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Long Chamber names school system business of year
Business organization has Christmas party
Waters plaque
Long County Superintendent Dr. Robert Waters accepts a plaque Tuesday from Long County Chamber of Commerce President Kadee Dasher after the chamber named the school system its 2013 business of the year. - photo by Photo by Mike Riddle

At its annual Christmas party, the Long County Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday named the Long County School System its 2013 business of the year and installed officers for the coming year.
“I’m totally floored by this. I had no idea this was coming,” Superintendent Dr. Robert Waters said.
Board of education Chairwoman Janet Watford and member Julie Dawson also were on hand for the announcement.
“Getting an award like this is so special, but this is only possible because of the support of all of the stakeholders in the school system, the board, the school staff, the community and the students,” Waters said. “The old saying goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Well, it takes a whole community to raise a student, and the support that Long County has for its kids is great.”
After Waters accepted a plaque from chamber President Kadee Dasher, Miriam Murray introduced the 2014 incoming officers — President Don Melton, President-elect Ray Howard, corresponding secretary Elise Stafford, recording secretary Christy Wingate, treasurer Joan Robbins and additional directors James Wasden and Teresa Odum.
Melton addressed party attendees and encouraged them to continue their support of Ludowici and Long County businesses. He urged those in attendance to join the chamber and said the organization will continue to hold its Business After Hours events and leadership breakfasts in the coming year.
“This is your organization, and we want your input,” Melton said.
After business had been conducted, a cake auction and memorabilia blind auction were held to raise money for the chamber’s scholarship fund. Melton said the chamber provides two $500 college scholarships and one $350 technical-college scholarship every year to Long County graduates. This year, the top donation for a cake came from attorney Jeffrey Arnold, who bid $110 for a coconut cake baked by chamber member Ann Parker.
Following the auctions, the Long County High School Rip-Tide Jazz Band performed Christmas tunes as guests made s’mores over a fire pit. The party, held at Forest Pond Lodge, was sponsored by Altamaha Federal Credit Union, Liberty Regional Medical Center and Canoochee EMC.


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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

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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