NEED FOOD GRADE OR TEMP CONTROL WAREHOUSE IN SAVANNAH? CALL BILL STANKIEWICZ @ 1.404.750.3200, email: bstankiewicz@portfreshlogistics.com , here to help 24 x 7

Georgia warehousing boom continues with Food Logistics companies & non-food new builds leading the way with another 6.7 million square feet under development. I have received another 5 calls just today asking about whether Charleston vs Savannah on strengths & weaknesses for development.  Yes, of course I have to say Savannah is the better pick, due to speed of access at the ports, great rail systems & availability of connecting to the major highway system.

In recent months, the number of warehousing projects that have gotten underway and started creating new jobs in the state of Georgia has been impressive. The Peach State is becoming one of the South's big hubs of logistics activities, and it should come as no surprise that even more projects are now planned for the near future.

For instance, the sports and outdoor equipment company Sports Warehouse recently announced plans to open a distribution center in Cumming, Georgia, by July of this year, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. This facility will create about 300 permanent jobs and requires a $14 million investment from Sports Warehouse.  Like many other e-commerce giants that are now looking to expand their reach, Sports Warehouse President Drew Munster notes that the new facility in Georgia will allow the company to improve its delivery times throughout the South, Midwest, and along the East Coast, the report said. This is a huge trend in logistics these days, and it's one that will only continue as competition heats up.

"It's clear that Georgia is the best location for Sports Warehouse's new e-commerce distribution operations," said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. "In FY16, we saw a 114 percent increase in logistics and distribution center announcements due to our unparalleled transportation infrastructure and industry resources. The company's new center in Forsyth County will strengthen our growing economy, and our skilled workforce will support Sports Warehouse in meeting the needs of its international customer base."

Meanwhile, the furniture giant IKEA recently announced plans to expand that will impact Georgia as well, according to Business in Savannah. While the company has long had a distribution center in Savannah - which currently boasts 151 employees - the company will soon open a large store in Jacksonville, Florida, and that it will, therefore, have to expand its Savannah facility's employment base. In all, it plans to bring on more than 20 additional full-timers in Savannah alone.

"The volume through this DC continues to grow. I think it's safe to say we would need to add co-workers whether or not we were looking at a new store in Jacksonville," Joseph Roth, public affairs manager for IKEA, told the site.

With all this in mind, logistics companies in Georgia will do fine to locate here, programs like QUICK-START help get companies up to speed quickly.  There will be some increasing competition for a number of well-trained workers. As such, it may be vital for those looking to fill warehouse jobs to offer the best combination of salary and benefits possible. Companies such as Portfresh Logistics are offering benefits with great starting salaries on day 1 of employment.

“The U.S. East Coast continues to see larger vessels and cargo exchanges since the opening of the expanded Panama Canal last year,” VPA CEO and Executive Director John Reinhart and GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch said in a joint statement. “Increasingly, our customers are seeking gateway ports on the East Coast that can leverage sufficient landside infrastructure to ensure the free flow of cargo. The states of Georgia and Virginia have made the necessary investments to prepare for this new era in global trade. The East Coast Gateway Terminal Agreement is an innovative collaboration that will allow us to find new ways to become more efficient and effective.”

The agreement will enable the member ports to work together to find ways to become more efficient and effective, which will benefit the citizens of their respective states, as well as shippers and the carriers.

Additional areas of cooperation between the GPA and VPA include acquisition and utilization of joint marketing materials and sharing best practices in areas such as terminal operating systems, training, cargo handling, access, turn-times and infrastructure, as well as supporting the promotion of all-water routes from the U.S. East Coast to the international marketplace via the Panama Canal.

Georgia and Virginia are not the first terminal operators to file with the FMC to share information. In December 2016, APM Terminals, DP World, Hutchinson Port Holdings, PSA International, Shanghai International Port (Group) Co., and the Port of Rotterdam Authority filed the “Global Ports Group Agreement” with the Federal Maritime Commission to promote the efficiency and effectiveness of the container port industry.

Containerized trade saw strong growth, with 331,468 twenty-foot equivalent units crossing the docks at the Port of Savannah, up 16.2 percent, or 46,167 TEUs. Of that trade, loaded containers accounted for approximately 268,000 TEUs, also a record.

The increase in loaded containers contributed to an improvement in container tonnage of 22.1 percent (465,710 tons), for a total of 2.57 million tons for the month.

At the Port of Brunswick (BC), bulk cargo more than doubled to 235,802 tons in January, an increase of 125,998 tons. Meanwhile, breakbulk cargo handled at Ocean Terminal in Savannah and at the Mayor's Point and Colonel's Island terminals in Brunswick grew by 17.7 percent to 211,575 tons, an increase of 31,796 tons.

Roll-on/Roll-off trade improved by 7 percent, with 52,778 units of cars, trucks and tractors moving across GPA docks in January, an increase of 3,389 vehicles compared to last year.

"The phenomenal growth at Georgia's ports speaks to the powerful, vibrant economy of Georgia and the Southeastern U.S.," said GPA Board Chairman Jimmy Allgood. "As we continue to expand our transportation infrastructure through a deeper harbor, the largest crane fleet of any U.S. terminal, unmatched interstate connections and a mega-terminal for rail, you will see our ports continue to capture market share and bring new business to the state."

Georgia's deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 369,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $20.4 billion in income, $84.1 billion in revenue and $2.3 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia's economy. The Port of Savannah handled 8.2 percent of the U.S. containerized cargo volume and 10.3 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in CY2015.

Thanks for reading & if you have any questions on Georgia or Savannah call or email me at 1.404.750.3200. Email: bstankiewicz@portfreshlogistics.com

Sincerely,

Bill Stankiewicz

Savannah Supply Chain Guy

www.beBee.com BRAND AMBASSADOR USA , we LOVE beBee!