Interstate Centre in Black Creek is welcoming a new tenant to the industrial park – one that is expected to bring dozens of new jobs to the area.
Matson Logistics, a Hawaii-based company, is expanding its Port of Savannah distributions and operations and recently signed a lease to occupy Building 100 in the Interstate Centre. The new warehouse should open later this month and is expected to create more than 40 jobs in the next five years, according to a press release from the Development Authority of Bryan County.
“The Development Authority of Bryan County is excited Matson Logistics has chosen our community and Interstate Centre for its new facility to support their Savannah operations,” Development Authority Chairman Steve Croy said. “We work very hard to provide the best business environment for logistics companies looking to use Georgia Ports to locate with us.”
Building 100 is a 604,930-square-foot, state-of-the-art, cross dock distribution facility designed for logistics users looking for heavy trailer storage, deep truck courts, immediate access to the interstate system and the world’s shipping lanes, said Development Authority Executive Director Josh Fenn. Matson will lease 130,000 square feet of the building.
He said with the new facility, Matson's full-time staff in the Savannah area is expected to exceed 100. In addition to its Savannah location, the company also currently operates a 1.1 million-square-foot campus in Pooler, as well as in northern and southern California.
“Matson’s growing presence in the Savannah market is a new opportunity for a company that has historically focused on Pacific trade and now sees growth with wider participation in the eastern logistics network,” Fenn said. “With increased freight volumes moving through the port, Savannah was a logical focal point for Matson Logistics”
Matson Logistics began offering warehousing and distribution services in 2008 as an expansion of its suite of logistics capabilities, which encompass domestic and international rail intermodal service, long haul and regional highway service, supply chain services and LTL transportation services. 
“Since 2008, our warehousing and distribution capabilities in Savannah have grown from a small staff of 10 employees and one client to its current two warehouse operation that employees about 70 employees, as well as seasonal temporary labor,” said Jimmy Shafer, vice president of operations for Matson Logistics.
James Scarboro, who manages the area operations for Matson Logistics, said the company is investing in the Savannah market and community.
“We have a great team of employees dedicated to providing the best service to our customers,” he said. “We plan to continue to build our presence and reputation in the region as a long-term provider of premium warehousing and logistics services for goods moving through the Port of Savannah.”
The expansion is also expected to be a boost to Matson’s use of the Georgia Port Authority’s Garden City Terminal.
“Matson’s expansion into Bryan County’s Interstate Centre industrial park will help build additional capacity in our logistics and supply chain,” GPA’s Executive Director Curtis Foltz said. “We appreciate Matson’s commitment and confidence in the Port of Savannah as our distribution network continues to expand its regional footprint and position as the major hub for container traffic in the Southeast.”
Matson Logistics joins Oneida, Blue Bell Creameries, Kawasaki, Oracal USA and others in calling Interstate Centre home to its Savannah Metro distribution operations.
Interstate Centre is a 1,100-acre class A industrial park located at the intersection of I-16 and Hwy. 280. Building 100 is a partnership between the Development Authority of Bryan County and TPA Realty Services.
“Bryan County is honored to have been chosen by Matson Logistics for their new facility,” Bryan County Commission Chairman Jimmy Burnsed said. “This is only the beginning of our outstanding partnership with TPA Realty Services to bring new investments and jobs into our community.”
Matson Logistics is a subsidiary of Matson, a leader ocean carrier that has served the Pacific since 1882. Matson provides ocean transportation services for Hawaii, Guam, China and Micronesia. Matson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin Inc. of Honolulu, Hawaii.
“Matson is a name brand in the third-party logistics community and will help Bryan County attract more jobs and investment because of their confidence in our business environment,” Croy said. “We feel strongly that it is important that Bryan County be viewed as a community that welcomes those willing to make capital investments for the creation of jobs for our citizens and are very pleased to have Matson Logistics become a member of our business community.”