The City of Port Wentworth and Dermody—a diversified private equity investment management company focused exclusively on the national logistics real estate sector—celebrated the groundbreaking of a new signalized intersection at GA Highway 21 and the Port Wentworth Commerce Center development, a key infrastructure milestone for the upcoming master-planned, 10+ million-square-foot business park. The development is set to become the largest near-port logistics project to begin construction in the Southeastern United States in 2025.

This event marks a significant milestone in supporting the City’s growth while meeting the needs of residents and businesses. The new intersection and accompanying 2.5-mile road system will provide critical infrastructure improvements that will allow for safer and enhanced traffic flow in the City of Port Wentworth. The project will strengthen connectivity for nearby neighborhoods, including Rice Hope and Rice Creek, while supporting access for local businesses and future employers. These improvements will also provide efficient access to the Port Wentworth Commerce Center.

“The City of Port Wentworth and Port Wentworth Commerce Center are open for business,” said Wes Hardy, Partner, Southeast Region, Dermody. “The City’s intersection and road system set the stage for the full activation of Port Wentworth Commerce Center. They are the first tangible steps toward bringing the business park to life and meeting the growing demand for modern, port-adjacent logistics space in the Southeast.”

The groundbreaking featured remarks from Gary Norton, Port Wentworth Mayor, Gabrielle Nelson, Port Wentworth Mayor Pro Tem, and Steve Davis, Port Wentworth City Manager, who highlighted the partnership between Dermody and the City in driving progress and supporting residents and local businesses through strategic infrastructure investment.

“This development represents the type of public-partnership that defines Port Wentworth,” said Steve Davis, Port Wentworth City Manager. “The improvements at GA Highway 21 will not only help alleviate a traffic challenge but also is a life-safety improvement that opens new doors for smart, sustainable growth. We’re excited to work alongside Dermody to bring investment, infrastructure and opportunity to our city.”

Port Wentworth Commerce Center is located just 6.5 miles from the Port of Savannah. It will offer best-in-class facilities, immediate access to I-95, on-site Class One rail service and a Foreign Trade Zone designation that allows tenants to defer, reduce or eliminate tariffs on imported goods. Utilities—including water, sewer, power, gas and fiber optics—will be fully installed along the roadway, ensuring operability from the project’s inception.

“Port Wentworth Commerce Center represents a generational opportunity to support global supply chains and the Southeast’s rapidly growing logistics market,” said Hardy. “Few sites in the U.S. offer this scale while also providing unmatched access to the fastest-growing port in the country, a major interstate, high-capacity power and rail service. We focus on building where our customers want to be, and Port Wentworth delivers on all fronts.”

The development will support regional economic growth, providing new opportunities for businesses, customers and the surrounding community. Once complete, it will serve as the premier port-centric business park on the Eastern Seaboard, supporting economic growth and enhancing connectivity for global supply chains.

Dermody’s Southeast Region spans nine states, with particular focus on the major logistics markets of Atlanta, Savannah, Nashville, Charlotte and Central Florida. The region currently has four projects under construction and more than 1,500,000 SF available for lease. For more information on those properties, please visit the region page on Dermody’s website.