The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), in cooperation with the Golden Isles Development Authority, announced that the Innovation Isles Aerospace Park has earned a “Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development” (GRAD) certification with “Select” status. The site’s new “GRAD Select” status provides an additional seal of approval that makes it especially attractive for future industrial development.
“The Innovation Isles Aerospace Park is a key addition to our GRAD site portfolio for its strategic location,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “The park is adjacent to Brunswick Golden Isles Airport, a regional airport with daily service to and from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and only a short distance to the Port of Brunswick, a national Ro/Ro hub. Combined with the speed-to-market advantages of a GRAD site, the park is a prime location for manufacturers and aerospace service or R&D companies.”
The 650-acre Innovation Isles Aerospace Park is located off Innovation Drive and Jetport Road in Brunswick. The site is adjacent to the Brunswick Golden Isles Airport and less than 30 minutes away from the Port of Brunswick, which is one of two facilities that make Georgia Ports Authority the second busiest in the nation for total Ro/Ro trade.
The site is just over five miles from Interstate 95, the major east coast artery from Miami to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. In addition, Innovation Isles Aerospace Park is less than 10 minutes from Brunswick’s central business district. Existing road access through the adjacent North Glynn Commerce Park will be expanded to become the primary entrance.
“We are thrilled to announce the GRAD certification of our new industrial site, a significant milestone that underscores our commitment to economic growth in the Golden Isles,” said Ryan Moore, CEO and President, Golden Isles Development Authority. “As we market our site and community for investment, it's crucial that our workforce strategies evolve in tandem with our business attraction efforts.”
In 2020, the Golden Isles Development Authority and the Brunswick–Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce launched an effort to develop a community-wide talent development strategy for Brunswick and the Golden Isles facilitated by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.
The results of these efforts have produced initiatives such as the teacher externship program, allowing middle through high school educators to step out of the classroom and into local industries. This firsthand exposure equips participants with the knowledge to guide students toward fulfilling careers in their community. The student industry tours, led by the CEO of the Golden Isles College and Career Academy and the Talent Development Strategy Leader, are another example of the proactive approach to workforce development in Brunswick and the Golden Isles.
Completing the GRAD certification program with GDEcD is a hands-on way for both community planners and landowners to help catalyze economic growth and industrial development in their regions. To qualify for GRAD status, available sites must meet the program’s due diligence standards, be reviewed by a third party, and earn the final approval of a board of advisors comprised of public and private sector economic development professionals. The GRAD Select status is an indication that a site has met or exceeded more rigorous certification requirements.
The Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Program offers more than 60 industrial certified sites that are ready for fast-track industrial projects, thanks to extensive prior planning and investment into site readiness. Economic development groups and landowners interested in obtaining GRAD certification for their property are encouraged to visit www.georgia.org/grad-certified-sites/application.
