“Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying, planning and dreaming each night…” The song recorded by Dusty Springfield in 1964, perfectly describes the sentiments of most Bulloch County citizens tuned into the hope for new industries to fill up the Gateway Industrial Park and the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park. The planning took 10 years, but now Bulloch County Development Authority CEO Benjy Thompson is reaping the reward of three new industries who have announced plans to build in Bulloch. In our annual Economic Development issue, we showcase the hard work of the Development Authority Board of Directors, the City of Statesboro, the County and our partners in the Savannah Harbor -Interstate 16 Joint Development Authority, in preparing for the Hyundai Metaplant and the new suppliers who will be calling our industrial parks home. We’re also proud to salute Georgia Southern which has been named an Innovation & Prosperity University by the Association of Public Land Grant Universities (APLU). The announcement acknowledges the University’s working with public and private sector partners in the region and the state to support economic development. Did you know that there are KOYO bearings manufactured in Sylvania at JTEKT’s Koyo Bearings plant which are on the Mars Rover? It’s really out-of-this-world to think that we have an international supplier of bearings to the major automotive companies and NASA just up the road that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Read about all the other companies and industries that benefit from doing business with KOYO-Sylvania. We welcome all our new neighbors to the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park. We know you will enjoy doing business in Bulloch and the wonderful quality-of-life that we have to offer visitors and new residents. Here’s to a prosperous 2023 for everyone!