The mission of the City of Savannah’s Economic Development Department
is to facilitate the development of activities that assist in fostering and
sustaining diversified economies to engender a strong local economy, provide
for a better quality of life in Savannah neighborhoods and decrease the
number of individuals living below the poverty level through business
development and enhancement, community and corridor revitalization, and
asset building. The Economic Development Department is in the Bureau of
Public Development and operates the Savannah Entrepreneurial Center,
Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise Program, and is
responsible for the revitalization of 16 targeted corridors. Other activities
within the department include Financial Literacy training, partnership in
an Individual Development Account Program with the Economic
Opportunities Authority (EOA) and participation in a collaboration to
provide a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to maximize tax
refunds for persons with low to moderate incomes through the Earned
Income Tax Credit.
Coastal Workforce Services (CWS) guides and assists Coastal Georgia
communities in all efforts to develop, promote, support, and sustain a
globally competitive workforce. Utilizing Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
funds, CWS and its service providers provide employment and training
services for adults and dislocated workers. CWS plans and implements
year-round services for in-school and out-of-school youth, such as summer
employment opportunities.
CWS is also the administrative entity for the On-the-Job Training (OJT)
program. Employers can provide occupational training for a WIA customer
in exchange for the reimbursement of up to 50 percent of the wages paid
during the training period. At the end of the training period, the employer
will retain OJT registrants who successfully complete the training program.
The mission of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)
is to create jobs, capital investment, and economic opportunity for Georgia.
This is accomplished by expanding existing industry, recruiting new industry,
enhancing international trade, promoting technology infusion, tourism, and
marketing the film, video, and music community. GDEcD also serves as the
marketing arm for the entire State.
The Enterprise Innovation Institute, the public service arm of Georgia Tech,
helps companies, entrepreneurs, economic developers and communities
improve their competitiveness through the application of science, technology,
and innovation.
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) is a nonprofit organization
providing business counseling services. This organization is made up of retired
and active executives with the know how and experience to counsel on virtually
any business problem that may arise. SCORE’s mission is to help ensure that
prospective business people have considered all the pros and cons of the venture
and have discussed their needs with the appropriate tax, legal, accounting and
insurance resources as necessary. SCORE’s services are free and confidential.
The University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
provides a variety of consulting, continuing education, and research services
to support entrepreneurship and business expansion through direct
business consulting and educational opportunities that address human
resources, management, technology, capital formation, and infrastructure
needs of the business community. Through the SBDC Network, clients
also have access to applied research and export assistance. Additional
activities include increasing minority and women owned businesses and
rural economic development.
The Savannah Entrepreneurial Center (SEC) was created in 2000 by
the City of Savannah to provide technical assistance and training for
small business creation and expansion. Training is offered at either no
cost or very little cost to the participant. A special focus is on preparation
of business plans which can form the basis for a loan application either
from a conventional lender or from a City funded loan program. Since
2004, programs at the SEC have been managed by Good Service, LLC.
The facility also includes a Business Incubator which provides new
businesses an opportunity to “incubate” with low overhead costs and
expert technical assistance during the most crucial phases of business
development.
© Copyright 2004-2010 The Creative Coast Alliance
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