JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CSX Corporation today announced that the Belfast Commerce Centre in Bryan County, Ga. is the first recipient in the State of Georgia to receive CSX Select Site designation.   

CSX's Select Sites program reviews manufacturing and distribution development sites along the CSX network that can rapidly utilize freight rail service.  This designation confirms that standard land use issues have been addressed and that the site is ready for development.

"The Select Site certification provides certainty for companies seeking industrial property for manufacturing operations and allows for increased speed to market and reduced development risk," said Clark Robertson, assistant vice president, regional development, CSX.  "This program also helps communities identify sites that can compete effectively for new investments and job creation."

Belfast Commerce Centre, which broke ground today, is a 1,100-acre industrial park with two miles of I-95 frontage, located 16 miles from The Port of Savannah. The project will help create new high-wage jobs while broadening and diversifying Bryan County's tax base as part of a larger planned urban development.

"We would like to thank the Bryan County Board of Commissioners, City of Richmond Hill, Bryan County Development Authority and Rayonier for their support in completing the Select Site work," said Robertson.  "CSX is standing by to assist Bryan County in the development of rail-served opportunities at the Belfast Centre site."

CSX introduced the Select Sites program earlier this year to better serve new or existing customers on its network.  CSX partnered with The Austin Company, a nationally-known site selection and certification consulting firm, to screen candidate sites and assist communities with the application and certification process.

To receive CSX Select Site designation, the location must meet a rigorous list of criteria. Once certified, the sites are also featured on a new user-friendly web portal featuring press releases, promotional materials and direct marketing to site selection professionals.

 "As a site selection professional, I have worked with thousands of property search programs, and the CSX Select Sites program and website stand above the rest," said Jonathan Gemmen, location consultant, The Austin Company.

In addition to Belfast Commerce Centre, CSX has certified seven other sites located in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and South Carolina and North Carolina.

To learn more about CSX Select Sites online, visit http://www.csx.com/index.cfm/customers/new-to-csx-or-rail/regional-development/site-search/csx-select-sites/.

About CSX

CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. CSX's network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSX's network connects more than 240 short line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

About the Belfast Commerce Centre

The Belfast Commerce Centre is a 1,100 acre rail-served industrial park located at the Intersection of I-95 and Belfast-Keller Road in Bryan County, Ga. Only 16 miles from The Port of Savannah, the park is approved for up to 10.5 million square feet of industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, office and commercial property. This location offers the unique advantage of having the largest amount of available land of any fully served rail industrial park in the Savannah market.  The site is large enough to accommodate a 3+ million square foot facility.  Belfast Commerce Center has direct rail service to the Port of Savannah via CSX and The Riceboro Southern Short Line.

SOURCE CSX Corporation