In support of that growth, SEDA continues to partner with Gulfstream to help them expand their Savannah facilities and in September 2014 Jay Neely, Gulfstream vice president for law and public affairs, thanked the SEDA board of directors for their continued support and help in making the new state-of-the-art $33 million paint facility a reality.

Gulfstream already operates the largest business aviation maintenance facility in the world out of Savannah. Now, this new paint facility, which is being located near the impressive 680,000 square foot maintenance building, will be one of the most advanced high-tech paint hangars ever constructed. With an expected completion of summer 2015, the new facility will bring in a minimum of 100 new jobs to the area.

The complex is the largest private industrial site at the Port of Savannah featuring a mile of deep-water frontage, dual rail access into the port and infrastructure that includes a dock, utilities and services such as steam, compressed, air, process water, construction services and more.

At the time of the announcement Dulany said, “SeaPoint will offer everything from soup to nuts. Our clients will have accessibility to rail, deep water, steam and solar energy, warehousing, R&D facilities and other amenities.”

Cliff Dales, whose Collier Savannah office will help market the site along with CBRE said, “I have been marketing industrial real estate in the Savannah area for 30 years, and this is by far the most unique and exciting site I have seen or had the opportunity to work on.”

SEDA President and CEO Trip Tollison added, “This project will give Savannah much sought-after property that will be perfect for port-related businesses and is a great asset as SEDA markets Savannah with the goal to create jobs and attract investment to our region.”

"We couldn’t be more excited about [this property’s] potential and look forward to bringing a large number of jobs and significant investment to the property."

- Reed Dulany, president of Dulany Industries

The expansion includes an 18,000 square foot Research Center for up to 30 new scientists. These scientists will research and develop new technology and products for existing and new markets.

SEDA worked with Johnson Matthey on the expansion. Trip Tollison, SEDA president and CEO said, "We are thrilled that Johnson Matthey has once again chosen Savannah to expand. The addition of 25 to 30 high-wage jobs in Savannah is a definite win for our area."

The company, which manufactures and sells specialty additives and addition systems for use in the fluid catalytic cracking process and other applications primarily for the petroleum refining industry, currently employs more than 160 people at its Savannah facilities.

"We are appreciative of SEDA’s role in helping Johnson Matthey expand in Savannah,” said Bruce Keener, vice president of manufacturing for Johnson Matthey Process Technologies, Inc. “We have been in Savannah for more than 25 years and look forward to continuing our investment in innovative technology and manufacturing in this great community."

“We have been in Savannah for more than 25 years and look forward to continuing our investment in innovative technology and manufacturing in this great community.”

– Bruce Keener, vice president of manufacturing for Johnson Matthey Process Technologies, Inc.

"Shipping to more than 190 countries, Neovia Logistics delivers a nimble, cutting-edge approach to supply chain management,” said Curtis Foltz, executive director of the Georgia Port Authority. “Their state-of-the-art solutions mesh perfectly with the Port of Savannah’s speed, efficiency and its global reach delivered through 38 weekly container ship services."

Neovia chose to partner with local logistics provider, Coastal Logistics Group (CLG), for its specialized manufacturing support services. Headquartered in Savannah, CLG is a premier third-party logistics provider that uses lean logistics expertise, robust technologies and kaizen culture to engineer customized solutions for its customers. With its solid reputation, offering of services and convenience to the cross dock operation, CLG was the stand-out choice for the Neovia.

"Savannah is known worldwide as a premier logistics and distribution hub," said Trip Tollison, president and CEO of the Savannah Economic Development Authority. "Companies like Neovia Logistics further add to the reputation that the Port of Savannah is a leading port to import and export goods."

Haifa Group is a leading global supplier of potassium nitrate, specialty plant nutrients and food phosphates, which supply the agriculture industry. With a total investment of $12 million and the creation of 20 new jobs, the Haifa Group plant opening is one more way that our region continues to attract the interest of businesses from around the world.

Gaining the attention of companies like Haifa is due in large part to the efforts of organizations, like SEDA, that are leveraging Georgia STEP grant funding. This funding has helped the state attract the interest of 38 buyers from Israel, Brazil, China, Germany, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. Roughly 26 percent of those buyers are from Israel.

“We fully expect that this new production facility will help establish our state as a center of advanced fertilizer technology with farmers, nursery owners and professional turf experts across the country asking for our products.”

- Governor Nathan Deal

"We’re excited! This is a way to service our customers better by providing regional presence to the southeast," said Steve Good, director of operations for Kimball Midwest.

Totaling approximately 142,000 square feet, the center will create new jobs in Savannah, including office and warehouse positions and will house extensive inventory of everything from nuts and bolts to cutting tools and chemicals. Within the facility, 5,500 square feet will be used exclusively for office and training space and the entire center will follow the path of energy conservation that the rest of the company has implemented in recent years. Specific steps include removing outdated lighting and replacing it with LED alternatives, as well as replacing all current HVAC mechanicals with more energy-efficient equipment.

The Savannah facility will be the fourth for Kimball Midwest, with other distribution centers located in Dallas, Texas; Reno, Nevada; and its headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.

With its varied landscape – including Atlantic-coast beach, historic downtown Savannah and nearby farmlands to name a few – a director can choose from any number of beautiful yet vastly different settings all within a few miles of each other.

In 2014, after an extensive search, SEDA retained the expertise of award-winning producer, Ralph Singleton, to further promote and sell the Savannah region for various production projects.

“Ralph Singleton has many years of experience as a producer, studio head and director in the film industry,” said Trip Tollison, SEDA President and CEO. “His in-depth knowledge and high-level connections will be vital to help bring productions to the Savannah region.”

The hire was made in part as a result of the Stanford Research Institute Competitive Positional Analysis and Target Industry Study commissioned by SEDA in 2011. In the report, SRI affirmed that with consistent efforts to address infrastructure and labor issues, the film, television and commercial production industry is one of Savannah’s greatest opportunities to further diversify and expand the economy. After the report, SEDA organized a committee of stakeholders and industry professionals led by Stratton Leopold to identify key assets and barriers and make recommendations for advancing the sector.

“Ralph Singleton has extensive experience in the industry and is widely respected,” commented Leopold. “He will do a great job marketing Savannah as the ideal location for film production.”

Singleton has worked on more than 40 motion pictures and two television series including Murder at 1600, Last Man Standing and Another 48 Hours. He also earned an Emmy Award for his work on the television series, Cagney and Lacey. Singleton will work closely with the Savannah Film Office, whose primary responsibility is to manage productions once they choose Savannah.