Ag News
NE Georgia inland port tabbed for $47 million federal grant
Posted on Jul 07, 2021 at 0:00 AM
On June 30, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the intent to award a $46.9 million federal grant to the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) for the planned Northeast Georgia Inland Port. Congress will have 60 days to review the department’s proposed project awardees.
The award, provided through the DOT’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program, will help build a new inland container port along the I-85/I-985 corridor in Gainesville. The new port, with an anticipated capacity of 200,000 lifts per year, will be connected to the Port of Savannah through a 324-mile intermodal freight rail service.
“The Northeast Georgia Inland Port will serve the region’s thriving manufacturing and logistics corridor by shifting more containers from truck to rail. Use of inland terminals in such corridors reduces highway traffic, cuts carbon emissions and lowers costs for cargo owners,” said GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.
In addition to reducing shipping truck traffic and commuter delays by choosing intermodal rail transportation to and from the ports, the federal investment will also support and promote job growth in Georgia by providing Northeast Georgia companies a quicker and more efficient way to access national and global markets.
The Northeast Georgia Inland Port will be strategically located to serve the Georgia poultry industry, a large portion of which is located in and around Hall County.
“We’re pleased that the Georgia Ports Authority grant application for the inland port in Hall County was approved,” Georgia Poultry Federation President Mike Giles said. “Moving product quickly and efficiently to the Port of Savannah is an important part of servicing customers throughout the world.”
The federation sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in March in support of the GPA application.
Georgia is the nation’s top state for broiler production, and the Port of Savannah is the top port for exporting broiler products around the world.
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