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The Savannah Chamber Weekly Digest
Everything You Need to Know From the Chamber
February 8, 2021
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Source: Georgia General Assembly
Last week the Georgia General Assembly met and completed legislative days 9-12 out of 40. HB 86, the Georgia Lottery Mobile Sports Wagering Integrity Act, passed out of House committee on Economic Development and Tourism. This legislation will allow the Georgia Lottery to manage an online sport wagering system with proceeds going to fund The HOPE Scholarship program. SB 6, the Tax Credit Return on Investment Act of 2021, which would allow for a study to determine the direct and indirect effects of Georgia tax incentives passed out of the Senate and is now in the House for consideration. Also, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed HB 80, the Amended FY 2021 Budget, out of committee unanimously. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
The General Assembly is reconvening today for the 13th legislative day.
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Join the Chamber’s Small Business Council for a Virtual Power Hour opportunity! In February, the Chamber welcomes Jason Frazer and Romney Smith, Co-Owners of Cloud 9 Favors. In this lunchtime virtual Power Hour, attendees will learn how local news agencies find their stories, how to leverage their business’ strengths and how they can prepare for a news interview.
Read more ›
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COVID-19 is still a concern in our community. The following guidelines will be enforced for all in-person networking events:
SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIRED
MASKS REQUIRED WHEN NOT EATING OR DRINKING
HAND SANITIZER WILL BE PROVIDED
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To ride the recovery momentum and help drive more visitors to your business, here are 3 reasons to advertise on VisitSavannah.com or in our monthly enewsletter.
- VisitSavannah.com is performing at Pre-COVID levels.
- With over 6.6 million annual pageviews and native ad click-through rates higher than the national average, VisitSavannah.com continues to capture a large audience of highly-engaged and strategically-targeted travelers.
- The Visit Savannah Enewsletter now reaches over 86,000 people and received an average open rate of 20% in 2020.
- The monthly Visit Savannah eNewsletter audience continues to grow as people sign up to learn more about what to do and where to stay in Savannah.
- People are planning trips with destinations like Savannah in mind!
- According to research from Destination Analysts, perceptions of travel and leisure activities as unsafe are at their lowest numbers since the pandemic hit.
- Research shows that the top 2 trip characteristics travelers are looking for are “scenic beauty” as well as “outdoor warm weather activities.” Two things Savannah offers all year long!
Read More ›
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Despite the global Covid-19 pandemic, Tybee Island’s visitation numbers continued to be strong and steady throughout the remainder of 2020.Since July, bed tax collections were the highest they have ever been.
“When the pandemic hit in March, none of us had any idea what would come of it,” says Joseph Marinelli, president of Visit Tybee. “That was then followed by April, the worst travel month on record in the U.S. To see these results for Tybee Island says to me that, as a visitor destination, it has everything folks are looking for. A place to relax, a perfect setting for a remote workplace, and an ideal location for family travel.”
Tybee Island finished the year only down 5.8 percent from 2019, which was already the best year on record.
Read more ›
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NEW MEMBERS
Welcome our newest members and remember to do business with our fellow Chamber members!
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RENEWALS
Thank you to these members for their continued support through their membership.
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RIBBON CUTTINGS
Please support your fellow Chamber members by attending these upcoming ribbon cutting and grand opening events!
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
We appreciate our members and each week provide insight about member companies and their services.
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The Small Business Assistance Corporation (SBAC) is now accepting applications for Paycheck Protection Program Loan through March 31, 2021. This SBA Loan is designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll and is forgivable if all employees are kept on the payroll for either 8 or 24 weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest or utilities.
For more information or to apply, click here.
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As a celebration of Black Heritage Month, Massie Heritage Center is proud to present a community collaborative exhibit with the City of Savannah Municipal Archives. The exhibition will be on view in Massie Heritage Center’s Heritage Classroom from February 8 – March 8, 2021. Massie will offer daily walking tours Monday through Friday at 2p.m. in celebration of the exhibition “Revisiting W.W. Law’s Negro Heritage Trail.” Tours will focus on the National Historic Landmark District and will highlight W.W. Law’s legacy in the City of Savannah. Admission is $10 per person. All Covid-related precautions will be enforced and masks are required.
For details visit their website, email Steve Smith, or call (912) 395-5070.
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Source: Georgia Department of Public Health
As COVID-19 vaccinations continue throughout the United States, DPH is sharing factual information on the vaccine. The DPH team produced a series of short, animated videos emphasizing the facts about the COVID-19 vaccine. These videos cover vaccine development, safety, and side effects and are available on the DPH YouTube channel here.
Read more ›
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The Chamber’s 2021 Economic Outlook luncheon took place on Wednesday, February 3 at the Savannah Convention Center, where around 280 members gathered to hear the economic forecast for the upcoming year. Georgia Southern University’s Mike Toma provided the local, state, and national outlook. Attendees learned that job growth is rebounding to almost 100% of pre-COVID numbers, unemployment is dropping below State and U.S. averages, personal income and population is growing as well.
Read more ›
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On Tuesday, February 2nd, the Chamber hosted Courses and Conversations at Tubby’s Tank House Thunderbolt. At this lunchtime networking opportunity, participants enjoyed a delicious meal and the opportunity to make quality contacts with business professionals in our community while being able to connect with each other through a series of different table rotations. There was more than 25 attendees and attendance is gradually growing as the Chamber brings back events.
Read more ›
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As health and government officials are working to maintain the safety, security, and health of our communities, Savannah area small businesses are encouraged to do their part to keep their employees, customers, and themselves healthy. All Savannah area employers need to consider how best to decrease the spread COVID-19 in their workplace in the event of an outbreak in Chatham and surrounding counties. Click here to explore what resources are available for individuals and businesses at this time.
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