*Huber Engineered Woods, LLC has announced plans to construct an oriented strand board plant just south of Swainsboro. OSB is primarily used in housing and construction and will be shipped from this plant to locations throughout the southeastern United States. The company is expected to make a capital investment in excess of $300 million and to create 160 direct new jobs and 300 indirect new jobs.
*Currently, six companies are in the process of expanding their operations in Swainsboro. Vista Windows, R&f Marketing and PharmaCentra have recently located operations in Swainsboro. The three firms will employee over 150 people.
*National Nano Manufacturing Center is an economic development model for bringing new industry, attracting companies, and creating technology jobs in rural America. The Center, located in Swainsboro, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the growth of the nanotechnology industry, through the scale-up and commercialization of nano-research projects. In addition, the Center be developing industry manufacturing proceedures and standards to fulfill ISO and NIOSH requirements. Nanotechnology has emerged as the single largest revolutionary science topic of the 21st century and Swainsboro/Emanuel County is now part of this cutting-edge development. Temporarily located at Swainsboro Technical College, the center will be permanently housed in Swainsboro's Pathway Technology Park and will contain an Accelerator for commercializing new products and launching new businesses. See www.nationalnano.org . As part of the NNMC, the Nano Valley Consortium will work with member companies who wish to work with and obtain DoD contracts for projects. See www.NanoValleyConsortium.org
*An $8 Million Airport expansion. The Swainsboro/Emanuel County airport has undergone extensive improvements. The runway has been extended to 6,000 feet and a new terminal building has been added. Aircraft rentals, flight instruction, full piston and turbine maintenance is available on site. Pilots will find T-hangers, corporate hangers, aviation fuel. ground power service, ground air conditioning service and new pilot's lounge. Plans are underway to add an ILS GPS System.
*U.S. Hwy. 1 Four-Laning to I-16. The four-laning of U.S. 1 South from Swainsboro to I-16 was completed in 2007. The new four- lane divided highway gives quick access to Savannah, Macon or Atlanta.