In this special Savannah Chamber Connect episode, Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Bert Brantley sits down with Chris Lehane of OpenAI about the company’s major announcement: a $20 billion Project Camellia investment in Effingham County.

Lehane explains OpenAI’s role in modern AI and ChatGPT’s broad adoption, then outlines why coastal Georgia was chosen—state and local dynamism, port-driven growth, talent and education pipelines, and an industrial-zoned site. He details expected economic impact including 400 initial six-figure jobs growing to 1,000+ and broader ecosystem and supply-chain multipliers, plus an $80 million community investment.

Addressing concerns raised at an open house, he cites commitments on power (no resident cost impact and added grid flexibility), a closed-loop water system, and ongoing audits. The discussion also covers potential property tax reductions and designing a long-term upgradable facility.

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Project Camellia

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FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE:

00:00 Show Intro

00:29 Welcome and Guest

01:43 What OpenAI Does

04:07 Why Effingham County

06:09 Jobs and Education

09:04 Economic Ripple Effects

13:01 Site Choice and Zoning

14:38 Power Water and Audits

17:33 Community Investment Plan

19:59 Taxes and Long Term Vision

23:58 Project Camellia and Wrap

25:36 Sponsor and Chamber Outro