GPA hopes to use proven formula to grow Brunswick auto business (Savannah: lease, calculated)

[Airforceguy]

The Georgia Ports Authority has continued to grow its Garden City Terminal container business in large part by staying ahead of the capacity curve, ports Director Griff Lynch told industry leaders gathered on Sea Island on Monday for the first day of the Georgia Foreign Trade Conference.

Now, Lynch is looking to replicate that success at GPA’s growing auto port in Brunswick, where the long-term goal is to double the capacity for cars and heavy machinery on Colonel’s Island.

“We talk a lot about our container operation, but we have another massive operation down the coast,” he said. “The largest footprint for automobiles in the country is in Brunswick.

“Like our container operation, our auto port is also the fastest growing segment in the country. But, unlike our container port, we lease our Brunswick property to auto manufacturers, carriers and processors.”

And that, Lynch said, has brought its own set of issues.


“Typically, our position would be to wait until we had a lease signed before developing a piece of property for a customer. So, as business has grown, we’ve had customers come to us and say they want to start bringing autos or machines through Brunswick and we have to tell them, ‘Great! Sign this lease and your facility will be ready in a year.’

“That simply doesn’t cut it anymore,” he said.

To that end, Lynch said, he asked his board to take a “calculated risk” with Colonel’s Island.

GPA hopes to use proven formula to grow Brunswick auto business | SavannahNow

[Iconographer]

I support this. His logic seems sound, as he alludes to the point that the industry expects this particular niche to anticipate demand and react to it in a timely manner.
Demand for finishing facilities (where cars receive their final detailing before rolling out to dealerships) in Brunswick isn't likely to drop. Not only have they created an industry-friendly environment there, but also one that is relatively pollution-free relative to its' competition. But staying at least abreast of the competition is something that we simply must do.