CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. —Above video: Friday headlinesMitsubishi Power Americas plans to invest $490 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Chatham County, adding more than 220 jobs and nearly doubling facility space, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Friday. The company will add 450,000 square feet to its Savannah Machinery Works facility at 1000 Pine Meadow Drive, near Pooler. The plant, visible to drivers traveling on Interstate 16, manufactures and assembles gas turbines used to generate electricity for homes and businesses. Mitsubishi Power said the expanded facility is expected to begin operations in early 2029. “The expansion includes a 450,000-square-foot increase in our footprint here at the site, an additional 220 new jobs for the region, and advancements in manufacturing technology and overall capacity,” said Brandon Bodie, vice president of Savannah Machinery Works. jobs in various fieldsThe company hopes to hire workers for positions in manufacturing, engineering, quality control, maintenance, logistics, operations and heavy machinery. Local leaders said they hope to fill temporary and permanent jobs with people who already live in the region. Hugh “Trip” Tollison, president and CEO of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, said the economic impact of the project will begin before the expansion opens. “When you think about $500 million going into a construction project, think about the labor that will be needed. “This is the largest investment to date on behalf of Mitsubishi Power Americas and will create significant new employment opportunities for our community,” Tollison said. Meeting growing demand for electricityMitsubishi Power said it is expanding to keep pace with growing demand for electricity and power generation equipment. The company provides equipment and services to the energy industry, including gas, steam and aeroderivative turbines, geothermal systems and environmental controls. It also develops artificial intelligence technology designed to support autonomous power plant operations. Bill Newsom, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Power Americas, said the expansion will strengthen domestic manufacturing while giving employees access to more advanced technology. “This expansion strengthens American manufacturing and gives our people the advanced capabilities they need as they continue to deliver for our customers,” Newsom said the company is also focused on developing a local workforce. qualified. “We are excited to build a really strong workforce here that is skilled and can support manufacturing in this community,” she said. Leveraging a long presence in Georgia, Mitsubishi Power has operated in Chatham County since 2009, when it established the Savannah Machinery Works operation during the Great Recession. The expansion follows meetings Kemp and other state officials held with Mitsubishi Power and its parent company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, in Tokyo. actually,” Kemp said in a statement. Railroads, highways and airports helped make the area attractive for the project. He also credited Georgia’s long-standing relationship with Mitsubishi Power. “As demand for Mitsubishi Power’s products grows, this expansion is a reminder that economic development is about more than just winning a project,” Wilson said. “It’s about showing up, building relationships and being a long-term partner.” The Georgia Department of Economic Development coordinated the project with the Savannah Economic Development Authority, Georgia Power and Georgia Quick Start Additional details on construction and contracting schedules were not immediately available.
