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Visitor bureau, chamber hope to increase tourism
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Special to the Couirer
Updated: Dec 24, 2011, 4:15 PM
Published: Dec 23, 2011, 4:15 PM

The Liberty County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors recently formed a memorandum of understanding with the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce to partner together to increase tourism development in Liberty County.
“This partnership will save both parties money on things like salaries, office supplies, office equipment, rent, etc., and will really enable the convention and visitors bureau and the chamber to run even more effectively,” said Sandra Martin, board chairwoman of the convention and visitors bureau.
The partnership is a formal agreement that will not dissolve either entity as it currently exists, meaning that each entity will maintain its own finances with separate accounting systems and that neither party would be liable for debts or obligations of the other.
“The board feels that this is really a step in the right direction,” Martin said.
The Tourism Product Resource Team that visited in February also identified in its 104-page report presented to the community in March the fact that the chamber and the CVB often are partners in other communities and that the “Liberty County chamber can be the hero in launching and supporting the Hinesville/Liberty County Convention & Visitors Bureau.”
The team further explained that by working together, both organizations have economic impact as a common goal and that in order to have an effective tourism program in any community, the chamber staff and members must be “committed and supportive.”
According to figures compiled by the team for 2009, the most current data available, tourism in Liberty County has generated 570 jobs, produced $11.72 million in payroll, created $2.97 million in state tax revenue and generated $2.59 million in local tax revenue.
“We are very excited about this opportunity and feel that the mission and vision of the chamber are similar to that of the CVB, which is to see our local businesses, trade and industry do well, while increasing the cultural, civic, educational and overall quality of life of its citizens,” chamber board Chairman Kevin Thomas said. “The chamber and its 500-plus members are committed to enhancing the local business climate and maintaining a high quality of life in the community.”
The joint organization will maintain offices as they currently exist inside the LCDA, and the only significant change immediately noticeable will be the addition of a staff person to act as the program assistant for the convention and visitors bureau.

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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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