Companies mull $1 billion in investment at Augusta Corporate Park (Savannah: authority, rail)

[Airforceguy]

This would be huge for Augusta if it landed all three companies

Three companies – all manufacturers – have their eyes on the Augusta Corporate Park.

Actually, 10 companies have their eyes on the park, but three are in what the Augusta Economic Development Authority would call late-stage negotiations.

The agency’s industrial recruiters told board members this past week the three companies could generate several hundred jobs and nearly $1.15 billion in new investment at the city’s south Augusta industrial park, which is just off State Route 56 near the Burke County line.

Augusta EDA President Cal Wray said the companies, two of which are international, each seek railroad access as a condition of locating at the nearly 1,800-acre park. Wray did not disclose the companies – as is customary in economic development circles – but he said the projects would represent investments in the ballpark of $600 million, $350 million and $200 million.

“The overlap between all three of these is the rail,” Wray told board members. “The rail has to be designed to accommodate all three, even if only one locates. If we do it any other way, we’ll eliminate ourselves.”

Developing a 7,000-foot rail spur off the main Norfolk Southern line just east of the industrial park has been a priority of Wray’s since he was hired early last year. Once engineers determine whether the wetlands can be crossed with a trestle bridge or less-costly culverts, the big hurdle will be figuring out how to pay for the $6 million to $10 million improvement.

The line would provide the industrial park a direct freight link to major import-export operations at the Port of Savannah.

Wray said the three projects will be “very active over the next few months.” One of the companies is sending representatives to visit Augusta during the annual Red Carpet Tour hospitality, the annual economic development event held in conjunction with the Masters Tournament.

https://www.augustachronicle.com/new...corporate-park