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Some exciting growth coming to our region
Jon Burns Web
Jon Burns

Friends,

One of the top priorities of the House Republican Caucus is to promote economic growth for all areas of Georgia and especially rural Georgia. I have previously shared with you the valuable work that the House Rural Development Council has done in addressing the unique challenges rural Georgia communities face in traditional economic development. Many rural communities are finding success by cooperating with other communities or counties and working together to bring large-scale projects to their area. A great example of cooperation between the state of Georgia and local communities is the Bryan County Mega-Site and the I-16 Mega-Site Regional Water and Sewer Project.


Bryan County Mega-Site 

In nearby Bryan County, the state of Georgia has made a massive investment in the Bryan County Mega-Site, a site of approximately 2,200 acres. The lead partner in the Mega-Site is the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority which consists of Bryan County, Bulloch County, Chatham County, and Effingham County. The Mega-Site is adjacent to Interstate 16, with access to over 250 major metropolitan areas through Interstate 16 and Interstate 95. 

Additionally, the Mega-Site has a workforce of over 450,000 within a 60-mile radius. The Bryan County Mega-Site will bring growth to Chatham, Effingham, Bryan, and Bulloch Counties (and beyond), impacting the region and our entire state! Importantly, the Bryan County Mega-Site is focused on projects of regional significance that would affect all four surrounding counties and will also attract smaller projects to surrounding counties. 


The I-16 Mega-Site Regional Water and Sewer Project

A vital component of the Mega-Site’s future development is the I-16 Mega-Site Regional Water and Sewer Project. Enhancing the water and sewer infrastructure in the region is critical to the success of the Bryan County Mega-Site. The Water and Sewer Project will address the ever-growing demands of industrial users, commercial development, and residential growth (including workforce housing) in the region. Not only will the proposed Water and Sewer Project service the Bryan County Mega-Site, but it will also serve existing businesses and residences and new industrial, commercial, and residential development along Highway 280 and Highway 80. The Water and Sewer Project also has the potential to serve the Effingham County-Savannah Portside International Park and future industrial development in Bloomingdale along I-16 and Jimmy Deloach Parkway.

This project will also support economic development and residential growth throughout the region. The project will create an estimated 10,000-20,000 direct permanent jobs and an additional 30,000 to 50,000 indirect permanent jobs over the next twenty years. 

The regional impact of the Water and Sewer Project, along with the Mega-Site itself, is designed to transform the lives of Georgians working in the region. This project will improve the quality of jobs offered in the area, bringing new employers to the area. These new jobs will address underemployment concerns and will diversify the businesses and industries operating in the region. 

I look forward to seeing the growth and continued positive economic impact of the Bryan County Mega-Site and the I-16 Mega-Site Regional Water and Sewer Project in the region and especially in District 159. As always, if you have any feedback, do not hesitate to call (404.656.5052), email, or engage on Facebook. If you would like to receive email updates, please visit my website to sign up for my newsletter or email me.


Jon Burns represents District 159 in the Georgia General Assembly, where he serves as the House majority leader.