Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp joined leaders from the Georgia Port and other officials in celebrating the opening of the state’s newest inland port in Gainesville.
The $134 million Gainesville Inland Port would give freight rail customers an option for greater affordability, while also allowing customers to choose truck-only transportation for faster transit. The Georgia Ports Authority said it expects to shift 26,000 containers to rail in the Gainesville port’s first year of operation, improving emissions and reducing trucks on Georgia highways. The port will serve North Georgia and the Carolinas, and presently handles a mix of home and retail goods as well as manufacturing components for imports. Exports from the port include farm and forest products, and manufacturing.
“Georgia’s ports are a major reason companies choose to invest and create jobs here, and the Gainesville Inland Port brings that advantage directly to Northeast Georgia,” Kemp said. “Connecting this region to the Port of Savannah with new supply chain options makes it easier for Georgia businesses to reach customers around the world and helps ease congestion on our highways.”
Officials said Northeast Georgia is home to a growing manufacturing and logistics corridor, with a consumer market of 2 million and more than 300 manufacturers. Nearly 80 news and expanding firms have added more than 4,800 jobs and $2 billion in capital to the Hall County-Gainesville community, officials said. Of that, 33 percent is concentrated in manufacturing, processing and logistics.
“We view this as a high growth market where we can improve supply chain performance and make customers more competitive long-term. We’re bringing the Port of Savannah closer to Gainesville,” Georgia Ports CEO Griff Lynch said.
The Gainesville Inland Port will link customers to the Port of Savannah’s 40 weekly vessel calls with Norfolk Southern rail service. The inland port has an annual capacity of 200,000 containers with storage and truck gate access from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday thru Friday.