The Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) recognized the Development Authority of Bulloch County for an outstanding achievement in the location/expansion of business in Georgia at its Annual Awards luncheon on Monday. Bulloch County was recognized because of the Aspen Aerogels project, which announced in February of this year. Eric McDonald, CEO of Haralson County Chamber of Commerce presented the award to Benjy Thompson, Chair of GEDA, and CEO of Development Authority of Bulloch County and other key leaders in the project. Nearly 200 economic developers from around the state attended the ceremony.

The Development Authority of Bulloch County and their partners, Bulloch County, and City of Statesboro offered Aspen Aerogels a 90-acre land gift at the Southern Gateway Commerce Park. This will be the first manufacturing project to locate in the park. Aspen Aerogels primary product mix has changed to become a supplier to the electric vehicle industry.  The Statesboro-Bulloch Plant 2 will manufacture insulation blankets to wrap battery compartments and prevent thermal runaway in EVs.  Along with other EV related projects in the region, Aspen Aerogels has placed the Bulloch community in the EV ecosystem. This deal has impact of over $10.9M in net project benefits to county and school over 20-year timeline and commitment of 250 jobs.

About the Award

This is now the sixteenth year that GEDA has recognized the major projects from the previous year.  In what has become a major portion of the Annual Awards Ceremony – GEDA recognizes recipients in four categories:

• SMALL – a county with population under 25,000,

• MID-SIZE – a county with population 25,000 – 100,000,

• LARGE – a county with population over 100,000

• REGIONAL – any multi-county initiative

The Deal of the Year Awards recognize outstanding achievement in the location or expansion of new businesses in the state of Georgia that meet community economic development goals and involve significant community program support, such as financial or permitting assistance, workforce development, state financial support, etc.