About this time last year, a group of forward-thinking business people in Crisp County saw years of planning - and dealing with more than a little skepticism - come to fruition with the announcement that the Cordele Inland Port would become a reality.
    Last week, even the staunchest naysayers were quieted when the little inland port landed its first big economic development - a bio-coal manufacturing plant that was sold because of Cordele’s direct-rail access to the Port of Savannah.

    The inland port project, now nearing completion, will allow for direct container rail service to and from the Port of Savannah via Cordele, which is located off Interstate 75, some 175 miles west of Savannah's ports.
    Overnight service for container traffic moving between the two ports will be provided by two short line rail operations, while final movement into the intermodal yard at Georgia Ports Authority will be handled by CSX Transportation.
    The idea is to truck export-bound containers originating in an area up to 350 miles south, west and northwest of Cordele to the inland port for rail shipment to GPA. Conversely, import containers destined for the same area can come into the port of Savannah and go by rail to Cordele to be trucked out to points beyond.
    The project has had its share of doubters. But supporters insisted it would reduce truck traffic and environmental pollution on the road and around the GPA docks while extending the direct economic benefit of the fourth-largest U.S. port in the country to other parts of the state.
    Last week, project sponsors realized another benefit when Vega Biofuels Inc. announced it will build a bio-coal manufacturing plant in Crisp County that, when completed, will produce green energy bio-coal for use in existing coal-fired power plants around the world.
    The deal-maker?
    It came, according to the company's news release, when Vega learned that the Crisp County/Cordele Industrial Development Authority and Intermodal Services Inc. were about to complete the Cordele Inland Port that will service the Port of Savannah, one of the South's largest international ports.
    Target markets for Vega's products are power plants around the world that face mandates to increase biomass usage in their coal burning power plants.
    Shipping is a large component of Vega's business and significantly affects the price the company can charge for its products. The company will also be eligible for port job tax credits for using the Port of Savannah.
    The proposed site is also located in a Free Port Trade Zone with exemptions on material and inventory destined for shipment out of state from sales, inventory, and ad valorem taxes.
    That the ports don't just benefit Savannah came as no surprise to GPA executive director Curtis Foltz.
    "The Vega Biofuels announcement is a great example of how Georgia's ports help 

    Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 912-652-0324.