Strengthening McIntosh County’s Competitive Position
ATLANTA (May 19, 2026) — The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), in partnership with the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority (MCIDA), announced that the Tidewaters Industrial Complex in McIntosh County has achieved “Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development” (GRAD) certification with the program’s enhanced Select designation, reinforcing the site’s readiness for future industrial investment and business attraction opportunities.
The achievement marks only the second site in Georgia to receive GRAD Select status after benefiting from infrastructure support through the state’s Rural Site Development Initiative (RSDI), highlighting the growing role of proactive site preparation in accelerating economic development opportunities across rural communities.
“Communities that invest early in site readiness are better positioned to compete for new business and long-term economic opportunity,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “The GRAD Select designation is the result of forward thinking and dedicated planning, and we congratulate McIntosh County and the Tidewaters Industrial Complex team on achieving it.”
Located in southern McIntosh County between Interstate 95 and Georgia Highway 251, the 623-acre Tidewaters Industrial Complex is owned by the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority and has undergone significant infrastructure improvements designed to support industrial recruitment efforts.
The site features direct transportation access through Tidewater Boulevard SW and a newly completed roadway finished in late 2025. Existing site assets include partially cleared and rough-graded land, along with on-site utility infrastructure including water, sewer, natural gas, and electric service.
Local leaders emphasized that the designation validates years of planning and investment designed to position McIntosh County for future growth.
“Achieving GRAD Certified Select status is a significant milestone for McIntosh County and reflects the vision and collaboration moving our community forward,” said Kate Karwacki, Chair of the McIntosh County Commission. “This designation confirms we are prepared for responsible growth and ready to compete for new industry.”
Chris Harper, Chair of the McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority, noted that the designation enhances the county’s competitiveness in project recruitment efforts.
“The GRAD Select designation highlights the work completed to make Tidewaters Industrial Complex development-ready and strengthens our ability to compete for projects that bring jobs and investment to McIntosh County,” Harper said.
Georgia’s GRAD program is designed to accelerate industrial project timelines by ensuring sites meet comprehensive due diligence standards before being marketed to prospective employers. Certified locations undergo third-party evaluations and receive final review from a board of public and private sector economic development professionals. GRAD Select status represents an even higher level of site preparedness through more stringent certification criteria.
The state currently offers more than 70 GRAD-certified industrial sites and continues to expand rural site readiness initiatives through more than $21 million in investment funding aimed at preparing future industrial locations.
As competition for advanced manufacturing, logistics, and industrial investment intensifies, designations such as GRAD Select continue to play a growing role in helping communities shorten development timelines and strengthen their appeal to site selectors and expanding companies.
