CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. —
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Mitsubishi Power Americas plans to invest $490 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Chatham County, adding more than 220 jobs and nearly doubling the facility’s footprint, 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 along 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 operating 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.
New jobs across several fields
The company expects to hire workers for positions in manufacturing, engineering, quality control, maintenance, logistics, operations and heavy machinery.
Local leaders said they hope to fill the temporary construction jobs and permanent positions with people who already live in the region.
Hugh “Trip” Tollison, president and CEO of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, said the project’s economic impact will begin before the expansion opens.
“When you think about a half-billion dollars going into one construction project, think about the labor that’s going to be needed to build the building and the concrete that’s going to be poured,” Tollison said.
He called the expansion a major win for Chatham County and said it was a highly competitive project.
“This is the largest investment to date on behalf of Mitsubishi Power Americas and will create meaningful new job opportunities for our community,” Tollison said.
Meeting growing electricity demand
Mitsubishi Power said it is expanding to keep pace with rising demand for electricity and power-generation equipment.
The company provides equipment and services for the energy industry, including gas, steam and aero-derivative 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.
Bodie said the company is also focused on developing a skilled local workforce.
“We’re excited about building a really strong workforce here that’s skilled and can support manufacturing in this community,” he said.
Building on a longtime Georgia presence
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.
“We are excited that the Savannah Machinery Works is expanding to turn those possibilities into reality,” Kemp said in a statement.
Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson said the state’s ports, railroads, highways and airports helped make the area attractive for the project. He also credited Georgia’s longstanding relationship with Mitsubishi Power.
“As demand for Mitsubishi Power’s products grows, this expansion is a reminder that economic development is about more than winning a project,” Wilson said. “It is 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 about the construction and hiring schedules were not immediately available.