FDI Alliance International CEO Speaks with Ryan Purvis
May 19, 2025
Ryan Purvis
Ryan where is Bryan County Development Authority located? What makes your community an attractive destination for companies and investors looking to relocate or expand?
The Development Authority of Bryan County is located in the southeast part of Georgia on the coast and adjacent to Savannah. From Ford to Hyundai, Bryan County has continued to display that it is a beacon of innovation not just for Georgia but for the globe. Our small towns near the coast lend itself to a tight knit community with plenty of opportunities for a laid back lifestyle. Our county cherishes a tremendous legacy with industry that dates back to the winter homes of Henry and Clara Ford. Henry built schools, hospitals and even bakeries in Bryan County. The mossy live oak trees intertwined with the winding marshes and estuaries make Bryan County not only a career destination but a place where you can call home and enjoy retirement.
What is the population of Bryan County Development Authority? What are the top 3 thriving industry sectors in your County?
Over 50k population (fastest growing county in Georgia and 6th fastest in the country). Manufacturing, Military, Education
How does the County's workforce availability and talent pipeline support business growth and sustainability?
Bryan County and the region have many advantages when it comes to workforce availability. With key partnerships, our approach is holistic. We emphasize the importance of starting and educating the next generation of leaders early and often. From STEM programs in middle school to Industry days and hands-on tours starting in the 8th grade, our focus is preparing the future workforce. Strategic career academies, focus on the technical, educational and agricultural areas in addition to pathways like manufacturing and others help to facilitate a directed and intentional route. Our industries and schools systems are entrenched with each other with focused internal internship programs that promote collaboration. In addition to internships while in highschool, our students have significant opportunities to connect with our local state of the art technical colleges and 4-year research institutes to continue their preparation for the industry of their choice. Our region is also blessed with approximately 25,000 service members from 2 large military bases, of which around 3,500 members enter the workforce each year. We sponsor and are active with important partnerships with groups like Regional Industry Support Enterprise (RISE) where workforce development focuses on transportation, housing, day care, military and the underrepresented group to foster a melting pot of solution driven workforce resources. A major component of a business’s ability to grow or expand directly correlate to their ability to not only attract the best, but retain the best. The DABC focuses on providing best practice employer forums, hosting career fairs, providing wage surveys and analyses and being a conduit for collaboration amongst all industries.
What kind of housing, education, and lifestyle opportunities does Bryan County Development Authority offer to attract top talent?
Bryan County is truly a welcoming community for all looking to build generational well-being. Our public education system ranks 6th in the State per the Georgia Department of Education. Our proximity to over 15 colleges and universities within 50 miles of Bryan County provides the opportunity for our brightest and best to advance their education here at home in Bryan County. Housing is top of mind for those looking to locate in Bryan County to benefit from our education system, coastal lifestyle, and the countless opportunities. The Georgia Housing Affordability Index consistently ranks Bryan County as a top housing affordability region for median income households. Over 10,000 homes are either currently under construction or phased to soon be under construction that contain units for single and multi-family homes, apartments, townhomes, and senior living communities. We are looking for companies to call Bryan County home as we have the talent in place but are inviting companies to complete the "work" portion of "living, playing AND working" in Bryan County.
Ryan what infrastructure developments and transportation advantages set Bryan County apart from other investment locations in Georgia?
Bryan County is one of only a few communities in the State intersected by two major interstates (I-16 and I-95). With great partnerships across the state with GDOT and others, the major highway infrastructre continues to be improved and expanded according to the traffic flows and patterns. In addition, Bryan County contains two Class I railroads and other regional / short lines.
How does the County's infrastructure support industries such as manufacturing, logistics and technology?
Proximity is King. The existing infrastructure allows for drive times of less than 30 minutes to the fastest growing and largest acreage wise port in the country, the Georgia Ports Authority. Bryan County is strategically positioned between the 2 main ports (containerized Port of Savannah and the Breakbulk / RO-RO Port of Brunswick). The Port of Brunswick is the second busiest in the nation for Ro/ Ro calls and the largest import / export facility for vehicles in the country. This connectivity also allows direct access to a myriad of inland ports across the state of Georgia and region. The railroad connectivities noted above are direct feeders into the port and allow for 1-2 day access across the southeastern portion of the entire country. With direct access to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (the most trafficked airport in the country), Bryan County is open to the world via air. In addition, our city, county and state partners are adding the necessary utility infrastructures to further serve our existing and future industries.
Ryan, can you briefly outline how the County's pro-business policies and local government support make it easier for businesses to succeed in your community?
The Pro-Business culture starts at the state level with the Leadership from Governor Kemp as we have been named the best State to do business in for 11 years in a row. Regionally, Bryan County is one of four counties that is part of the Joint Development Authority (JDA). This group consists of 3 other local counties and development authorities (Chatham County, Effingham County and Bulloch County). The rare partnership amongst these 4 counties was the pivotal component that landed the HMGMA partnership which has become the single largest private investment project in the history of the state of Georgia. At the local county level, we aim to build off this amazing foundation. We have a clear vision of who we are and what we want here. We are blessed in that we can be selective with our industries. We believe we can in fact experience growth and progress while not losing our soul. Our ultimate goal is to have a diverse industry base that affords every child that is willing and able the opportunity to create a life, family and career regardless of career type and personal acumen without leaving Bryan County. This is a generational impact. Our pro-business culture includes expedited permitting, competitive incentives, creative financial solutions and support and a service after the sale mentality for all industries to thrive.
How has Bryan County’s economic landscape evolved in recent years, what future growth opportunities should businesses be aware of?
The largest economic development project in the State of Georgia has located in Bryan County with Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) and included joint ventures deciding to call Bryan County and surrounding areas home as they are investing nearly $8 billion while creating 8,500 direct jobs. The investment and job creation itself is historic but runs deeper than Bryan County. As of February 2025, 20 HMGMA suppliers have been announced with over 7,000 new jobs planned and more than $2.5 billion in capital investment to our region. Our industry base continues to thrive with some of our bedrock companies and organizations such as Daniel Defense, C&H, Kiss and Orafol and Fort stewart that have expanded or continued to reinvest in their facilities over their time calling Bryan County home. Our long-standing industries have continued to reinvest in Bryan County and their success in our community has attracted other companies that have located and found success instantly. Webstaurant is an example of a company that announced they would call Bryan County home in Q3 of 2022 and has already become an employer of choice within our community. Additional partners like FedEx, Medline, Komar, and Burlington and others are having great success and or are set to hit the ground running in early 2026. Through strong community partnerships, culture, dedication and tapping into the many local advantages of Bryan County brings, we are excited about the future progress and success.
As the new CEO of Bryan County Development Authority, what new strategy can we expect to see implemented to bring new business to your community?
People and communities perish where there is no vision. My vision is to steward this growth in a way that creates a place in Bryan County where all have opportunities. Even more, I intend to champion our industries by creating a diversified tax base where progress occurs without losing our soul. From manufacturing, energy, healthcare, aviation, military, agriculture, to the automotive industry…we want to attract the best and retain the best. I am blessed with an amazing foundation and team to build upon. No innovation or progress occurs without mistakes or pain. We recognize that change can be hard at times. However, we are committed to learning quickly from those mistakes. In the end, it is about doing what is best for our friends, for our families, and for our neighbors.
We understand that all progress contains its own sets of challenges. Change is hard. However, when we truly understand that we can grow in a well planned and efficient manner where the opportunities are as diverse as the good people who live there. My vision is to create a community that is provided the opportunity to participate generational impacts. Where our kids and grandkids never have to leave the county to enjoy a life.
Comment support provided by Zachary Dykes, DABC Project Manager