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United Way partners with STC on jobs program
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SAVANNAH — United Way of the Coastal Empire recently announced it selected Savannah Technical College as a strategic-initiative partner for economic independence with a grant for $290,000.
According to a news release, the goal of the grant is to build career paths that provide career advancement opportunities for lower-skilled workers and job-seekers to obtain family supporting wages.
“We appreciate the United Way’s support of our workforce development programs and applaud its visionary support of economic independence,” STC President Dr. Kathy Love said. “We know that those without a high-school diploma have challenges securing meaningful employment. This program will provide a combination of GED-preparation classes and training that will put these students on the path to self-sufficiency. Their success will create a ripple effect throughout our communities.”
After workshops with UWCE partners and stakeholders throughout the spring and summer of 2013, the focus of the strategic initiative turned to the area of economic independence. UWCE invited funding proposals for a multifaceted strategy effective in connecting individuals to employment with self-sustaining wages. The UWCE Vision Council received 12 submissions, and the Accelerating Opportunity program of STC stood apart as an innovative approach to creating career opportunities, while augmenting UWCE investments in other services across our community.
Accelerating Opportunity employs an evidence-based, nationally recognized best-practice approach to career training that focuses on linking training, basic-skills education and credentialing to high-demand jobs that provide adults a path to a family sustaining wage ($12/hour with benefits, $15/hour without benefits).
Traditionally, students must possess a high school/GED prior to enrolling in courses that lead to a degree or certificate. Through Accelerating Opportunity, students will be enrolled in GED-prep classes, while accelerating their training for work. The collaboratively taught classes integrate basic skills with practical, occupational training that build toward degrees and/or certificates. Students will work with a career navigator who will help them succeed in the program, overcome obstacles, and ultimately graduate with the credentials.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a person with a high-school or GED credential earns $10,000 more annually than a non-high-school graduate.
For more information about Accelerating Opportunity, call 912-443-5352 or email bstubbs@savannahtech.edu.

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GPA grows trade, market share
Intermodal volume up 20 percent
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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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