Our Hometown: Rejuvenating Bulloch County's Manufacturing Industry

(Bulloch County, GA.) What you see is what you get in Bulloch County.
"We're very large in terms of size.  So there's plenty of land to do things not just in a metropolitan setting but in a country setting," says Benjy Thomson. 
The landscape is peppered with loyal, hardworking, and good people.  Thousands have lived here since birth.
Educational opportunities attracted thousands more.
Like the majority of places in America Bulloch County got zapped by the economy too.
relief is on the way.
"1,2,3 ready go."
 This hometown celebration in 2010 is what many counties and several states wanted.
Great Dane decided to occupy land here for a sprawling manufacturing plant that will employ 400 people. 
"With the welcome that we received from the City of Statesboro and the state of Georgia it became a no brainer that this is where it had to be," says Great Dane President and CEO Phillip Pines.
Once construction at the industrial park is complete production of large refrigerator trailers will begin.
Development Authority CEO Benjy Thompson calls Great Dane a big win.
"There will be a lot of folks that have good jobs, and they'll be able to live and remain in Bulloch County if they'd like to have those good jobs and that's a great thing."
The old saying good things come to those who wait couldn't be farther from the truth.
1998 was the last time a manufacturing plant was sold on Bulloch County.
The road that leads to Great Dane will be a driving force for students at  Ogeechee Tech .    
"We've had a lot of conversation with the technical college about providing direct training that would help Folks get jobs at Great Dane particularly in the welding area," says Benjy Thompson.
Winning Great Dane gives Bulloch County an edge.
A couple of Great Dane vendors are bringing jobs too.
"They'll be in separate facilities and they'll have around 30 employees total that will be working on the refrigeration units for the Great Dane Trailers."
The news just keeps getting better. 
The industrial park will soon be home to GAF Roofing Manufacturing.
"They'll bring about 50 jobs here, and they'll be manufacturing roofing insulation here in our community which is a nice coup for our town."
Construction at Great Dane should be done by the first of the year…production will start soon after.
Bulloch County leaders are also looking for small business activity to lead to new jobs.  That's why  the Industrial Authority has purchased land on the interstate for industrial and business recruitment.