A Letter from the Chamber President & CEO
As we head into 2024, I've encountered different perspectives in conversations with our members about the new year.
Excitement: The progress Savannah's economy has made in the last couple of decades is unquestionable -- our diverse mix of industry and services means we aren't overly reliant on one sector. We are seeing local, regional, national, and international investment and job creation that is the envy of our peers across the country. Our mission at the Chamber is to continue looking for ways to ensure this prosperity spreads throughout our business community.
Nervousness: The best way to sum up the apprehension many feel is maybe this question: "Who’s going to fill all these jobs?" The good news is that we don’t have to guess and make it up ourselves. The workforce development study commissioned by the Joint Development Authority has laid out a road map for us to follow, and a dedicated and talented team of professionals has been identified to lead us there. These aren’t easy tasks, including continuing to improve our schools so graduates have the skills they need to enter the workforce, go to college, enlist in the military or even start their own business. We also have to identify and encourage folks that are underemployed and not fulfilling their potential, and target potential workers that have been traditionally left behind or taken for granted: military retirees and their spouses, single moms who may just need a little flexibility at their jobs, people with developmental disabilities, neighbors who are re-entering society after incarceration, and those that have just fallen through the cracks and not fully joined the workforce even though they are able-bodied.
Frustration: Like many communities, we have long-running challenges that continue to dampen the prospects of many of our members. Fully funding and fully staffing our police, fire, and emergency services is crucial to ensure the safety of our businesses, residents, and visitors. While we are providing and expanding meaningful services to our unhoused/homeless citizens, we also continue to see criminal behavior by some in that population. Those involved in illegal activity must face consequences for those actions, or we will see that criminality escalate. We also must invest in our aging and inadequate infrastructure, which is quite literally the foundation upon which successful business activity is built upon.
Approaching my one-year anniversary of moving here, it is easy to see why so many are attracted to this area and why so many lifelong residents stay. Collectively, we have been entrusted with the responsibility to make Savannah the best it can be, and I remain hopeful that our best days are ahead.
Here's to a healthy and prosperous 2024!
Bert Brantley
President & CEO
Savannah Chamber of Commerce
