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Hugo Boss expanding distribution center here
LCDA at hboss
Several Liberty County Development Authority (LCDA) board and staff members visited the Hugo Boss expansion in the Midway Industrial Park: From left to right, LCDA CEO Ron Tolley, LCDA Board Member and Hinesville Mayor Jim Thomas, LCDA Chairman Allen Brown, LCDA Vice-Chairman and Liberty County Commission Chairman John McIver, and LCDA Director of Administration & Finance Carmen Cole. - photo by Photo provided / Coastal Courier
Special to the Couirer
Updated: Apr 8, 2008, 9:00 AM
Published: Mar 24, 2008, 2:07 PM
Hugo Boss, a leading manufacturer of upscale men's and women's clothing and accessories, is expanding its Midway distribution center.
The current, 165,000-sq.-ft. building in the Midway Industrial Park is being more than doubled to 330,000 sq. ft. The $6.8 million expansion will result in 75 new jobs bringing the German company's workforce here to approximately 200.
The company chose Liberty County for the center in 2002. Bill Scott, Hugo Boss chief operating officer, said Liberty was chosen over competing communities in both Georgia and South Carolina.
"The decision was made based on several criteria," Scott said. "We did a logistics analysis based on what they offered us.  There is nothing Liberty County has not done to accommodate us."
Local officials have similar feelings about the company.
"We are excited that Hugo Boss is expanding their distribution center in our Midway Industrial Park in Liberty County," Liberty County Development Authority Chairman Allen Brown said. "Hugo Boss' expansion is a testament to Liberty County's qualified and available workforce and business-friendly climate."
Scott said the labor pool here has been a bonus.
"We have not had trouble filling available slots.  We have had a steady applicant flow," he explained.
After six successful years in Liberty County, the company is expanding facility to bolster operations.  This is the first step in a five-year plan to increase operations, Scott said.
In order to meet the increased demand for additional space, construction has already begun and is expected to be done in May.
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GPA grows trade, market share
Intermodal volume up 20 percent
port photo
Rubber tired gantry cranes handle cargo at the Chatham Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at the Port of Savannah. The Georgia Ports Authority's Mason Mega Rail project will double rail lift capacity to 1 million containers per year by 2020 - photo by Provided
Staff Report
Updated: Apr 17, 2018, 1:07 PM
Published: Apr 17, 2018, 1:08 PM

The Georgia Ports Authority achieved 14 percent growth in March container volumes, moving 355,208 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers.

From July 2017 to March, TEU container trade grew by 9 percent, or 255,786 additional units for a total of 3.08 million, a new record for Savannah.

"Savannah's continued strength is a reflection of our customers' commitment, Georgia's leadership, and the many dedicated service providers, GPA employees and ILA members who come together every day to achieve great things," said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch. "March marked our 17th consecutive month of business expansion thanks, in part, to a strong economy and growing market share."

Intermodal rail volumes jumped by 20 percent in March and 15.4 percent for the fiscal year to date, for a total of 318,454 containers handled over nine months – another record for the GPA.

"As the numbers show, our rail cargo is growing at a faster pace than our overall trade," GPA Chairman Jimmy Allgood said. "This is important because rail is playing a key role in our responsible growth strategy. We anticipate our rail infrastructure investments to take 250,000 trucks off the road each year by 2020."

The GPA recently broke ground on its Mason Mega Rail Terminal, on which the Port of Savannah will build 10,000-foot unit trains within its own footprint. From the expanded rail infrastructure at Garden City Terminal, Class I rail providers CSX and Norfolk Southern will provide direct rail service to major Southeast and Midwestern markets from Memphis to St. Louis, Chicago to Cincinnati.

An added benefit is that the Mason Mega Rail project will move all rail switching on terminal – improving vehicle traffic flow around the port.

In August, the GPA will open its Appalachian Regional Port in Murray County. Located in an industrial belt, including the production and export of carpet and flooring, automobiles and tires, the ARP will provide an alternative to all-truck transit to Northwest Georgia.

Each round-trip container moved via the Appalachian Regional Port will offset 710 truck miles on Georgia highways.

March was also a strong month for roll-on/roll-off auto and machinery units at the Port of Brunswick and Ocean Terminal in Savannah. Colonel's Island Terminal in Brunswick handled 66,144 cars, trucks and tractors, while Ocean Terminal added 4,050, for a total 70,194, a 17.2 percent increase.

"The global economy is thriving and our volumes are following suit," Lynch said. "As existing accounts grow their footprint in the expanding auto facility in Brunswick, Georgia's competitive logistical advantages are drawing additional business across all of our docks."

Lynch noted that for the fiscal year to date, Mayor's Point breakbulk terminal in Brunswick grew by 44 percent (34,515 tons) to reach 112,728 tons of forest products. At East River Terminal, bulk cargo expanded by 34 percent July-March (189,918 tons) for a total of 750,384 tons.

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