ATLANTA – House Majority Leader Jon Burns (R-Newington), State Representative Bill Hitchens (R-Rincon), and State Senator Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) today announced that the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority was awarded $400,000 in Equity Grant funding from the OneGeorgia Authority to provide water infrastructure to Savannah Cold Storage/PortFresh Logistics.
“We are thrilled to receive these grant funds to further enhance our economic development opportunities in Effingham County,” said Leader Burns. “In addition to creating many new jobs for our citizens over the course of its operation, this state-of-the-art facility will be unique to our region, while also increasing efficiency in refrigerated shipments to the Port of Savannah, giving our county a more competitive advantage within this growing industry.”
The Effingham County Industrial Development Authority was awarded $400,000 in funding through the OneGeorgia Authority Equity Grant program to provide water infrastructure to Savannah Cold Storage/PortFresh Logistics. This 100,000 square foot repacking and cold storage facility will support the Georgia Ports Authority’s initiative to increase refrigerated perishable shipments to the Port of Savannah. The project will create 40 new jobs when it opens in September 2016, and will increase to more than 75 new full time jobs by its fourth year of operation. The Effingham County Development Authority has invested $4,508,657 to date, with the project is generating $13,971,000 in private investment, and a total project cost of $18,880,152.
The OneGeorgia Authority serves as a financial partner to help rural communities maintain quality of life advantages while also creating sustainable and diversified economies. The Equity Fund provides financial assistance that includes grants, loans and any other forms of assistance to finance activities that will aid applicants in promoting the health, welfare, safety, and economic security of the citizens through the development and retention of employment opportunities. Qualifying applicants include local governments and their authorities, joint or multi-county development authorities, lending institutions, and airport authorities.
For more information about OneGeorgia Authority or the Equity Fund, please click here.
Representative Jon Burns represents the citizens of District 159, which includes portions of Bulloch, Effingham, and Screven counties. He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2006 and is currently serves as the Majority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives. He also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Economic Development & Tourism, Ethics, Games, Fish, & Parks, Rules, and Transportation committees.
Representative Bill Hitchens represents the citizens of District 161, which includes portions of Chatham and Effingham counties. He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and serves as the Vice Chairman of the Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee. He is also a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety, Transportation, Economic Development & Tourism and Public Safety & Homeland Security committees.
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