Manufacturers

There is a divergence between headcount “covered” employment and “payroll” employment (by place of work) for the manufacturing sector in the Savannah MSA. The far more accurate, but less timely, headcount of manufacturing employment increased 2,300 workers through the second quarter of 2024 as compared to previous year. This is an 11% increase and follows the 13% increase of the previous year. All told, since the May 2022 Hyundai Metaplant announcement, the regional manufacturing base has increased 25% to 23,600 workers. As a result, an additional $200 million in worker compensation is flowing through the 27 regional economy. Over 83% of the manufacturing growth has been at employers in the transportation equipment sector, in other words, at Gulfstream, at the Hyundai Metaplant, and at supply chain firms for the Metaplant.

It is incidentally noted that “payroll” employment growth in the regional manufacturing base for all of 2024 indicates a gain of about 600 workers (+2.6%). This starkly illustrates the limitations of the “payroll” data survey methodology as compared to the actual comprehensive headcount of workers. The survey methodology generally fails to capture inflection points (substantial deviations from trend, up or down) in the actual data because of the data lags built into the methodology. When changes in trends are minimal, the two employment figures converge, but when notable trend changes occur (Hyundai and Gulfstream growth), the two data programs measuring employment diverge. Subsequent benchmark revision of the less accurate “payroll” data occurs in the Spring of each year when the headcount “covered” employment data for the full previous year becomes available.

A review of recent activity and announcements from headlining companies in the sector points toward another strong year for manufacturing in 2025.

The Savannah Harbor-Interstate Corridor Joint Development Authority (Savannah JDA) consisting of Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham counties continued to work with Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) to finalize the development of the Bryan County Megasite, the home of HMGMA. Hyundai Motor Group along with LG Energy Solution have announced a total of 8,500 new jobs and $7.59 billion in capital investment at the Metaplant. The Hyundai Metaplant is the first fully-dedicated electric vehicle manufacturing facility in the state and the largest economic development project in Georgia history.

Not even two years after breaking ground and ahead of their projected schedule, HMGMA officially began production during October of 2024 thanks in part to the Savannah JDA’s timely site preparation of the Bryan County Megasite. The first electric vehicle to roll off the assembly line was an IONIQ 5, one of several models of Hyundai, Genesis and Kia vehicles that will be produced at the Bryan County facility. An official grand-opening celebration is scheduled during the first quarter of 2025.

More than 1,100 employees have already been hired at the plant as “meta-pros” with a large majority being hired from within a 60- mile radius. Additionally, HMGMA, in cooperation with Glovis America, announced it will initially deploy 21 Hyundai XCIENT heavyduty hydrogen fuel-cell electric trucks for clean logistics operations.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is the largest private employer in Savannah with a global workforce of 19,000+ workers in production, service, maintenance, engineering, and research and development. Gulfstream aircraft attained new milestones in 2024. The company was awarded a $991 million contract to offer logistics support services to its special missions aircraft in service with the US Ari Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Coast Guard. Gulfstream completed a $150 million expanded customer service support center at the Savannah/Hilton Head Airport that officially opened July 2024, creating over 200 new jobs and the expansion of the maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility capabilities. The expansion increases the footprint of the service center to 1.1 million square feet with the capacity to concurrently accommodate more the 85 aircraft in ten hangars.

Gulfstream continues development of its fleet of aircraft. The first fully outfitted G800 flight took place in 2024 and is completing the testing procedures for the cabin interior and aircraft performance of the industry’s longest range business-class jet. Initial deliveries of the G700 began in April 2024 after FAA certification and the aircraft recently set 65 city-pair speed records for the quickest travel times between pairs of cities. Further, the G700 received European Union Aviation Safety Agency certifications, creating opportunities for future international deliveries. The G650 and G650ER each surpassed 1 million flight hours for the aircraft that entered service in 2012 and 2014, respectively. The G500 and G600 aircraft each surpassed 100,000 flight hours, thus simultaneously demonstrating high global demand and the durability and dependability of the aircraft. Gulfstream completed the first successful flight of the new G400, thus launching the flight test program for the aircraft.

JCB’s North American headquarters, centered in Savannah, is a 500,000-square-foot facility to support a network of over 115 dealers in the U.S. and Canada. In March of 2024, JCB was awarded a $39 million contract with the United States Marines Corps to deliver 206 units of the 3TS-8T Teleskid, a skid-steer and compact truck loader designed and manufactured in Savannah. In October 2024, the global headquarters announced JCB had produced its one millionth engine since commencing operations in the U.K in 2004.

The Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) had yet another successful year in 2024 as they continued to work with regional partners to attract new jobs opportunities and investment to Chatham County. SEDA announced six new companies in 2024 including Mana Nutrition, Armstrong Logistics, F. List GmBH, GigaCloud Technology, RCO Aerospace and Win.IT America. Savannah also saw growth from existing industries such as NGL Transportation and DSI. SEDA also helped accelerate three Tier 28 1 tenants in the Savannah Chatham Manufacturing Center from pad construction to certificate of occupancy to meet the aggressive production goals of HMGMA. SEDA was awarded the 2024 McKinley “Mac” Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development for the sixth year in a row by Site Selection magazine.

2024 kicked off with the announcement of the Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE), a new regional workforce coalition that SEDA was proud to create. Since its development, the RISE team has secured funding commitments from eight counties to partner with RISE starting in 2025 including Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Liberty and Screven Counties. Additionally, the RISE name and brand have been developed, established and shared through more than 90 presentations to organizations and individuals in the region and state. Working groups for each RISE initiative were developed and managed, employer forums were developed and enhanced throughout the region in partnership with local development authorities and the team planned and executed a trip for approximately 30 regional partners on a best practices summit in Bowling Green, Kentucky. A Board of Directors was formed for the new organization’s operating entity. The RISE team planned and executed two hiring forums related to individuals under 18 and second-chance workers, as well as hosted a military hiring event for exiting service members, spouses, dependents and veterans.

World Trade Center Savannah successfully hosted 10 Global Education Programs with a total of 800 attendees in 2024. The World Trade Center Savannah team returned to Ireland in August 2024 accompanied by leadership from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Southern University, where the group met with Irish businesses and civic leaders in Wexford, Limerick, and Dublin, including strategic meetings with World Trade Center Dublin, to further advance the TradeBridge program and its mission through civic, tourism, education and economic development efforts. World Trade Center Savannah proudly hosted the King and Queen of the Netherlands during their visit to Savannah, playing a crucial role in developing and executing the programming during their visit to the U.S.

World Trade Center Savannah also led its first trade mission to India where it was named the recipient of the World Trade Centers Association North America Regional Member of the Year Award and the Champion Award for Reciprocity and Network Support during the 54th Global Business Forum. 2024 brought 19 inbound delegations from countries including the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Germany, Canada, Australia and Ireland. Throughout 2024, World Trade Center Savannah made significant strides in fostering business and cultural relations with Ghana. This initiative peaked with the historic city-to-city signing ceremony between Accra, Ghana, and Savannah in the spring, formalizing the partnership that the two regions share.

Moving forward into 2025, SEDA will continue to serve the region by marketing the Savannah region to attract industries and serve existing industries. SEDA will continue to focus on addressing workforce needs as identified by the 2023 workforce study released by the Savannah JDA and expects to release a housing study in Q1 of 2025.

In Bryan County, headlining activity, mentioned above, continues to be development associated with the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America electric vehicle manufacturing facility. HMGMA increased employment by about 800 workers to a total of just over 1,100 from 2023 to 2024. Continued employment growth is anticipated in 2025 as production continues the ramping up process. The first Ioniq 5 SUV rolled off the assembly line in the fall of 2024 and the first of the all-new Ioniq 9 three-row SUV will begin production in early 2025. The Metaplant is the only facility in North America to build the Ioniq 9 vehicle.

Bulloch County’s 55 manufacturing establishments employed 2,200 workers as of mid-2024. Five industrial projects announced for Bulloch County since 2022 will continue to enhance the manufacturing base well into 2025 and beyond. Overall, the announcements represent over 1,600 jobs and $1.1 billion in private investment. Four companies (Joon Georgia, Hanon Systems, Ecoplastic, and Aspen Aerogels) in the supply chain for the Hyundai Metaplant comprise the large majority of new jobs and announced investment.

Effingham County’s manufacturing sector also saw strong gains in 2024, with nine new manufacturers commencing operation and employment increasing by 18% to over 2,700 workers. This upward trend is expected to persist, bolstered by the continued rampup of Sewon America, a Tier 1 Hyundai supplier. Currently employing 300 workers, Sewon America is on track to grow to 740 employees by 2029, solidifying its role as a major employer and economic driver for the county.

While new project inquiries in Effingham slowed in 2024 following the completion of the Hyundai Metaplant and Tier 1 supplier facilities, the decline aligns with the exceptional surge of activity seen in 2023. Manufacturing inquiries unrelated to the Metaplant have remained steady, indicating sustained interest in Effingham County’s competitive industrial landscape.

29 Liberty County manufacturers employed about 2,280 workers in 2024, a 4.2% gain over 2023. The highlight of industrial development in the county during the year was the completion of Seohan Auto Georgia’s manufacturing plant in Tradeport East. The South Korean-based company builds brake and tie-rod parts for automobiles and is a Tier One vendor to Hyundai’s nearby EV Metaplant in Bryan County. Seohan started operations in November and had 44 employees in December. It expects to have more than 180 employees when in full operation. In Midway Industrial Park, Builders FirstSource added approximately 30,000 SF to its existing manufacturing space, where the company assembles building trusses. The county’s largest employer, SNF Corporation, employs approximately 1,700 persons and is the second largest manufacturing employer in the seven-county Savannah combined statistical area.

Another important development for Liberty County industry is the completion of buildings in Dorchester Commerce Center just outside Tradeport East. Flint Development of Kansas City completed two of the three buildings planned for the industrial park in 2024. The new buildings cover 276,000 SF and 594,500 SF and are being marketed. The third building, with 1,200,000 SF, is expected for delivery in early 2025. Further, other activity bodes well for the future of industrial development in the county. In early December 2024 state officials awarded a $2 million grant to the Liberty County Development Authority to help fund construction of roadway infrastructure into Tradeport West Business Center south of Midway. The road and drainage infrastructure will enhance the attractiveness to prospective industries considering the 170-acre site which is ready for development. The remodeling of two vacant industrial buildings in Hinesville Technology Park is also nearing completion. The buildings have attracted attention from prospects and occupants are expected soon.