Logistics Technology Corridor expands

A group of people in Savannah have been working hard on a project that could put the coastal area on the map for reasons beyond tourism.

A task force of leaders from higher education, law, municipal government, cyber security, creative endeavors, and economic development have been meeting since last year preparing concrete plans to make Savannah the leader in logistics technology.

“We want Savannah to have its own tech square (similar to Atlanta),” Keith Fletcher said. Tech Square in Mid-town Atlanta has the highest density of startups, corporate innovators, and academic researchers in the southeastern United States, according to their website.

Fletcher has been a driving force in creating a local logistics technology corridor, and was instrumental in getting the Georgia legislature to agree.

In 2018 the General Assembly voted to designate an area extending one mile along each side of Interstate 16 from the Pooler Parkway to Stiles Avenue, and one mile out along each side of Interstate 95 from the Jimmy DeLoach Parkway to US 17.

This year, due to the work of the task force, legislators agreed to expand the corridor and provide some state funding.

Task force members include Russ Clark with Georgia Tech, Manuel Dominguez with the City of Savannah, Jennifer Bonnett with SEDA, Emily Butler with Georgia Tech, Diana McKenzie with Hunter Maclean, William Lynch with BB&T, Heather Maxfield with TAG, Clinton Edminster and Coco Papy with Creative Coast, Bill Stankiewicz with APICS, Chris McCorkendale with Hargray, and Theresa Atkins with Georgia Tech.

McKenzie said expanding the corridor was needed for a number of reasons.

“The Creative Coast needs to be in the corridor and we needed to be able to serve more underserved communities,” McKenzie said.

The expanded borders now include areas such as the Port of Savannah, Savannah Technical College, Georgia Southern University Armstrong Campus and the Savannah Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Also approved by the state was $400,000 in funding for a study to determine the best location within the corridor for the “tech square.”

“SEDA has agreed to add $100,000 for the study,” Bonnett said.

Logistics technology is defined as applying innovative technologies to logistics processes.

Examples include robotics, warehouse automation, machine learning/AI, data science, drones, software, sensors, tracking systems, autonomous vehicles and mobility services.

Logistics tech can also include IoT devices. These “Internet of Things” devices use the internet for connectivity and can be remotely monitored and controlled. Examples include Amazon’s Echo, Google Home, smart TVs and wearable tech.

Fletcher has said that most successful tech corridors are in geographically defined areas, with businesses that are close enough to encourage collaboration and innovation.

He also noted Savannah has a number of industries that could benefit from logistics innovation, including maritime and hospitality.

"Savannah and the state can be the leaders in logistics innovation," Fletcher said.

Other legislative needs the task force will be pushing for include funding to develop a Logistics Technology Academy, using the model being used in other areas of the state at the Cyber Academy in Augusta and FinTech Academy. FinTech is computer programs and other technology used to support or enable banking and financial services.

Georgia’ FinTech Academy is a collaboration between Georgia’s fintech industry and the 26 public institutions of the University System of Georgia

The physical location is at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business, but offerings are all online.

The Cyber Academy in Augusta is for cyber innovation, including training and research in cyber security.

Another need for the corridor is funding to develop incentives for individuals and corporations that innovate in the corridor through cluster grants, student loan repayment program, R&D/Loss credits transfer and an increase in the Angel Tax Credit program. The Angel Tax Credit, or Qualified Investor Tax Credit, is for individuals who invest early on in a start-up company in the state.

The ultimate goal in creating the Savannah Logistics Technology Innovation Corridor is to benefit people in the area.

“Our goal with the corridor is to create more high paying jobs in and around Savannah,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie is confident in the future of the corridor.

“We strongly believe we will be successful.”