteers. FULL SPEED AHEAD The gallery can be reached at The St. Marys Submarine Museum is in historic downtown St. Marys, (912) 564-7200. where it fulfills mission to educate visitors about the “Silent Service.” A wide variety of submarine artifacts, memorabilia and information are available for viewing, many of them from the decommissioned submarine USS James K. Polk. The museum features a submarine helm station and a working periscope that juts out of the museum’s roof. For more, go to www.stmaryssubmuseum.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF U.S. NAVY. PHOTO BY CHIEF JOURNALIST DAVE FLIESEN
4 COASTAL GEORGIA IT’S A GAS A Coastal Georgia project will bring more natural gas to markets throughout the Southeast. The Elba Express is a 190-mile natural gas pipeline that will begin at a liquefied natural gas facility on Elba Island, five miles from downtown Savannah, and connect to other pipelines for transmission to East Coast markets. In addition, a division of Houston- based El Paso Corp. is expanding its liquefied natural gas terminal on Elba Island, adding 8.4 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and 900 million cubic feet per day of send-out capacity, doubling the facility’s capabilities. The first phases of both projects are slated to be done by mid-2010.
HITTING A HIGH NOTE The Savannah Music Festival was launched in 2003 and generates an annual economic impact of nearly $12 million. For nearly three weeks each spring, the festival presents a celebration that promotes arts and music education and brings together a cross- section of artists and audiences. The festival produces more than 100 programs for adults and children in theaters, schools and historic and intimate venues throughout the Savannah area. More than 400 classical, jazz, blues, bluegrass and international artists, as well as dance, film and narrative programs make the festival a destination event. The 2010 festival is set for March 18-April 3. For more, go to www.savannahmusicfestival.org.
DIG THIS GARDEN LeConte-Woodmanston Plantation and Botanical Gardens in Liberty County is a former inland swamp, rice plantation and once the home of Dr. Louis LeConte, a renowned scientist and botanist. The 18th-century botanical gardens are being restored to their former glory and will include a combination of landscaped, structured and free-flowing gardens with native, exotic and historic plants discovered and cultivated by LeConte. Current structures and features include a home site, a pavilion, a period tool shed, a gazebo, an office, nature trail and the Jean Clyatt Avenue of Oaks. The expansion will feature a multipurpose chapel as well as a memorial brick pathway meandering through the gardens. For more on the gardens, go to www.leconte-woodmanston.org.
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 5 Convenient location in Brunswick, Georgia at Exit 38 of I-95
Perfect central meeting location between Jacksonville, Florida and Savannah, Georgia – just one hour from each city
r $PVSUZBSE$BGFm IPUCSFBLGBTUEBJMZ
r IPVSHVFTU CVTJOFTTDFOUFS r 'SFFIJHITQFFEXJSFMFTT BOEXJSFE*OUFSOFU
r 0OTJUFFYFSDJTFSPPN r *OEPPSIFBUFEXIJSMQPPM r 0VUEPPSIFBUFEQPPM BOEHB[FCP r $BCMF57BOEGSFF)#0 r 0OTJUFHVFTUDPJOMBVOESZ r 4NBMMNFFUJOHTQFDJBMJTUT NFFUJOHTVQUPQFPQMF
True Southern hospitality here, and located just minutes from everywhere you need to be in Brunswick, Georgia!
Courtyard by Marriott 580 Millennium Blvd. Brunswick, GA 31525 (912) 265-2644 www.marriott.com/BQKCY
6 COASTAL GEORGIA Business Climate A Big Workforce Splash It’s full speed ahead for Coastal Georgia’s economic efforts
Story by Michaela Jackson flagging national economy is not taking the wind out Jekyll Island has embarked on a major redevelopment of Coastal Georgia’s sails. plan that includes five new hotel projects. A “You can’t let up,” says Allen Burns, executive Jekyll Island Beach Village, encompassing some $350 director of the Coastal Regional Commission. “Good million in private investment, will include integrated enough never is, and that’s why you’ve got to keep shopping and dining, residential cottages, a 400-room moving forward.” hotel and a renovated and expanded convention center. Moving forward is the name of the game for Atlanta- Military investment in the region is also proving to be a based developer IDI, which recruited the Canadian boon. Fort Stewart is a 280,000-acre Army installation that company Do It Right This Time, or DIRTT, to locate its sprawls into parts of five counties. About 45 minutes away first U.S. manufacturing facility at Crossroads Business is Hunter Army Airfield, a 5,300-acre base that has the Center in Savannah. longest runway on the East Coast. Combined, the two The company, which manufactures movable wall bases generate annual direct federal expenditures of partitions for office buildings, expects to create 150 jobs $1.2 billion and employ 4,300 civilian workers and 25,000 over the next two years. Coastal Georgia’s accessibility to military personnel. Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in the rest of the country was a major factor in the decision, Camden County is home to more than 5,200 active duty says Sean Fitzsimmons, vice president of national business personnel, 2,100 civilian employees and 1,700 contractors. development for IDI. The base has annual payroll of more than $500 million. “Within a 500-mile radius, a one-day drive out of the Savannah-based JCB Inc. began work at its Pooler Port of Savannah, you can hit all the way down to Miami, facility in January 2008 to fulfill a $230 million U.S. Army all the way north in Virginia, and well out into the central contract for 800 combat-ready backhoe loaders, creating Midwest,” he says. roughly 120 jobs. In addition to its work at the Crossroads Business “From a JCB perspective, the same factors apply today Center, IDI is also developing a 300-acre industrial park as they did 10 years ago when we chose to come here: We on I-95 in Liberty County to attract manufacturers and sit on the edge of a port that is essential to our business, distributors, most of which are looking for 250,000 to both for imports and exports,” says John Patterson, 800,000 square feet of space. chairman and CEO of JCB. “Savannah still is getting a lot of interest from both “Georgia is blessed with a number of first-class large distribution users and, somewhat surprisingly and technical colleges that are extremely helpful from an pleasantly, midsize manufacturing users,” Fitzsimmons says. engineering perspective in the recruiting of young Coastal Georgia is a major tourism destination, and its engineers,” he says. “It has a quality of life that doesn’t hospitality segment is also investing in the future. exist in other areas inland.”
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 7 Beacon of Opportunity
Ports weather the economy, invest in new technology, add capacity
Coastal Georgia boasted the fastest- growing U.S. port in 2008.
8 COASTAL GEORGIA Story by Pamela Coyle Photography by Todd Bennett he Georgia Ports Authority is equipment so it can stack containers focus and leadership at the state to adding capacity, buying massive higher and deeper. create an environment that is different T $8 million cranes and boasting “It is a good thing to use every inch than other port communities.” what few if any of its peers can say of terminal space,” Morris says. Georgia ports, including one in about 2008 – a small gain in cargo Brunswick and two inland facilities, volume over the previous year. A BIG DIG are always looking at innovative ways An even split between imports and All eyes are on 2014, the 100th to handle logistics, Siplon says. exports helped the Port of Savannah anniversary of the Panama Canal In Savannah, four new super post- sidestep the early months of the opening, when work to widen and panamax cranes, named for the vessels downturn as oversea markets deepen the canal will give larger that will use the widened Panama continued to buy, says Robert Morris, container ships direct access to East Canal, went on line earlier this the ports authority’s director of Coast ports. To prepare, dredging will summer, an investment of $32 million. external affairs. drop depth in Savannah Harbor from The authority opened an $11 million “You end up not having all your 42 to 48 feet, and the port will be ready. intermodal transfer rail facility at its eggs in one basket,” Morris says. “We “That will open up movement of Garden City operations in January. dodged many months of the recession cargo to the East Coast in an incredible Investments also include switching due to strong exports.” way,” Morris says. “It will add lots of cranes and other equipment from The Port of Savannah, with a 0.5 savings to delivery of cargo to the most diesel fuel to electric power, an annual percent increase in volume, was the populated region of the United States.” savings of 1.1 million gallons of fuel. fastest-growing U.S. port in 2008. It Clay, paper and poultry products are Like its peers, Savannah saw double- now ranks second on the East Coast the biggest exports, and a strong digit drops in volume in early 2009, but and fourth in the country in terms of import-export balance has Georgia’s ports are poised for better volume, and is poised to grow even more. distinguished Georgia for years, says times. The capital investment, Morris The ports authority is pushing ahead Page Siplon, executive director of the says, “is a good sign we are in this for with plans to expand its container Logistics Innovation Center at the the long haul. We are focusing on the capacity from 3.6 million to 7.5 million Georgia Institute of Technology’s increases we have made in market units by growing up rather than out. Savannah campus. share and bringing on additional The 1,200-acre footprint will remain; “This isn’t just a recent trend,” he services,” he says. “We see a light at instead, the facility is adding racks and says. “This is our history because of the end of the tunnel.”
STATS
Port of Savannah Total Tonnage Port of Savannah, Port of Brunswick Container Trade 2004-2008 30 chart is in millions chart is in millions of twenty-foot equivalent units
25 2004 20 2005 15 2006
10 2007
5 2008 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 0 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Source: Georgia Ports Authority MORE AT IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 9 Built To Last Region’s assets craft a solid manufacturing sector
Story by Pamela Coyle Photography by Brian McCord Portuguese maker of power transformers will bring nearly 700 jobs to Effingham County and boost a A regional manufacturing base already distinguished “Everybody who lives here loves for its diversity. EFACEC’s plant will open in October 2009 with 283 living and working here. Once they employees, eventually growing to 672, says John Henry, CEO of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority. get here, they don’t want to leave.” The company is finishing up the first phase of a 470,000-square-foot facility on 55 acres in Effingham County Industrial Park, a $180 million capital investment changes to remain cost competitive on a global level. The and EFACEC’s only U.S. operation. The average job will pay workforce has adapted very well.” $50,000 a year. At least 40 percent of the pesticide is shipped overseas, “It is tremendous for this entire region,” Henry says. to South America, South Africa, Asia and Australia. Good “These are high-tech, high-skill jobs.” interstate access and the Port of Savannah, where Bayer has EFACEC joins makers of paper, chemicals, and its own warehouse, are “very, very useful to us,” he says. agricultural and food products, as well as aerospace, metal Coastal Georgia is close to the company’s U.S. customer fabrication and plastics companies in a 10-county region. base, and Drew says the region is attractive for personal Briggs & Stratton makes engines in Bulloch County. reasons, too. “I think everybody who lives here loves living Oracal makes vinyl film for graphic design and printing in and working here,” he says. “Once they get here, they don’t Bryan County; King & Prince and Rich-SeaPak serve up want to leave.” frozen seafood in Glynn County; and Bayer Crop Science Ron Tolley, executive director of the Liberty County formulates pesticide in Camden County. Development Authority, says the region’s diverse assets Liberty County is home to three major regional players: contribute to the mix. SNF Chemtall, a French company that makes flocculants for Proximity to Fort Stewart and a steady stream of highly wastewater treatment; Interstate Paper, a Lebanese company trained military retirees helped draw Elan Technology that produces small line board for cardboard boxes; and from New Jersey after the company looked at 30 spots in International Greetings, a British firm that manufactures five states, Tolley says. Interstate Paper wanted access to gift wrap and other stationery products. timber, and the local business community helped locate willing landowners. DEEP POOL OF LABOR Access to distribution, logistics and a good labor Bayer Crop Science took over a Woodbine plant in 2002 force attracted SNF Chemtall; International Greetings and makes Temik, a pesticide for cotton, peanuts, soybeans, relocated from Massachusetts because it wanted a citrus and some potatoes. The plant has 86 full-time building and space to grow. The company started with a employees, including a dozen hired in recent months. 50,000-square-foot shell and now has more than 500,000 “It’s a good labor pool, a good caliber workforce,” says square feet in several buildings. plant manager John Drew. “We’ve made major organizational “They’ve been a wonderful company,” Tolley says.
10 COASTAL GEORGIA What’s Onlinee Read more about all of Coastal Georgia’s manufacturing advantages at imagescoastalgeorgia.com.
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 11 It’s Not Just a Day at the Beach.
It’s your education. With four bachelor’s and Contact us at 912.279.5813 49 associate degrees, the College of Coastal or 800.675.7235 Georgia has the perfect program for you. Visit us at www.ccga.edu Small class sizes provide an intimate setting for learning. In-state tuition and fees are among the lowest in the Southeast. After a few hours riding the crest of knowledge, soak in the sun while you study to the soothing sounds of the ocean. Experience how enjoyable learning is at the College of Coastal Georgia. ÀÕÃÜVÊUÊ }Ã>` Education Building Bench Strength Colleges keep the labor pool well stocked and well skilled
Story by Michaela Jackson • Photography by Brian McCord usinesses considering a student enrollment in fall 2008 of the needs of area employers. relocation to or expansion in 17,748, is also a major economic force, “Many things push that student into B Coastal Georgia don’t have to generating an impact of nearly $750 the classroom, but it’s only the business wonder whether they’ll have enough million in 2007-2008. community that’s going to pull them skilled workers to get the job done. Savannah State University’s out of the classroom,” says Ken Boyd, An extensive education network enrollment is at nearly 3,500 students, vice president of economic development includes multiple four-year schools, the highest in the university’s 116-year for Savannah Tech. community colleges, tech schools and history. The university offers bachelor’s The college’s Hire Education even high school career programs. and master’s degrees in its College of program links students with the job “The driver for this country in the Business Administration, College of market by guaranteeing that if they future is the knowledge economy, and Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and complete a set program of work, they that needs a workforce that has skill College of Sciences and Technology. will have an interview with a local sets, thinking, creativity, entrepre- Savannah Technical College, a leader company in their field. neurship and problem solving,” says in industry-driven continuing The college also reaches into high Valerie Hepburn, College of Coastal education, expects to move into a new schools, offering students the chance to Georgia president. 55,000-square-foot classroom building take college courses before graduation. The college’s Brunswick campus is in January 2010 to accommodate “We’re constantly working on not making the transition from a two-year steadily increasing enrollment. only the current workforce but the to a four-year school, further Savannah Tech works closely with future workforce, as well,” Boyd says. enhancing the region’s workforce local business and industry leaders, “I think that has a strong appeal for training with degrees in business, tailoring programs specifically to meet businesses coming into our area.” education and health sciences. Administrators hope the school, which currently has an enrollment of 2,900, will grow to 6,000 students by 2020 and ultimately to 10,000. The college also has a campus in Camden. One of the reasons the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia backed the conversion was to give students additional access to a four-year state college. “To compete, you must be able to field a workforce that not only offers bachelor’s degrees, but the opportunity to earn master’s degrees,” Hepburn says. Georgia Southern University in Statesboro offers more than 117 degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels in eight colleges. The university, which had record
Georgia Southern University in Statesboro
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 13 Livability
What’s Onlinee See video of a walking tour of historic Savannah at imagescoastalgeorgia.com.
St. Marys Waterfront Park in the Camden County community’s historic downtown Down-Home Successes Coastal communities earn kudos for creating vibrant town centers
Story by Kevin Litwin Photography by Brian McCord he community of Darien – population 1,800 – has a lot Darien shares the Better Hometown designation with going for it, including the distinction of having four communities including Pembroke in Bryan County, Sylvania T individual rivers flowing through it. in Screven County and Woodbine in Camden County. It is the second-oldest city in Georgia after Savannah, and A number of other cities in Coastal Georgia have been a successful shrimping and commercial fishing destination. awarded a Main Street designation. Numerous boats annually come up the Darien River to dock The Georgia Department of Community Affairs oversees and unload there, taking advantage of the city’s location just both the Better Hometown and Main Street programs. eight miles from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. To apply for a Better Hometown designation, a city must Darien also boasts an active downtown district – so much have a population under 5,000 according to the 2000 U.S. so that it has earned a 2009 Better Hometown designation census, while a Main Street city must have a population by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Office between 5,000 and 50,000. of Downtown Development, one of several Coastal Georgia Brunswick in Glynn County, Statesboro in Bulloch County communities to earn praise for creating vibrant town centers. and St. Marys in Camden County are among Coastal Georgia The Better Hometown designation recognizes historic communities that have received Main Street recognition. preservation efforts and downtown revitalization plans that Brunswick has earned Main Street accreditation every year include streetscapes and building façade renovations, says since it first applied in 1986, says Mathew Hill, executive Frank Feild, community development director for the city director of the Brunswick Downtown Development Authority. of Darien. “We must requalify every year, and we have successfully Feild points out that Darien is home to the Altamaha been reaccredited every year,” he says. “We are proud of our Scenic Byway, one of only 12 scenic byways in all of Georgia. record – and our downtown.” “This beautiful byway and our four rivers are allowing Brunswick generated public and private investment us to develop an ecotourism industry, which I believe will of $8.3 million in its 167-block district in 2008 alone. become one of the hottest tourism sectors in the near future,” “Being a Main Street program is prestigious, but a he says. “And having a Better Hometown designation community has to work hard to become one,” Hill says. certainly doesn’t hurt.” “Here in downtown Brunswick, we indeed work hard.”
14 COASTAL GEORGIA Transportation
Distribution Solution Port, highways, facilities make region a hub for moving goods
Story by Pamela Coyle Photography by Todd Bennett oastal Georgia’s bustling ports, solid rail and we have referred some to another counties,” and interstate access, and network of says Ron Tolley, Liberty County Development More Insight C industrial parks are attracting national Authority CEO. “If we cannot get it ourselves, A nearly $600 million companies that need distribution hubs for we’d rather have it in an adjacent county to us reconstruction project is markets in the South, East and Midwest. so our workforce can at least get a shot at it.” under way that will widen “Coming into Savannah gives you a broader The projects help boost the tax base with a 30-mile stretch of market reach,” says Paul Michael, vice president limited impact but for trucks on the roads Interstate 95 that runs through Coastal Georgia of Atlanta-based TPA Realty Services. “That’s a and increased rail traffic. near Brunswick. key factor.” The region also boasts a strong cadre of Nearly $200 million of that TPA has partnered with the Development airports, including Savannah/Hilton Head work will include widening Authority of Bryan County, placing Kawasaki, International Airport, which includes Foreign nearly six miles of the major silverware maker Oneida Ltd. and pressure- Trade Zone 104. The FTZ has more than 50,000 north-south interstate to sensitive film manufacturer Oracal as major square feet of warehouse space, and a number six lanes and rebuilding four twin bridges to eight tenants in the authority’s Interstate Centre. of companies and entities operate as subzones lanes to allow for future TPA itself owns 500 acres across the street of it, allowing them to take advantage of tax expansion. and is putting up its first spec building in and duty deferments that FTZs offer. The work, which is being the Interstate Centre II development. MidCoast Regional Airport at Wright Army completed in stages Effingham County’s Industrial Development Airfield in Liberty County includes twin 5,000- throughout 2009 and 2010, Authority and Nevada-based DP Partners are foot runways. Brunswick Golden Isles Airport is part of the state’s $15.5 billion highway congestion partnering on a $250 million, 1,700-acre park offers daily passenger service to Atlanta. relief program. 15 miles west of the Port of Savannah. Called Savannah is a major port center. Container the LogistiCenter at Savannah, the development traffic has surged there in recent years and the will accommodate up to 5 million square feet of Georgia Ports Authority is adding capacity. industrial space. DP Partners will put up “spec- to-suit” buildings in phases. LogistiCenter is expected to create 2,500 to 5,000 jobs over the next 10 to 15 years in transportation, storage warehousing and other industrial categories. Liberty County has five parks, including Tradeport East and Tradeport West, which together comprise about 5,500 acres. Retailer Target opened a 1.5 million-square-foot distribution center in Tradeport East in 2007, and Tire Rack has taken 240,000 square feet – with room to grow. Tradeport West is particularly attractive to customers needing rail access; a CSX line runs right through it. “We have had some companies referred to us,
Ralph Maggioni, Foreign Trade Zone 104 director
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 15 16 COASTAL GEORGIA Health
A Strong Pulse Coastal Georgia offers a healthy roster of care providers
Story by Michaela Jackson Photography by Todd Bennett oastal Georgia is canvassed by a and southern South Carolina. comprehensive health-care system The system includes its flagship hospital, a More Insight C that includes state-of-the-art research 530-bed academic medical center, as well as • Memorial University hospitals, award-winning care options and a primary and specialty physician networks, Medical Center dedicated community involvement. a major medical education program, and www.memorialhealth.com The two-hospital St. Joseph’s/Candler Health business and industry services. Operates a 530-bed System, totaling 636 beds, draws on a long Memorial houses the Curtis and Elizabeth tertiary-care hospital in Savannah. tradition of excellence. Anderson Cancer Institute, and is noted for Employs more than Candler Hospital, which opened as Georgia’s its children’s and women’s services, education 4,600 people first hospital in 1804, is the second-longest programs and NurseOne, a 24-hour call center. • St. Joseph’s/Candler continuously operating hospital in the nation. The Southeast Georgia Health System includes Health System St. Joseph’s was established when the Sisters of a 316-bed hospital in Brunswick and a newly www.sjchs.org Mercy created St. Joseph’s Infirmary in 1875 to renovated care center in Camden County with Operates the 305-bed St. Joseph’s Hospital care for ill sailors. The two Savannah hospitals 40 beds. and the 331-bed began operating jointly in 1997. Its Cancer Care Center is accredited by the Candler Hospital, “Our faith-based philosophy and exceptional M.D. Anderson Physician’s Network. both in Savannah doctors have kept people coming to St. Joseph’s/ “We have what we consider, and what Employs approximately Candler for more than 200 years,” says Paul P. everyone else considers, a world-class cancer 3,300 people Hinchey, president and CEO of SJ/C. “But we program,” says Jackie Weder, vice president • Southeast Georgia Health System have also aggressively invested in the newest of marketing and public relations for the www.sghs.org technology so residents don’t have to travel to Southeast Georgia Health Center. Operates 316-bed other cities to get medical care.” New technology being utilized by the health hospital in Brunswick The system’s Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer system includes digital mammography and and 40-bed hospital in St. Marys and Research Pavilion is one of 10 organizations robotic surgery for partial knee replacements. Workforce of nearly nationwide selected to participate in the Camden County’s 90,000-square-foot 2,000 employees and National Community Cancer Centers Program expansion, which opened in March 2009, also 380 physicians pilot project of the National Cancer Institute. includes a new ICU with five beds and 12 A women’s hospital, a heart hospital and an integrative labor, delivery, recovery and institute for advanced bone and joint surgery postpartum rooms for mothers and newborns. are a few of the system’s other signature The hospital is also opening a breast-care services. St. Joseph’s/Candler also features a center, a joint-replacement center and a newly renovated neuro-ICU – a program for 20,000-square-foot medical building on St. remotely diagnosing and treating stroke Simons Island in fall 2009. patients – a da Vinci Surgical System and a In April 2009, the hospital broke ground on groundbreaking treatment for chronic acid a 6,550-square-foot expansion of the Miriam & reflux disease. Hugh Nunnally Maternity Care Center on the Memorial University Medical Center in Brunswick campus. When complete, the center Savannah is a two-state health-care organization will feature 24 redesigned labor, delivery, that serves a 35-county area in Coastal Georgia recovery and postpartum rooms.
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 17
In Good Hands HOSPITALS IN REGION’S SMALLER COMMUNITIES OFFER TOP-SHELF TREATMENT
hen it comes to availability of Liberty Regional Medical Center many rural hospitals can’t claim. Wquality health care, Coastal in Hinesville is a 133-bed hospital “We do the very best we can Georgia’s smaller communities that provides a full range of inpatient so that we can say, ‘Yes, you can don’t take a back seat to more and outpatient services. travel, but you won’t get any better service than what we offer here,’” populous locales. The hospital sees 25,000 patients says Scott Kroell, CEO of LRMC. Residents of Statesboro and come through its ER each year and “That has been our goal with any the surrounding areas turn to East is considering a sizeable expansion. service we have, or anytime we Georgia Regional Medical Center, It opened its current 70,000-square- add a service, to make sure that a state-of-the-art, 150-room foot facility in 1998. it’s as good or better than any in hospital that includes specialty Hospital leaders take pride in the area.” services in imaging and diagnos- offering a quality of service that – Michaela Jackson tics, surgical, and women’s and children’s care. Willingway Hospital in Statesboro is a facility founded by a local couple in the 1960s that special- Building Affordable Housing izes in alcohol and drug addiction treatments. Willingway, the first in Your Neighborhood Georgia hospital to specialize in dependency treatment, has cared for more than 20,000 patients. Effingham Hospital and Care Center was named a Hospital of Choice Award winner in winter 2009 by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. The Springfield hospital was selected from among 400 customer- friendly, U.S. hospitals. The 25-bed Screven County Hospital serves the Sylvania community’s primary-care needs.
DCA programs: A. First-time home buyers counseling preparation to purchase Helping people B. Low closing costs to fulfill dreams C. Program assistance of homeownership “PEN” & “CHOICE”
W.H. Gross Construction Company 0/ "OX s +INGSLAND '! s WWWCAMDENHOMESOURCECOM BRIAN McCORD BRIAN
IMAGESCOASTALGEORGIA.COM 19 ECONOMIC PROFILE Manufacturing, 14.9% Government, 13.4% BUSINESS CLIMATE Transportation, Warehousing Coastal Georgia encompasses 10 counties – the coastal counties of & Utilities, 10.2% Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Glynn, Liberty and McIntosh and the inland Wholesale Trade, 6.5% counties of Bulloch, Effingham, Long and Screven. A diversity of economic opportunities, two major ports and two sprawling military installations call Coastal Georgia home. The region has a diverse LABOR FORCE economy that includes strong manufacturing, trade and transportation, hospitality, military, education and health care. Bryan, 4,575 Bulloch, 17,359 Camden, 8,980 POPULATION TRENDS Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Chatham, 121,161 (2008) 2,100 (civilian personnel) Effingham, 7,090 Georgia Southern University, Glynn, 32,736 Bryan, 31,173 1,825 Liberty, 10,266 Bulloch, 67,761 Long, 449 Camden, 47,641 MAJOR McIntosh, 1,639 Chatham, 251,120 MANUFACTURERS Screven, 2,892 Effingham, 52,060 Glynn, 75,884 Gulfstream Aerospace, 6,024 MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD Liberty, 58,491 Georgia-Pacific, 1,400 INCOME Long, 11,452 SNF, 1,065 McIntosh, 11,455 Briggs & Stratton, 950 Bryan, $60,879 Screven, 15,133 International Paper, 738 Bulloch, $34,861 Region, 622,170 King & Prince Seafood, 600 Camden, $46,583 Georgia, 9,685,744 Koch Cellulose, 600 Chatham, $45,124 Rich-SeaPak, 600 Effingham, $54,132 MAJOR EMPLOYERS Glynn, $46,260 MAJOR EMPLOYMENT Liberty, $40,993 Memorial Health University Medical Center, 4,643 SECTORS Long, $37,334 McIntosh, $36,026 Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, 4,285 (civilian personnel) Education and Health Care, 21.8% Screven, $32,630 St. Joseph’s/Candler Health Retail Trade, 18.1% Region, $43,483 System, 3,304 Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, 3,047 What’s Onlinee City of Savannah, 2,500 For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on Sea Island Co., 2,100 Coastal Georgia, go to imagescoastalgeorgia.com and click on Economic Profi le.
visit our s &REE COFFEE advertisers s &REE WIRELESS HIGH SPEED )NTERNET ACCESS Coastal Georgia Glynn County Regional Development Authority www.georgiasgoldenopportunity.com s &REE LOCAL CALLS Development Center www.coastalgeorgiardc.org Long County s 3EASONAL OUTDOOR POOL College of Coastal Georgia www.longcountyga.gov www.ccga.edu s &ITNESS CENTER Quality Inn Conference Center CONFERENCE www.choicehotels.com Courtyard Marriott CENTER s &REE HOT BREAKFAST www.marriott.com/bqkcy Southeast Georgia Health System www.sghs.org Four Points #OASTAL (WY 3 s 2ICHMOND (ILL .# by Sheraton W.H. Gross Construction Company s WWWCHOICEHOTELSCOM www.fourpointssavannahair.com www.whgross.com
20 COASTAL GEORGIA Ad Index
C3 COASTAL GEORGIA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER
12 COLLEGE OF COASTAL GEORGIA
6 COURTYARD MARRIOTT
C2 FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON
6 GLYNN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
C4 LONG COUNTY
20 QUALITY INN CONFERENCE CENTER
18 SOUTHEAST GEORGIA HEALTH SYSTEM
19 W.H. GROSS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Serving the 10 Counties and 35 Cities of the Coastal Region for 45 Years
Coastal Area Planning and Development Commission 1964-1989 Coastal Georgia Regional Development Center 1989-2009 Now known as Coastal Regional Commission
What Can We Do For You? CRC Services Include: Ê UÊ «Ài iÃÛiÊ*>} Ê UÊ >`Ê1ÃiÊ*>} Ê UÊÊ "À`>ViÊ iÛi«iÌ Ê UÊÊ ÃÌÀVÊ*ÀiÃiÀÛ>Ì Ê UÊ ÀÕ«Ê>VÌ>Ì Ê UÊ }}Ê-iÀÛViÃ Ê UÊ VVÊ iÛi«iÌÊ>`Ê/ÕÀÃ Ê UÊ À`>Ìi`Ê/À>ëÀÌ>Ì Ê UÊ i}À>« VÊvÀ>ÌÊ-ÞÃÌiÃ Ê UÊ ÕÌÞÊ iÛi«iÌ Ê UÊ *iÀÃiÊ*ViÃÊ>`Ê>`LÃ Ê UÊ >ÌÕÀ>Ê,iÃÕÀViÊ*>} Ê UÊ À>ÌÃ
Coastal Regional Commission 127 F Street Brunswick, GA 31520 912.262.2800 www.crc.ga.gov Discover Coastal Georgia’s Best Kept Secret
... where big opportunities LONG COUNTY meet small-town hospitality
Experience Community Coastal Georgia is well known for its Southern hospitality and strong sense of community. Long County epitomizes that Old South ambiance, while still welcoming and cultivating current and future Long County economic development and growth. Our access to Georgia’s infamous barrier islands, coastal waterways, the Altamaha River, hunting opportunities, and many other outdoor recreational Long County Development Authority activities make Long County the ideal place to live and do business.
Experience Possibilities Long County Chamber of Commerce Located in one of the fastest growing regions of the country, Coastal Georgia’s Long County is situated in close proximity to many of Georgia’s commercial transportation corridors. The ports of Brunswick and Savannah, Interstates 95 and 16, railway access and the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport are all minutes away from this expanding community.
Experience Long County www.longcountyga.gov Ludowici, Georgia