Governor Announces Plans for Megasite

POOLER, Ga.—A new company and 500 new jobs are coming to the Savannah area. Mitsubishi Power Systems announced Monday it will move into the vacant megasite in Pooler.

The plant will occupy 119 acres of the megasite along I-16 and Dean Forest Road. The company is investing $325 million.

The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility will produce steam and gas turbines.

Mitsubishi officials started looking for sites in late 2007 and the Savannah Economic Development Authority has been working with the company for a year to get them to pick Savannah.

“It’s with great pleasure that we announce and welcome Mitsubishi Power Systems to our state today,“ said Governor Sonny Perdue at the site.

Those were words neighbors in Chatham County had been waiting to hear for a long time.

“In this economy, to finally get a major world class company on our megasite here, that’s a huge deal for Savannah and Chatham County and Pooler,“ said Brian Foster, board chairman for the Savannah Economic Development Authority.

The governor, along with local leaders and executives from Mitsubishi Power Systems, broke ground on the new plant after the announcement.

“We’ve aggressively tried to market over almost a 10 year period and to have a world class company in this world class sector that’s going to be in demand is I think a double win for Pooler, for Chatham, for the coastal area and for Georgia,“ said Perdue.

The company expects to start construction on the first phase of the plant by December 1.  Officials say hiring will start early next year, with training provided by Quick Start, a Georgia workforce training program. The plant could start production in the fall of 2010.

“Here in Georgia there are so many Georgia Tech or universities and also workforce available in Savannah and Greater Savannah area,“ said Mitsubishi Power Systems President and CEO Koji Hasegawa.

But the deal almost did not happen.

“We thought we lost it to another state and another port city, and it came back around and thank goodness they liked the megasite and the governor decided he would open up part of the megasite in order to get this world class company,“ said Foster.

There are also high hopes that Mitsubishi will soon have neighbors.

“I see a lot of growth. I see more houses to be built. I believe more businesses will come, and I don’t believe this will be the only site out here,“ said Pooler Mayor Mike Lamb.

Officials with the SEDA say the megasite could hold up to three or four more companies.

With the move by Mitsubishi, Savannah’s port will be getting a new barge crane with a 500 ton capacity to accommodate the company’s heavy equipment.  Hasegawa said the crane was a key part of their decision.