The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that Volvo has dropped a site in Bryan County for a new plant.
Citing two unnamed sources that the newspaper says are close to the negotiations, it says the former Swedish carmaker appears to favor a site near Charleston for the half a billion dollar plant that could create as many as 4,000 jobs in the next 10 years.
Nearly 2,000 acres along Interstate 16 in Bryan County were reportedly in the running for the plant.
The newspaper reports that a Volvo spokesman said no decision has been made yet.
During their most recent session Georgia lawmakers budgeted a center to train manufacturing workers in Southeast Georgia and put $40 in the current budget at the request of Gov. Nathan Deal for what was being called deal-closing grants.
The state incentives were recently discussed by area lawmakers with the Effingham Herald.
State Sen. Jack Hill (R-Reidsville) praised the $17 million included in the fiscal year 2016 budget for a training center at the Pooler megasite that will serve “not only existing industries but hopefully a new automobile manufacturing facility we’re working on,” he said.
Gov. Nathan Deal and other state officials were making a last proposal last week, according to Hill.
“We should know something within a week,” he said. “That would be great for our part of the state.”
A multi-county development authority centered around I-16, of which Effingham is a part, has submitted an application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a 1,900-acre megasite manufacturing facility in Bryan County. The site is across I-16 from Bryan County’s industrial park along Highway 280.
Hill also said a new Georgia Southern University degree program in manufacturing technology has been key in luring a new industry that has not made the decision to locate in south Georgia.
Included the FY16 budget was a $40 million package for “deal-making,” known as the regional economic business assistance account.
“There were several opportunities to encourage economic development,” state Rep. Jon Burns said of the budget. “That was one of the cornerstones of ensuring Georgia remains No. 1 as we attract industries to our state.”
The REBA funds could be used to front-load the state’s drive to land Volvo.
“The state is continuing to be aggressive in seeking new manufacturing and new jobs for the state,” Hill said.
-- Effingham Herald’s Patrick Donahue contributed to this report.