Golden Isles: Georgia’s Magnetic Lure for Economic Investment
The Golden Isle Development Authority is marketing Glynn County’s Georgia business opportunities while also attracting investments. Their approach combines the region’s unique offerings, available properties, and the lifestyle that attracts millions of visitors yearly.
The First Impression: A Downtown Welcome
As Ryan Moore, the head of the development authority, explains, “A new business prospect gets a tour that starts downtown Brunswick.” This first impression showcases towers in the vibrant downtown area, aiming to highlight that the Golden Isles is more than just available land but a bustling community. Moore observes how necessary it is to be present, stating, “We try to get the decision makers in the room. We try to optimize their schedule.”
Quality of Life: A Major Selling Point
The Development Authority realizes that business owners do not only think about logistics and infrastructure when evaluating opportunities. Moore acknowledges, “For all sorts of locations, quality of life is one of the top factors taken into account.” The Golden Isles being positioned as a well-known tourist attraction, receiving over three million visitors each year, adds value in this scenario.
Showcasing the Region’s Assets: A Comprehensive Tour
The tours organized by the authority go well beyond just displaying possible sites. They offer a complete demonstration of the region’s assets, elucidating its strategic benefits. Moore explains the itinerary: “We go to Jekyll Island, Sea Island, cross the Sidney Lanier Bridge over the Port of Brunswick, and visit the airports, among other places. We always sell our quality of life.”
Connectivity: A Logistics Advantage
One distinguishing feature of the authority’s sales focus is the superb connectivity offered by the region. The Golden Isles has a well-developed transport system comprising three airports, a major interstate highway, deep-water port access, and rail links. These infrastructural features guarantee ease of movement of people and goods, which is essential for businesses in this age of globalization. Moore also talks about the region’s workforce, pointing out its limitations: “We have access to a workforce greater than the Savannah area.”
The Port of Brunswick: Gateway to Global Markets
The Port of Brunswick offers immense value for businesses that deal in international markets. The development authority partners with the port authority to market the port’s capabilities and prospects to targeted businesses.
Land Availability: Opportunities for Change
Glynn County has ample land to be developed, which is an important consideration for attracting investors. The development authority currently possesses 1,500 acres of land designated for development, in addition to 600 acres set aside for aviation business development nearby the Brunswick airport. This land availability allows businesses to have the opportunity for growth and expansion.
Ongoing development: Tradewinds Technology Park
An example of such development is the ongoing construction of the 500,000 square foot warehouse at the Tradewinds Technology Park. ProDirect is expected to lease half of the warehouse while plans are underway to lease the other half to one or more businesses. Moore notes the strong interest in the project: “We’ve had at least a dozen inquiries on the status of the building.” Upon completion, the ProDirect warehouse will be the largest building in Glynn County, which further solidifies the commitment of the region to secure other investments.
ProDirect’s Growth: Promoting Local Economies
ProDirect is a good example of how business-friendly the region is, as it is a spinoff of Hillpointe, LLC (a home builder operating actively in the Golden Isles). Hillpointe and other builders in the area face supply chain issues, which the new warehouse will alleviate, showing the development authority’s attention to supporting businesses.
Georgia Breakbulk Logistics Park: Competitive “Shovel Ready” Status
Accomplishing an entrance for the first phase is another business Breakbulk Georgia Logistics Park is working on. This site, located on 1,400 acres within Georgia, has received the Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) designation. This designation is beneficial to contractors because it saves the company roughly 18 months of development time since all required studies have already been conducted and the site is “shovel ready.”
Strategic Initiatives Towards Housing Development and Employee Training
Moore tackles the problem of employee housing and notes that there are plans to add 5,000 total housing units, with some earmarked as affordable workforce housing. However, Coastal Pines Technical College has an active training strategy to ensure a skilled workforce by offering specialized training, including a custom-designed curriculum tailored for prospective employers.
Responsive and Collaborative: A Community Effort
Padgett’s remarks on the local community’s responsiveness and collaborative attitude while discussing business ventures are particularly revealing. Frequently, her office is willing to meet ‘on the fly’ with prospective business owners, and the local business community, port, colleges, and elected officials are perpetually flexible and accommodating. “It’s really something how people, with just a day’s notice, are able to come,” she states.
Financial Stability: Ready to Invest
The development authority enjoys a stable financial position after selling some buildings to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, bringing the total amount in their accounts to $25 million. There are no immediate plans for these funds, but Moore states acquiring more land is a focus as the county’s industrial parks are nearing maximum occupancy.
Ultimately, Glynn County and Golden Isles Development Authority have made it their goal to attract enterprises by marketing the area’s geographic location, infrastructure, workforce, lifestyle, and overall merit. The scope of the active projects under construction as well as the cooperative attitude of the community strengthens the Golden Isles as a competitive area for new businesses looking for favorable conditions.
