The Jasper County Chamber of Commerce has launched its Web site for the South Carolina-Georgia joint deepwater marine terminal on the Savannah River, just south of Hardeeville.

The Web site is www.jasperportnow.com

The primary purpose for the new Web site is to make sure that citizens have access to all up-to-date information regarding the multi-million-dollar Jasper Ocean Terminal, said Martin Sauls IV, president of the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce.

“It is imperative that we keep our citizens informed of accurate data pertaining to the Jasper Ocean Terminal development,” Sauls said.

“Going forward, the Jasper Chamber will be summarizing events to date as well as hosting seminars on how businesses can prepare for the economic growth that will come with the port,” he said. “We want to be proactive on this because the Jasper Ocean Terminal will be the largest economic catalyst for the state of South Carolina, and with job creation in the hundreds of thousands, the business communities, especially in Jasper County and the Lowcountry, must be prepared.”

The Web site, by providing updated reports and breaking news on the marine terminal development, will actually help “positively facilitate the growth and movement forward of this port project,” said Sauls, who is a member of the Savannah River Maritime Commission, established by Gov. Mark Sanford to represent South Carolina in matters of navigability, depth, dredging, wastewater, sludge disposal and other issues related to the use of the Savannah River, specifically the marine terminal.

“The Jasper County Chamber will work closely with other area chambers, the Lowcountry Economic Network and our legislators to keep the public and business community informed of the port’s progress, as well as work on initiatives to help our businesses prepare for the coming positive growth of the local economy due to the port,” Sauls said.

According to the new Web site, “The Jasper Ocean Terminal will be a new container port on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River. The port will be jointly owned by South Carolina State Ports Authority and Georgia Ports Authority and both states stand to benefit economically from the activity of this project.

“In March of 2007 the South Carolina and Georgia governors signed a memorandum of understanding that committed the states to a joint endeavor to make this port happen.

“As of July 25, 2008, the largest historical hurdle to this port was removed when the land was officially transferred into joint ownership by the Georgia and South Carolina State Ports Authorities.”

The S.C. State Ports Authority has approved providing $3 million of additional funding to the Joint Project Office (JPO) for the development of the Jasper Ocean Terminal, located on a 1,515-acre parcel of land formerly owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The JPO is a bi-state, six-member board directing the logistics of the marine terminal’s development.

Preliminary market studies place the port's potential impact on the area’s economy at $2.3 billion.

Source: Jasper County Chamber of Commerce