Barnes confirms Chrysler will build plant near Savannah

SAVANNAH - DaimlerChrysler chose coastal Georgia Thursday as the site of its new $750 million van plant, which will be the state&#39;s largest factory and will bring thousands of jobs to the region. <br> <br> The German automaker selected Georgia&#39;s bid over sites near Charleston, South Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida, ending a decade in which Georgia sat on the sidelines while other Southern states wooed automakers with fat incentive packages. <br> <br> Governor Barnes confirmed the deal Thursday afternoon. He said Georgia&#39;s incentive package totals $320 million, or $67,000 per job -- the largest sum the state has ever committed to luring an industry. South Carolina had offered a $340 million package, but Georgia&#39;s site had the advantage of being at the crossroads of two major interstates and only a few miles from Savannah&#39;s ports and airport. <br> <br> In a statement, DaimlerChrysler said, ``Georgia&#39;s commitment to this project has been quite impressive. We are looking forward to further development in the same trustful and cooperative manner as we have had the opportunity to experience so far.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The plant, which will produce Sprinter and Vito cargo vans, is the first built by an automaker in Georgia in 55 years. <br> <br> Barnes said, ``I am extremely excited about DaimlerChrysler choosing Georgia. This is further confirmation that our state and our citizens are prepared to compete in the global economy.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The plant will be located on 1,500 acres at the intersections of Interstates 95 and 16 in Pooler, 12 miles west of Savannah. It will employ about 3,300 people at average salary of $47,000 per year. Construction is scheduled to begin in July, with the first vans rolling off the assembly line in 2005.