GPA preserves past while pursuing future

‘Savannah Model’ Pioneered

Since 1945, the vision of the Georgia Ports Authority’s forward-thinking board members and state leaders has allowed the authority to anticipate and take advantage of emerging trends in the maritime logistics industry.

From its formation as a statewide authority coordinating the efforts of Georgia’s ports, to its entry into container trade nearly four decades ago, to more recent handling of megavessels, the GPA has been a model of efficiency.

Developed to oversee terminals and foster commerce, the GPA has had a revolutionary effect on Georgia’s economy and how port services are marketed across the nation.

Starting in 1995, the GPA pioneered the “Savannah model” of marketing its services directly to cargo owners, instead of only to shipping lines. By convincing big-box retailers to establish distribution centers in Georgia, the GPA ensured not only new import business but, moreover, a steady stream of empty containers to support Peach State exports.

This marketing model, emulated throughout the nation, has proven incredibly successful in helping the GPA accomplish its central mission of spurring economic development for the state of Georgia.

The Georgia Ports Authority cooperates daily with state and local economic development authorities in their work to win manufacturing and logistics projects for the state. The authority also conducts international outreach to current and potential customers to bring more business to Georgia.

These efforts have seen enormous success. In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, alone, port customers announced 68 new development projects in Georgia, bringing 12,000 more jobs and $5 billion in additional investments to the state.

According to the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, port activity in Georgia supports nearly 440,000 private industry jobs across the state, $25 billion in paychecks each year, $44 billion in state gross domestic product and $106 billion in annual sales.