Georgia U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced, on Thursday, June 10, a $2 million grant for road and infrastructure improvements necessary for the establishment of a new Inland Port in Hall County, Georgia, that will allow expansion of operations through the Port of Savannah.
The planned Northeast Georgia Inland Port will provide a direct link to the Port of Savannah via Norfolk Southern.
This new federal funding, which comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), is expected to create nearly 700 jobs and generate $185 million in private investment.
“As promised, we are delivering resources to create Georgia jobs by upgrading our infrastructure and expanding Georgia’s ports,” Ossoff said. “I thank Commerce Secretary Raimondo and President Biden for their continued support for our efforts to improve Georgia’s infrastructure, create jobs, and invest in Georgia’s ports.”
“When we invest in our infrastructure, we help bolster our state’s economy and create local jobs, benefiting Georgia’s workers and families. I am proud to see these funds go to Hall County, and will keep fighting for additional federal investments that will help strengthen our transportation infrastructure and manufacturing capacity in northeast Georgia,” Warnock said.
“President Biden is committed to helping communities grow their critical industries to improve regional economies across the nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. “This EDA investment in Hall County will facilitate the expansion of the region’s research and development sector while improving the Georgia Ports Authority inland ports, creating new economic opportunities and jobs for local citizens.”
“It is exciting to see this funding in place,” said Griff Lynch, Georgia Ports Authority’s executive director. “Improvements to adjacent roadways will further increase the public safety, economic development and job creation opportunities of the planned inland port.”
Ossoff, a fierce advocate for the Port of Savannah and Georgia’s regional economy, has worked with both public and private sector officials to secure funding for the port throughout his time in the U.S. Senate.
Ossoff has secured commitments from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young to work to fund the completion of the Port of Savannah deepening project.
Last month, Ossoff inspected the Port’s expansion and deepening projects and once again pledged to fight to secure the necessary funding to complete the projects.
Ossoff also recently secured commitments from top executives at some of America’s largest banks to work on expanding private investment in infrastructure, transportation, and clean energy — including the Port of Savannah deepening project.
Warnock also visited the Port this month, vowing to fight to pass an infrastructure package to support growth of the Port.
