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Cracker Squire

THE MUSINGS OF A TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN DEMOCRAT

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Location: Douglas, Coffee Co., The Other Georgia, United States

Sid in his law office where he sits when meeting with clients. Observant eyes will notice the statuette of one of Sid's favorite Democrats.

Saturday, September 25, 2004

Look South, brother. That is where you may find peace, prosperity and happiness. -- Georgia's seaports are long-running good news.

A 9-24-04 Atlanta Business Chronicle article reports that the Port of Savannah anticipates 150% growth in less than 15 years, said Doug J. Marchand, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) at it recent annual State of the Port event.

"We can and will be able to accommodate this growth by completing new facilities and infrastructure improvements," Marchand said.

During the State of the Port event, Marchand asked Savannah's business and maritime leaders to help him mobilize local, state and national leaders to fully understand the Port of Savannah's strategic importance to global trade and prepare for future growth.

He encouraged leaders to join with him in an effort to make the "last mile" improvements necessary between GPA's terminals and the interstate system and other necessary road, rail and infrastructure improvements.

Marchand also reviewed the Port of Savannah's 15-year history of growth with business and maritime leaders. In fiscal 2004, the Port of Savannah's total tonnage reached 14,085,849 -- a 124 percent increase over tonnage in 1990. In 2004, Port of Savannah's total containers reached 1,572,734 -- a 289 percent increase over 1990.

Georgia's deepwater ports support 275,968 jobs throughout the state each year and contribute $10.8 billion in income, $35.4 billion in revenue and some $1.4 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia's economy.

This news confirms the good news Bill Shipp reported in a May 16, 2004 column that discussed Georgia ports.

In his column Mr. Shipp reported that:

"Georgia's seaports are prospering. The ports contribute more than $35 billion a year to Georgia's economy and account for one out of every fourteen jobs in the state, according to a study released this year by the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.

"In fact, Georgia's two deep-water ports, Savannah and Brunswick, are becoming among the busiest in the nation. Savannah even welcomes mammoth amounts of Asian shipping that previously used West Coast ports. And foreign automobiles travel by the millions into the country through Brunswick.

"Coastal Georgia is bustling as never before. The next General Assembly will consider plans for major ports' expansion, which will add hundreds of new jobs and expand the facilities' economic impact."

As requested by the executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, let's do our share to help mobilize state and national leaders to fully understand the Port of Savannah's strategic importance to global trade and prepare for future growth.

Mention it to your congressman and state legislators.

It is not just Savannah and Brunswick and surrounding areas that will benefit.

As noted by Mr. Shipp, our seaports account for one out of fourteen jobs in our state, and as the GPA's executive director tells us, continued growth in our seaports will mean tens of thousands of new workers who will help shape Georgia's future.

(Title taken from Mr. Shipp's column.)

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