Georgia Ports' economic impact grew 7% last year, study says

Activity at the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) supported 650,965 full and part-time jobs across the state in fiscal-year 2024, according to study by the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.

Job growth was up 7% compared to FY2023, the period covered by the last study. GPA now sustains 12% of total state employment, port officials said in a press release.

According to the report, the statewide economic impact of the GPA includes $174 billion in output or sales, accounting for 11% of the state's total output, and an increase of 2% compared to port output in FY2023. The ports also were responsible for $77 billion in state gross domestic product, a 7% increase from FY2023, and 9% of the state's total GDP.

Finally, measured in income, the ports contributed $43 billion to the state's economy, accounting for 7% of the state's total personal income. This is an increase of 7.5% over the prior year, port officials said. Trade through the ports in FY24 also yielded $10 billion in federal taxes, $3 billion in state taxes and $3 billion in local taxes.

The GPA offers rail service via CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway, which connect to the Myd Harris Rail Yard on the Port of Brunwick's Colonels Island Terminal. The Class I service is available via the Golden Isles Terminal Railroad, which provides switching services on Colonel's Island.