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Savannah Area Chamber

The Savannah Chamber Weekly Digest
Everything You Need to Know From the Chamber

September 22, 2020

Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce

Dear Chamber Members:
 
Have you completed your 2020 Census?

The 2020 Census will end on September 30. There are only 7 days left to take a 10-minute survey that will positively impact our community for the next 10 years. Census data is used to allocate federal funding in programming for state and local governments, hospitals, nonprofits, and households. It directly impacts the work we do every day. For every 1,000 residents that go uncounted in Chatham County, our community loses $2.3 million dollars in needed funding. 

Census data is used in community planning, service delivery, economic development, congressional representation, and federal, state, and local redistricting plans. Funding for programs like roads and infrastructure improvements, school lunches, senior housing, healthcare, Medicare, SNAP, WIC, broadband access, and disaster funding are all distributed to communities in need based on census data.   

The census may be taken by mail, by phone at (844) 330-2020, or online at my2020census.gov through September 30.

Chatham County is at a 59.7% self-response participation level, we would like to see this number grow. If you have not done so, please complete your 2020 census TODAY by going to my2020Census.gov.

Thank you!

Bill Hubbard
President & CEO
Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce

UPCOMING EVENTS

Virtual Power Hour with Visit Savannah | This Thursday, September 24

On Thursday, September 24, join Chamber members for a Virtual Power Hour networking event! This month’s featured speaker is Zeek Coleman, Visit Savannah’s Director of Data Intelligence, who will be leading a detailed discussion on what new and valuable key performance indicators (KPIs) are emerging in today’s environment.

Read more ›

Business on the Move at Harper Fowlkes House | Tuesday, November 10

Join the Chamber for November’s Business on the Move event at Harper Fowlkes House. Business on the Move is a special networking opportunity offered several times a year to highlight local Chamber businesses. Business on the Move is a special networking opportunity offered several times a year to highlight local Chamber businesses.

Read more ›

HAPPENINGS

Visit Savannah Hosts New State Tourism Director

Last week, Visit Savannah hosted Georgia’s new Deputy Commissioner of Tourism for Explore Georgia, Mark Jaronski.  Mr. Jaronski met with the sales and marketing staff, enjoyed dinner with a variety of local tourism leaders, including Mayor Van Johnson and had breakfast with some of Visit Savannah Board of Directors before speaking at the Tourism Leadership Council Luncheon. 

Read more ›

Georgia DOT Breaks Ground on I-16 at I-19 Improvement Project

Source: Georgia DOT

This project will provide infrastructure enhancements to the I-16 at I-95 interchange and along the I-16 corridor, one of Georgia’s busiest freight corridors as well as the gateway to the growing port in Savannah. To view a recap of the groundbreaking, click here.

Savannah's MLK Visitor Information Center Partially Open | Georgia I-95 Welcome Center Now Open

Although all Visit Savannah and Visit Tybee Visitor Information Centers (VIC) are temporarily closed due to the pandemic, an agreement with Official Guides of Savannah (OGS) now has brochures available at the main VIC located at Louisville Road and MLK Blvd.  Two brochure racks are now on display and will be serviced twice per week by the OGS team. 

Read more ›

Tourism Leadership Council: Chatham County Weekly Occupancy Forecast

Source: Michael T. Owens, CEO/President, Tourism Leadership Council

This forecast offers a slightly improved outlook week-over-week. While the forecast reflects the entire county market, Downtown Savannah and Tybee are faring slightly better than the rest of the county. Occupancy stats in those areas are performing above the forecast reflection. Remember, the forecast is for all of Chatham County, including Savannah, Pooler, and Tybee. It is also important to remember that the forecast does not include “day-trippers,” local participation in commerce, or last-minute arrivals. To view the weekly forecast, click here.

Destination Analyst Travel Sentiment Report: Openness to Travel Inspiration

Source: Destination Analysts

Destination Analysts is a travel and tourism market research firm with a team of travel industry experts with extensive, hands-on experience working with some of the world’s greatest tourism brands and Destination Marketing Organizations. Their travel studies, The State of the International Traveler™ and The State of the American Traveler™ , are standards in the industry. 

The most recent Travel Sentiment Report from Destination Analysts notes that unlike early on in the pandemic, now less than 50% of American travelers consider staying in a hotel, Airbnb or home rental, dining in a restaurant, visiting an amusement park or other outdoor attraction, recreating outdoors and shopping to be unsafe. Overall perceptions of travel’s safety remain at the lowest levels they have been during the pandemic. Over half of American travelers continue to say they are at least somewhat confident they can travel safely in this environment. Now just 37% agree they need a vaccine to travel, down from a high of 45% at the start of August.

For more insights, click here.

Wall Street Thinks the Recession is Over: New forecasts Show Sustained Economic Growth Through 2021 and Beyond

Source: Axios

Axios reports that the U.S. economic activity fell more sharply in the second quarter of this year than during any other quarter in history. It's also going to grow more sharply in the third quarter of this year than during any other quarter in history, Axios chief financial correspondent Felix Salmon writes

Forbes Magazine Names Savannah a Top 25 City for Retirees

Source: Forbes Magazine

Forbes compared more than 750 locales in America, measuring everything from housing costs and taxes to healthcare and air quality. These are the top 25 cities for retirees. Savannah was chosen for perks like median home price $135,000, 46% below national average and our cost of living being 12% below national average. Other celebrated qualities include mild winters, good air quality and sufficient physicians per capita.

MORE HAPPENINGS ON OUR WEBSITE:

CHAMBER  |  VISIT SAVANNAH  |  VISIT TYBEE

Ribbon Cuttings

Please support your fellow Chamber members by attending these upcoming ribbon cutting and grand opening events!

READ MORE

New Members

We are excited to welcome our newest members! Please remember to do business with your fellow Chamber members!

READ MORE

Renewals

Thank you to these members for their continued support through their membership.

READ MORE

We will update and add to the links below as new guidance and resources become available. Click here to visit the Chamber's resource page.

For more info, please visit the CDC's Guidance for Businesses page.

The Savannah Area Chamber is working hard to provide timely access to business resource information during the COVID-19 pandemic. The interpretation and recommendations of the information provided by the Chamber should not replace the consult of professional advisors familiar with your unique business situation. While it is believed that the content of external links is accurate and reliable, accuracy and completeness of information contained herein is not guaranteed. Users of this information accept all risks associated with the use of such information and agree that the Savannah Area Chamber has no liability to the user.

Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce | Visit Savannah

101 East Bay Street, Savannah, GA 31401, United States | SavannahChamber.com | VisitSavannah.com

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