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RFP Optional Pre-Bid Meeting

Written by Hazel Shaw on . Posted in News.

An optional pre-bid meeting is being made available on Friday, March 13th, and Monday, March 16th, from 9:00 – 2:00. These 1-hour appointments will allow interested parties to take photos, video, fly drones, etc.
Please email James Coughlin at jmcoughlin@camdencountyga.gov to schedule your 1-hour appointment slot.  Please limit your group to 4 people or less.  All groups will meet at the Norris Street gate, which is close to Buccaneers Bait and Tackle, 290 Meeting St. East, St. Marys, GA 31558.

Bidding Opportunities

Written by Hazel Shaw on . Posted in Announcements, News.

Announcement/ Clarification concerning published Mandatory Development Milestones
 
The attached Framework Needs Assessment Section 6B: Mandatory Development Milestones is intended to convey an aspirational timeline for this site.  The goal of this section is to convey the need for the chosen Master Developer to apply a sense of urgency to this project and to be willing to state his/her proposed schedule publicly. The JDA understands that the schedule serves as a goal and that actual progress toward that goal will ultimately be driven by market factors, costs and cooperation from state and federal agencies.  The JDA welcomes proposals from qualified Master Developers who would diligently pursue development of this valuable coastal property.  

 

ATTENTION:  Addendum # 2

January 28, 2026

Change of Pre-Proposal Questions Due Date

Updated RFP for Master Land Developer

Updated RFP for RFP for Real Estate Broker

ATTENTION:  Addendum #1

January 21, 2026

Change of Due Date

Updated RFP for Master Land Developer

Updated RFP for RFP for Real Estate Broker

The Camden County Joint Development Authority (JDA) is seeking proposals from qualified, well-capitalized, and visionary master developers or brokers to design, plan, and develop waterfront parcel of the ~730 acres available.

The Authority envisions a cohesive, phased, mixed-use Live • Work • Play destination that activates the waterfront, attracts year-round economic activity, and serves both residents and visitors.

The property in beautiful coastal Georgia was once the site of the former Gilman Paper Mill that was the economic engine for the region.  Now, almost 25 years since the closure of the mill, the Joint Development Authority finally has possession of the property.  We hold a permit to construct a marina on the site, issued by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.  The city of St. Marys has zoned the site mixed-use and created a Tax Allocation District and a Community Improvement District that covers the property.  The mill structures have all been demolished.  Much of the concrete rubble remains and could be utilized for roadbed, riprap etc. A great deal of environmental testing and investigation has been performed on the southernmost 50 acres of the site where the marina is permitted and the surrounding residential/commercial areas.

The proposed development is expected to include, at a minimum, a marina with dry stack storage, single-family and condominium residential homes, and supporting commercial, restaurant, recreational, and public infrastructure. The JDA places a strong emphasis on immediate momentum, timely execution, and demonstrated developer accountability.

JDA has included two (2) RFPs for your review; i) Master Land Developer, or ii) National Commercial Real Estate Broker.  Please choose the appropriate RFP and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

The JDA

RFP for Master Land Developer

RFP for Real Estate Broker

Supporting Documentation/Environmental Information Below

Due Diligence Site Investigation

St Marys Marina, St Marys Georgia

Memorandum of Understanding & Corrective Action Pursuant to 401 WQC

2023 Marina Permit

Environmental Remediation Summary Report Jan 2019

Grant Awards – December 2025

Written by Hazel Shaw on . Posted in News.

The Authority was awarded the State Economic Infrastructure Development Grant by the Southern Crescent Regional Commission for $1 Million to assist with the provision of water/sewer infrastructure to the new Coastal Georgia Commerce Park.  Executive Director James Coughlin said, “This grant award allows us to deliver this critical infrastructure further into the park than we otherwise would be able to on our own.  We’re grateful to SCRC for recognizing the potential of this new park to bring jobs and investment to Camden County.”

Coastal Georgia Commerce Park, Camden County, GA

Written by Hazel Shaw on . Posted in News.

This exciting new development, happening less than 2 miles west of I-95 at Exit 7, will offer over 1400 acres of land zoned for industrial projects. The Park will feature rail service from First Coast Railroad, Water/Sewer from the City of Kingsland, and a brand new access road that will allow easy access to US Highway 17 and the nearby ports of Jacksonville and Brunswick. The Coastal Georgia Commerce Park represents a new era of industrial development that encourages businesses to find a home amongst nature, enjoying the privacy and security offered by large tracts of protected wetlands and forest. This site is Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Certified and will soon carry GRAD-Select status, placing it among the state’s most desirable and prepared sites for businesses valuing speed to market.

TIP-Targeted Investment Program

Written by Hazel Shaw on . Posted in News.

The JDA has created a loan program to help local businesses in Targeted areas of Camden County get the financing needed to give local businesses an uplift.  For more information about the Targeted Investment Program, click the link below!

Click here for more info.

 

State awards JDA $2.3M grant for St. Marys Commerce Park!

Written by Hazel Shaw on . Posted in News.

Just three months after entering into an agreement with the City of St. Marys to repurpose the former St. Marys Airport into a Commerce Park for light industry, the Camden County Joint Development Authority has been awarded $2.3 Million by the State of Georgia to help make the project a reality.   Georgia’s new Rural Innovation Fund is designed to assist rural communities in overcoming barriers to economic development by providing funding for necessary public infrastructure like roads, water, and sewer.

St. Mary’s Mayor John Morrissey added, “The City of St. Marys is committed to redeveloping this stranded asset, and we are grateful for the State’s assistance in this effort.”

More progress in Camden County!

Written by Hazel Shaw on . Posted in News.

There have been some developments in the Camden County Industrial Park.  We’ve had a few calls about the construction underway at the corner of Harriett’s Bluff Rd. and Old Still Rd.  We’re happy to welcome Y&C Trading, a distribution company specializing in Asian Seafood to our industrial park in Kingsland!   We look forward to seeing their progress.  

 

Camden County recognized by the Georgia Economic Developer’s Association for Deal of the Year!

Written by Hazel Shaw on . Posted in News.

The Camden County Joint Development Authority was recognized by the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) for “outstanding achievement in the location/expansion of business in Georgia” at its Annual Awards luncheon on Monday.  Camden County was recognized because of the Plug Power project, which announced on June 10th of this year.  Chris Womack, Chairman, President & CEO of Georgia Power, presented the award to James Coughlin, Executive Director of the Authority, and CB Yadav, Camden Joint Development Authority Board Member.   Over 200 economic developers from around the state attended the ceremony in-person at the Georgia Tech Hotel at Tech Square in Midtown Atlanta.

Read the entire the post here.

Governor Kemp Announces Plug Power

Written by Matt Garner on . Posted in Announcements, News, Site.

Gov. Kemp Announces Plug Power Opening Green Manufacturing Plant in Camden County

Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Plug Power, a leading global provider of hydrogen solutions, will invest $84 million in opening a green hydrogen fuel production plant in Camden County. Plug Power has deployed more than 40,000 fuel cell systems for e-mobility, delivering efficiency gains, fast fueling, and lower operational costs to their customers, and delivers 40 tons per day of hydrogen fuel to those customers.

“I’m glad to welcome Plug Power to the number one state for business,” said Governor Kemp. “As the home to several of Plug Power’s great Georgia-based customers, including Southern Company and The Home Depot, I’m confident they will find continued success and innovative partnerships in the Peach State.”

Plug Power’s vertically integrated GenKey solution ties together critical elements to power and fuel and provides services to customers including Amazon, BMW, Southern Company, The Home Depot, Group Carrefour, and Walmart. The company is continuing to expand to markets including zero-emission on-road vehicles, robotics, and data centers. With close proximity to I-95 and strategically on the Eastern Seaboard, this new zero-emission fuel production plant will help the company better serve their industrial customers across the Southeastern U.S.

“With this hydrogen production plant, we are expanding our green hydrogen network to provide zero-emissions fuel to customers in Georgia and across the Southeast,” said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power. “Investing in Camden County is the right choice to support Plug Power’s continued growth.”

Located at the Camden County Industrial Park in Kingsland, the company’s hydrogen fuel production facility will create 24 jobs in Camden County. As soon as summer 2022, Plug Power will be hiring for careers in operations, engineering, maintenance, and logistics. Individuals interested in opportunities with the company are encouraged to visit plugpower.com for additional information.

“We look forward to working with Plug Power and our state and local economic development partners on this exciting project that clearly demonstrates that Kingsland is open for business,” said Kingsland Mayor Dr. C. Grayson Day.

“We are proud to welcome Plug Power to Camden County,” said Executive Director of the Camden County Joint Development Authority James Coughlin. “The Authority was happy to structure a package that is beneficial for the company and the community and we are grateful for the cooperation between our partners; Okefenokee EMC, the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the City of Kingsland. This type of forward-thinking collaboration is what makes projects work in Southeast Georgia.”

Assistant Director Alyce Thornhill represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce division on this project in partnership with the Camden County Joint Development Authority, Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia Power, and Okefenokee EMC.

“Having Plug Power expand its footprint to Georgia is exciting news for this growing industry,” said Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) Executive Director Griff Lynch. “The Ports of Savannah and Brunswick provide the capacity needed for auto part imports and auto exports, making the I-95 corridor perfectly suited for this type of development.”

“Georgia is a great place to do business, and because of that, we continue to attract the jobs of the future,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Many thanks to Plug Power for choosing to invest in Georgia, and for helping bolster our green technology ecosystem. Congratulations to our partners in Camden County, and thank you for your efforts to help bring jobs to Georgia that positively impact our economy and our environment.”

About Plug Power

Plug Power is building the hydrogen economy as the leading provider of comprehensive hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) turnkey solutions. The company’s innovative technology powers electric motors with hydrogen fuel cells amid an ongoing paradigm shift in the power, energy, and transportation industries to address climate change and energy security, while providing efficiency gains and meeting sustainability goals. Plug Power created the first commercially viable market for hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) technology. As a result, the company has deployed over 40,000 fuel cell systems for e-mobility, more than anyone else in the world, and has become the largest buyer of liquid hydrogen, having built and operated a hydrogen highway across North America.