Savannah Chamber

56 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce 2023 Economic Trends 24 Infrastructure: Small Business Investment & Development Savannah's thriving small business community accounts for a substantial share of total private employment in the Savannah- Hinesville-Statesboro CSA. The Georgia Department of Labor reported a total of 6,559 establishments employing between 5 and 500 employees in the second quarter of 2022. An additional 8,735 firms employed less than 5 employees. Firms with less than 500 employees are responsible for the employment of 189,622 people, or approximately 79% of the workforce. The remaining 36 firms with more than 500 employees employed 51,050 people, or approximately 21% of the workforce. Source: Georgia Department of Labr, Georgia Labor Market Explorer, Area Labor Profile, Accessed 12/14/2022. Several state and local agencies work to strengthen the viability of small businesses, providing assistance that may range from free consulting to training, networking to loans, and other essential small business tools. They promote Savannah's healthy small business climate with doors always open to assist the region's innovators and entrepreneurs. University of Georgia Small Business Development Center: The Savannah SBDC office provides low-cost training and free consulting services in business plan development, market analysis and marketing strategies, financial analysis, compliance and legal issues. Its business consultants help prepare loan submissions for entrepreneurs and individuals expanding their business. https://www.georgiasbdc.org Small Business Assistance Corporation: SBAC is a nonprofit business development organization licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration and supported by the City of Savannah and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. SBAC promotes economic growth by offering loan programs and technical assistance for new and existing businesses. For more information, visit www.sbacsav.com. The Creative Coast: Creative Coast provides mentoring and other support to help build and develop the creative economy within the city of Savannah. Through networking and promoting innovation, Creative Coast connects local government, businesses, and individuals to strengthen the economic environment and positively impact the entrepreneurial community. www.thecreativecoast.org Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce: The Chamber's Small Business Council works to meet the needs and interests of small businesses and make sure they are recognized for their impact on the community. By offering programs that bring these businesses together with the larger Savannah community, including the SMART Lunch Series and Annual Banquet and Trade Show, the Chamber's Small Business Council continues to provide small business owners with resources to help their businesses grow. For more information, visit www.savannahchamber.com. Savannah Economic Development Authority: SEDA leads the Business Retention Action Team, a collection of economic development experts from state and local agencies, who work with existing businesses on issues that range from management and human resources to training, exporting and operations. For more information, visit www.seda.org.

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